A new agreement between the Avon Maitland District School Board and the Kitchener-Waterloo YMCA will help support newcomer families moving into Huron and Perth.
Superintendent Jeff Bruce explains the Y will offer settlement services for newcomer families through the schools.
"They're going to be offering settlement services for newcomer families to our district. So when new families register in our schools, schools can have the families registered to work with the YMCA and the settlement workers will connect with the families,” said Bruce. “They help the families, not only navigate the education system, but it can also be a big help in the families acquiring employment and working with the health care system and just navigating all of the things that we do on a day to day basis that are difficult for adults who are new to the country.”
Bruce says the program has been available in the London area for some time and has been an invaluable resource in helping families with the education system.
The system is in place now so when newcomer families arrive at their new school, the school can notify the Y and they'll connect them with settlement services.
