1	"10^th National Metropolis Conference" 10^th National Metropolis Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 3-6, 2008 Dr. Laura Simich, Departments of Psychiatry and Anthropology, University of Toronto
2	Background Sudan is in 6th place among source countries for refugees in Canada. Over 20,000 Sudanese reside in the Toronto and surrounding areas
3	"Since 1983" Since 1983, the war and war- and famine- related effects have led to more than 2 million deaths and over 4 million people displaced
4	Conditions of forced migration Political conflict since 1956 rooted in northern economic, political and social domination of non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese Since 1983, war and famine have led to more than 2 million deaths and over 4 million people displaced
5	Two community-based studies
6	Settlement needs study methods
7	Members of the research team
8	Settlement challenges The greatest challenges reported in first year Worry about family not in Canada (68%) Being unable to find a satisfactory job (67%) Overall, 48% of respondents expressed disappointment in the standard of living
9	Women tended to report… Lower levels of education More difficulty in getting around and communicating More difficulty finding work due to language proficiency Less knowledge of where to go for help Lower use of settlement services Less perceived discrimination
10	Family-related issues Worry about family back home Changing marital relations Coping with possibility of family dissolution in Canada Differences in social status and gender roles due to differential employment Understanding cultural expectations of schools and parenting
11	Study outcomes CIC enhanced refugee reception and services for Sudanese across Ontario New life skills orientation programs and hiring of Sudanese workers Community advocacy led to United Way funding for Sudanese women’s program, “Women Assisting Women” A new Sudanese-managed community centre has opened
12	First Graduation Ceremony of “Women Assisting Women”
13	Meeting Multilevel Challenges of Sudanese Wellbeing in Canada Dr. Dave Este, Co-investigator, University of Calgary 3 sites: Toronto, Calgary, and Brooks, Alberta Ecological systems theory and strengths-based analysis 30 in-depth interviews to explore concepts of family and health and wellbeing Knowledge transfer and exchange meetings with service providers to identify issues and priorities
14	Concepts of family Sudanese family is all about the bond, the closeness to each other. It’s not just the nuclear family, it’s the extended family of aunts, uncles, grandparents, … and there is a strong bond between. --Sudanese woman in Toronto
15	Feelings about being in Canada and family separation ….. For me, if I knew before that it’s going to be like this, I wouldn’t have come. Even if life in Sudan is not really good, I could have stayed and been happy a little bit. I could find a little job. And seeing the parents beside me can make me happier even. --Sudanese woman
16	Family roles & responsibilities We have very clear roles. The mothers stay home… my dad was the “bread winner.” He was working and taking care of seventeen people in the house. -Sudanese woman The woman is appointed to take care of the children and to account for the family, so that if there is any problem, she has to show up to solve that problem. --Sudanese man
17	Decision-making roles Back home women don’t have a part in decisions, but it depends on the family…. In some families you can’t talk, but you put it [in terms of] “respect.” You have to respect your husband. If he says something, you say yes, even if you know it’s not good. … But it’s not good for us here. --Sudanese woman
18	Conflict resolution People usually call uncles, aunts and elders from both family sides who come together and sit down and listen to both stories on both sides about where the conflict arose and how to try to resolve it. --Sudanese woman
19	Impact on families There are a lot of issues that people are dealing with and they are quiet about them. They can’t seek help, and some of them have resulted in breaking down the families and marriages. --Sudanese woman
20	Alcohol misuse A lot of alcohol abuse is happening in families and among men there is fighting due to alcohol drinking. If he comes home, he starts making a lot of problems, fighting the wife and the kids and …then ends up in jail. And because the woman called police to pick up the man, even if that issue is resolved, it becomes an issue inside: that you called police because you don’t want me. …That situation repeats itself again and again. Instead of looking for a permanent solution and the cause of drinking, they look at other things instead. --Sudanese man
21	Searching for solutions The way to get help would be having a workshop for men and women to make them understand that, when there is an issue, people have to go about it to find the solution. If someone talked about someone else’s problem it doesn’t mean that is being against helping that person. --Sudanese woman
22	Knowledge exchange meeting participants Citizenship and Immigration Canada Family Services Association of Toronto Toronto Public Health Canadian Mental Health Association United Way City of Toronto--Access and Equity Office COSTI Reception Centre Settlement Workers in Schools Children's Aid Society Police--Community Mobilization Unit Toronto District School Board Sudanese Settlement and Community Services Organization of Toronto Sudanese Women in Action