Publications and Knowledge Exchange

Over the past several years our research team has been involved in a large number of projects both as principle investigator and as a collaborating organization. This is a comprehensive list of all our publications.

Determinants of Newcomer Health

Best Practices for Working with Homeless Immigrants and Refugees, Phase One (2003) 760KB, 64 pgs

• The first phase report for this project documents the experiences of adult immigrants and refugees who have used single men’s or women’s shelters or drop-ins in Toronto and develops best practices among shelter and drop-in staff for working with immigrants and refugees.

Best Practices for Working with Homeless Immigrants and Refugees: A Community-Based Action-Research Project: Phase Two (2003) 322 KB, 44 pgs

• This second phase report discusses how the recommendations were turned into advocacy points by the steering committee of the project.

Determinants of Mental Health for Newcomer Youth: Policy and Service Implications (2010) 278KB, 5pgs

• Drawing on our study with newcomer youth from four communities in Toronto, this article discusses post-migration determinants of mental health for newcomer youth in Toronto and reflects on policy implications. Preliminary study findings indicate that settlement challenges and discrimination/exclusions are salient risks to the mental wellbeing of newcomer youth and their families.

Examining Systemic and Individual Barriers Experienced by Visible Minority Social Workers in Mainstream Social Service Agencies (2006) 1.02MB, 87pgs

• This report provides systematic, documented evidence of key barriers and opportunities faced by visible minority social workers, and how these learnings can contribute to organizational change. It provides a direct comparison of Canadian and internationally educated social workers’ experiences in the workplace and how individual and systemic racism are underlying factors that impact the access to employment, promotion and retention of visible minority social workers in the workplace.

Examining Systemic and Individual Barriers Experienced by Visible Minority Social Workers in Mainstream Social Service Agencies (Quantitative Report) (2006) 725kb, 29pgs

• Presents the quantitative results of a survey done with visible minority social workers and employers, including demographics, employment patterns and barriers to employment.

Examining Systemic and Individual Barriers Experienced by Visible Minority Social Workers in Mainstream Social Service Agencies (Literature Review) (2006) 793kb, 29pgs

• The experiences of internationally educated social workers in the workplace in Canada are the focus of this literature review. It looks at barriers faced by visible minority social workers in Canadian organizations, the impact of discrimination, and the need for an integrated anti-racism approach.

The Global City: Newcomer Health in Toronto (2011)

• This report describes the health advantage that most newcomers bring to Toronto, the decline in their health over time and the need to strengthen our efforts to support newcomers, especially those whose health risks are compounded by their income level, gender, immigration status, ethno-racial background, sexual orientation or other factors. The report was developed and written in partnership with Toronto Public Health.

Literature Review: Costs of Not Providing Interpretation in Health Care (2009) 134.4 KB, 16 pgs

• Access to good quality health care is one of the fundamental principles of our Canadian health care system. Yet, there is a small but growing body of research that highlight that Canadians who are not proficient in Canada’s two official languages experience major health inequities as a result of language barriers. Although addressing health inequities must be considered an ethical and legal obligation, the perceived cost of providing interpretation services represents a major health systems-level challenge.

Racialized Groups and Health Status

Working Rough, Living Poor (Report and Research Bulletins) (2011)

"Working Rough, Living Poor” is the result of research conducted in Toronto’s Black Creek community in collaboration with local residents trained to be community-based researchers by Access Alliance. The report’s new insights into the disturbing racialization of precarious employment and poverty in Canadian communities and the far-reaching health impact that these trends have on individuals and families, fills a key gap in data on the experiences of racialized groups in Canada.

eXposed: Using photography to expose the social impacts of poverty and racism in Black Creek (2009) Slideshare format

eXposed: Using photography to expose the social impacts of poverty and racism in Black Creek (Part 1) (2009) 1.3MB, 12pgs

eXposed photobook (Part 2) (2009) 1.7MB, 14pgs

eXposed photobook (Part 3) (2009) 1.6MB, 14pgs

• The ‘exposed’ Photovoice project is a community based, arts-informed research project conducted in 2008 by the Income Security, Race and Health (ISRH) research working group. This photobook is a compilation of some of the key photos and narratives produced by 14 photoresearchers who live in Toronto's Black Creek community. The photos and narratives produced by the photo-researchers offer a nuanced, multilayered and rich picture of the everyday realities of living in a low-income neighborhood in Toronto.

Racialized Groups and Health Status: A Literature Review Exploring Poverty, Housing, Race-Based Discrimination and Access to Health Care as Determinants of Health for Racialized Groups (2005) 690kb, 16pgs

• This literature review looks at the significance of income as a determinant of health, focuses on the barriers that racialised groups face in the labour market and on the health effects of precarious employment.

Striving for Best Practices and Equitable Mental Health Care Access for Racialized Communities in Toronto (2006) 436kb, 62pgs

• This research report looks at how race-based discrimination and racism impacts the mental health and overall well-being of consumer survivors from racialized communities. The report is based on a series of stakeholder consultations with consumer survivors and service providers.

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Non-Status Immigrants

The Regularization of Non-Status Immigrants in Canada 1960-2004 (2004) 571kb, 50pgs

• This report is based on historical research, key informant interviews and focus groups which document how the Canadian state has dealt with the issue of regularization, how the efforts of community groups and pro-immigrant organizations affected policy changes in regularization procedures, and about the contemporary needs of persons without status in Canada concerning regularization.

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Research Department Annual Report

Research Department Annual Report 2011-12  603KB

Research Department Annual Report 2010-11  234KB

Research Department Annual Report 2008-09  1.7MB