MLOs are known in the settlement sector as Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS).
Based on the MLO program success in Ottawa, the Ministry of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) adopted the MLO model and launched the SWIS program, which now has 225 settlement workers operating in schools across Canada.
Through orientation, daily interventions, outreach and information sharing the MLO program contributes to student success, facilitates a relationship between the schools and new comer families, supports immigrant parents to become familiar and confident in dealing with the school system and supports the schools to create a welcoming environment for immigrant and refugee families.
If your school needs the services of a Multicultural Liaison Officer, please click the link below to fill in the form.
The success of the MLO program rests on the fact that it’s based on the recognition, to borrow from an African proverb, “it takes a village to settle and integrate newcomers in our communities”. There are two important features that speak to the innovative nature of this program:
Schools are one of the first services that immigrant and refugee families connect with in the community. The program allows for settlement services to be provided on-site at schools and facilitates the interaction between students, parents, teachers, school
administrators and a broad range of organizations, enabling all involved to work toward shared goals, such as quality of education for newcomer students, increased intercultural competence and awareness, and a smoother integration of immigrant and refugee families.
The MLO program has become an important feature in many communities across the country and greatly contributes to creating welcoming communities for newcomers to Canada.
