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Media Highlight: Dalhousie researchers head to UN summit on resettling refugees

Posted by Communications and Marketing on September 19, 2016 in Media Highlights

Three researchers from Dalhousie University will soon head to New York for the first UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants.

Dr. Howard Ramos is one of the researchers involved with the Canadian Refugee Child, Youth and Family Research Coalition. The goal is to look into how to measure the successful integration of refugees.

“It’s important to universities to be involved… in engaging refugee issues, especially in host countries like Canada that aim to welcome newcomers,” Ramos said Thursday.

The coalition’s research includes creating nation-wide data “to look at the experience of refugee children and youth.” Some of this will be statistical, and researchers will also speak personally with refugee children in their families. Another component will be working with service provider organizations as well as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

“We’re looking at language and learning, we’re looking at social and cultural integration, and we’re looking at overall well-being,” said Ramos.

The coalition is also partnering with colleagues in Germany and consulting with people in other countries.

“This is a global issue. It’s not an issue that’s only about Syria, it’s not only about Europe or Canada,” said Ramos. “That’s why the United Nations is making this event.”

Ramos feels the folks in Atlantic Canada have worked particularly well in supporting the large influx of refugees.

“Our service provider organizations – like ISANS, like the YMCA – unlike some of the bigger cities, did a really great job of getting people out of temporary housing and into more permanent types of housing.”

Read full story (http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2016/09/15/halifax-researchers-un-summit-on-resettling-refugees-.html