Welcome to today’s #ImmigrantsThrive Twitter chat! Studies show immigrants and refugees face significant barriers in accessing social supports and services in the U.S. and Canada. 1/6 
Per Immigration Worldwide: Policies, Practices, and Trends: “On the whole, immigrants and refugees [underutilize] human services mainly due to lack of access to appropriate programs and services.” #ImmigrantsThrive 2/6
In the U.S., underutilization also stems from policy barriers; lack of information about services; lack of services or misfit service models; and a misperception among service providers about the linguistic and cultural needs of different groups. #ImmigrantsThrive 3/6
In Canada, settlement organizations provide a broader range of comprehensive services. However, access and underutilization among immigrants and refugees remains challenging. #ImmigrantsThrive 4/6
Today’s #ImmigrantsThrive Twitter chat will focus on pragmatic solutions in Canada and the U.S. We’ll explore how advocates & orgs. can help ensure that immigrants & refugees are able to access & utilize the social, financial, & educational services available to them. 5/6
Let’s get started! Here’s how it works. There are eight numbered questions (Q1, Q2, etc.). Start your answers with A1, A2, etc. and use the hashtag #ImmigrantsThrive in each response. 6/6
Q1: Access to affordable childcare and housing, reliable public transport, and good health care are critical predeterminants of financial stability. How can we ensure immigrants and refugees have access to these social supports and the ability to use them? #ImmigrantsThrive
Q2: What strategies can financial institutions, non-profits, and start-ups deploy to advance the financial stability of immigrants and refugees? How might North American financial culture and services evolve to become more inclusive of these populations? #ImmigrantsThrive
Q3: Which sectors and jobs do you foresee as having the greatest growth in the next ten years, and how can immigrants and refugees prepare for these high-growth jobs? And how can employers broaden their reach into these communities? #ImmigrantsThrive
Q4: Let’s turn to policy: What policy solutions might help to break down undue barriers to employment for immigrants and refugees? Please respond with either U.S. or Canadian examples. #ImmigrantsThrive
Q5: Online learning is key for developing professional skills and competencies. How can online learning best support refugee and immigrant needs? What are some best practices in ensuring access? #ImmigrantsThrive
Q6: What soft skills do immigrants and refugees need to navigate the North American workforce? What are best practices in ensuring access to effective training, especially during the pandemic? #ImmigrantsThrive
Q7: What are some of the best scholarships and financial aid opportunities available to immigrants and refugees who want to study and improve their career trajectory in North America? #ImmigrantsThrive
Q8: One final question: What is the single greatest opportunity/most important strategy to ensure that immigrants and refugees can contribute to the post-pandemic recovery in Canada and the U.S.? #ImmigrantsThrive
This concludes our questions for today’s Twitter chat. Feel free to continue using #ImmigrantsThrive to keep this important conversation going! Thank you to everyone who participated today, and for all your amazing work.
