Strengthening Capacity Archives - SRDC

Research on Public Employment Service (PES) Accessibility for English-Speaking Quebecers

Wallaa Daramlly — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:28:39 +0000

Research on Public Employment Service (PES) Accessibility for English-Speaking Quebecers

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Strategic Learning Partner for PIAAC Research Initiative

Wallaa Daramlly — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 15:26:17 +0000

FSC has partnered with SRDC to launch a new research initiative to advance the use of the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) data in addressing critical gaps in Canada’s skills development ecosystem. SRDC‘s role includes the following activities: Support for the FSC’s call for proposals to fund up to 10 research projects that strengthen evidence on the role of skills in driving productivity, prosperity, and well-being, and on the mechanisms through which skills are developed, retained, and lost, using PIAAC data; provision of subject matter and methodological expertise to support delivery of the project; conducting one or more research project(s) that complements the selected funded projects, filling in strategic gaps that are not addressed through the Call for Proposals and/or that relate to SRDC’s specific areas of expertise; and organizing and facilitating a PIAAC Research Seminar in Toronto during fall 2026, to generate dialogue and sharing between researchers.

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Pan-Canadian Cancer Biomarker Inventory

Wallaa Daramlly — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:38:34 +0000

This project aims to develop a comprehensive, up-to-date inventory of publicly funded cancer biomarkers across Canadian jurisdictions. Building on a preliminary database developed by CDA-AMC, publicly available information will first be compiled and organized. Consultations will then be conducted with jurisdictional contacts to complete and validate the database, ensuring it contains accurate information on funded biomarkers and their key characteristics for the most common cancer types. Through these consultations, the project will also assess the feasibility of regularly updating, maintaining, and publishing this resource as a living inventory in the future.

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Resources and Practices for Engaging Opportunity Youth in Career Development

Wallaa Daramlly — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:20:46 +0000

This project explores the best ways to engage students who are disconnected from school and at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment, or training) in career development. The right support at the right time can reengage students and positively shape their career paths. Yet career development professionals face two major challenges: first, it is often challenging to reach young people who are disconnected from school and not inclined to seek support; and second, when they do reach this population, they may not know what supportive career guidance practices are most impactful.

To address these challenges, the project combines a literature review and environmental scan that identifies promising programs and practices and a survey of 500 school guidance counsellors across Canada that gathers insight on both barriers to engagement and best practices in working with opportunity youth. Together, these sources highlight obstacles to engagement and uncover practical strategies for supporting opportunity youth. The mission of the project is to find tangible ways to reach and engage this population, understand what practices and tools can motivate them to engage in career planning, and learn what further resources are needed to support career counselling practices.

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Youth LMI Development

Wallaa Daramlly — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 14:46:00 +0000

Many young people face challenges accessing labour market information (LMI) that is relevant, engaging, and tailored to their needs; particularly those who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). To address this gap, SRDC is improving youth-focused LMI on a provincial employment platform. The project will develop a suite of integrated resources designed to support career exploration and readiness among youth, with special attention to those who are currently (or at risk of becoming) NEET. Planned components include a youth-aligned career exploration model, an interactive self-assessment tool linked to occupational profiles, and customized content for NEET youth. The initiative also involves redesign recommendations for the platform’s interface to better serve young users and the creation of a labour market information presentation tailored for Alternative Education settings. Focus groups and user testing with NEET youth will be conducted to ensure the tools are accessible, relevant, and effective. Ultimately, the project aims to empower young people with personalized, engaging resources that foster informed career choices, build confidence, and strengthen their pathways into work, education, and training.

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Consultant for the Dedicated Needs and Assets Assessment and Referral Services (NAARS) Community of Practice

Wallaa Daramlly — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:51:36 +0000

SRDC is supporting DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society’s Community of Practice for the development of a dedicated Needs and Assets Assessment and Referral Services (NAARS) model in Surrey, BC. This project strengthens local capacity and brings together frontline organizations, service providers, and stakeholders to share insights, and support effective NAARS implementation. DIVERSEcity leads the initiative locally, engaging partners and coordinating CoP activities, while SRDC provides strategic guidance, research expertise, and facilitation to ensure the developed model is responsive, evidence-informed, and community-driven.

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Harmonious Transition Pilot Project

Wallaa Daramlly — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 18:47:37 +0000

This pilot project aims to test ways to better equip and support educators in order to enhance their role with children and families (1) by making the development of the child apparent to identify their needs, and (2) by piloting a process for transferring the child’s record to the school. This project stems from the work of the provincial intersectoral network for the promotion of mental health in early childhood of Francophones, whose meetings are coordinated by AFÉSEO and funded by the Commission nationale des parents francophones (CNPF), through the project Réseau d’intervenantes et intervenants en petite enfance francophone (RIIPEF).

The first aspect of the project aims to implement and evaluate the ASQ and ASQ: SE, which are tools for measuring children’s general and social-emotional development, in educational centres. The goal is to collect, analyze, and use evidence-based data to support child development in French-speaking contexts. The second part of the project aims to develop a structured collaborative process for sharing knowledge about each child between early childhood education services and schools during the transition to school. The goal is to better support each child according to their needs and characteristics.

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Newcomers with Remote Information and Career Help in British Columbia and Yukon (ENRICH BCY)

Wallaa Daramlly — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 19:26:14 +0000

Led by Douglas College and in partnership with the Yukon Literacy Coalition, this project’s overarching goals are to enhance newcomer settlement and integration in rural and remote regions of British Columbia and the Yukon (BCY). Our approach emphasizes community engagement and local partnerships to co-design online tools and resources that complement rather than duplicate existing in-person services. Specific areas of focus include developing pre-arrival information to enhance migration pathways; facilitating social and economic integration to promote newcomer retention and address local skill and labour needs; supporting truth and reconciliation through the integration of First Nations history, culture, and governance into settlement services; and addressing gaps in existing community and settlement services to improve newcomers’ access to supports. Consultations (in person and remote) with newcomers, employers, First Nations representatives, community leaders, and service providers are used to i) collect information on local contexts, strengths, services, and needs, and ii) co-design and develop ideas for service enhancements to pilot with local communities. Our evaluation focuses on tracking outcomes, identifying areas for improvement, and capturing lessons learned for further enhancement related to program design and delivery.

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PROSPECTS: Propelling to Result-Oriented Strategies in Planning, Evaluation, and Continuous Transformation in Settlement

Wallaa Daramlly — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:30:21 +0000

PROSPECTS is an initiative funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), aimed at enhancing the capacity of organizations within the settlement sector in evaluation and research. Our project is designed to support Settlement Service Providers (SPOs) in developing outcome-based approaches by incorporating evaluation into their project planning and management processes. This project will foster a cultural shift towards outcome-based approaches through a series of activities grounded in the principles of “meeting organizations where they are” and “active development through generative listening and learning by doing.” We will begin with a cross-country consultation and an assessment of the sector’s capacity to understand the diverse needs of various organizations. Our project team will compile, design, and offer a range of tools, resources, workshops, and peer learning networks to enhance the sector’s practical knowledge. SRDC will provide free, customized support, including expert advice tailored to specific needs and broader capacity development planning. This will empower settlement sector organizations to seamlessly integrate program evaluation into the design, planning, management, and continuous improvement of their programs. PROSPECTS will also focus on raising awareness about the benefits of adopting outcome-based approaches in settlement sector programming through regular communication and a knowledge-mobilization campaign.

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Strengthening the Capacity of Organizations to Meet the Employment Skills Needs of Francophone Newcomers in Minority Situations

Wallaa Daramlly — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 18:06:15 +0000

The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), in partnership with the Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes (COFA), will develop innovative, integrated and adapted adult learning resources to support the development of skills (e.g., socio-emotional, linguistic) for the employability and integration of Francophone newcomers in Francophone minority communities. The project will build the capacity of organizations working in the areas of immigration, literacy and basic skills, employability and language training, and create strategic partnerships between organizations with complementary expertise. These partnerships will support sharing of promising practices and strengthen the capacity of service providers to serve Francophone or Francophile clients from immigrant backgrounds, supporting services to immigrant populations while enhancing their employability and skills development.

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