This webinar featured presentations on two pilot projects that support Internationally Trained Workers (ITWs), the Foreign Credential Recognition Loan Pilot Project (FCR) and the Active Career Advancement Project (ACAP).
Dr. Louise Legault and Julie Rodier of Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) kicked off the webinar with an overview of findings three years into the FCR project. Michael Lam followed with an overview of Active Career Advancement Project (ACAP), S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’ national pilot project.
Thank you to Louise, Julie and Michael for contributing their knowledge about these two initiatives to this webinar. Thanks also to everyone who participated. We received a number of thoughtful questions; some of them were answered during the session and others are posted with the presenters’ responses below. For the full slide deck of the presentation, click here.
Q: Can those in “Reachback” access ACAP or is it LMA?
A (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.): ACAP eligibility aims to not duplicate existing services. If those in “Reachback” are employed more than 20 hours a week and meet the following eligibility they can enroll in ACAP services:
• Immigrants who are either Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen with 5 years or more in Canada
• Employed (20 hours and more) in jobs that underutilizes their education & expertise obtained in their country of origin
• Possess English language proficiency sufficient to work in Canada (CLB 5)
• Not pursuing the credential accreditation process
• Seeking alternative careers relevant to their trained profession
Q: How will ACAP work alongside the WorkBC Employment Service Centres?
A (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.): ACAP clients are underemployed and work at least 20 hours a week or more. This way we are not duplicating WorkBC’s efforts and work in partnership with them and other existing services in the Greater Vancouver and Toronto regions.
Q: How can potential clients outside the Vancouver and Toronto area access ACAP?
A (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.): Based on the population density of immigrants, the pilot project’s location is situated in the Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto regions. If the pilot project is successful and funding is available, we hope to extend our services to meet the demands in other Canadian cities. That being said, during the pilot stage, outreaching services to nearby cities is potentially going to take place (due to the demand and request inquiries already in place.)
