Welcome to Future Focus
Vision: Accomplishing today in order to focus on the future.
According to Canada’s Immigration Program (October 2004) Canada has the highest per capita immigration rate in the world. Canada enjoys an international reputation as a country where rights and freedoms offer a new start. Families and individuals immigrate to Canada in part because they are focused on a new and better future for themselves and their families. They immigrate because Canada embraces diversity and welcomes new cultures.
Alberta has experienced an explosion of new Canadians since 1995. Stats Canada reports a ten year change (1996-2006) of 25.2% growth of new Canadians and projects 38% ESL representation in Alberta by 2031. This presents a major challenge for the delivery of culturally appropriate services. A first step in preparing for cultural competence is the acknowledgement that an Eurocentric approach is ingrained in the current method of government service delivery.
The first major step in the direction to achieve cultural competence in Alberta took place in March of 2010. On Monday, March 22, Teresa Woo Paw, MLA Calgary-MacKay, introduced a Private Members’ Motion, Motion 505 – Cultural Competence which was passed by the Legislature and reads:
- Be it resolved that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to encourage ministries to evaluate their cultural competency, share best practices, and integrate cultural competency activities into their annual plans to further the government’s goals for equitable access to services, a diverse and prosperous economy, and a high quality of life for all Albertans:
Future Focus is dedicated to assisting families in receiving culturally competent services. This is particularly true of families requiring services for family members with special needs particularly for children with disabilities. The associates of Future Focus provide support and mentoring services to families to understand and work within the services offered by government agencies and departments.
Future Focus provides consultation and evaluation services to:
- families requiring assistance in understanding what services are available;
- businesses serving a multi-cultural audience, and
- community services wanting to review their level of cultural competence.
Note: Future Focus is proud to announce the addition of cLaudia Ng as our newest consultant. cLaudia background in working with special needs children is highly complimented by the depth of her ESL language knowledge and her personal understanding of the Chinese culture. This allows Future Focus to expand its ability to successfully advocate and prepare treatment plans for ESL families with special needs children in a culturally sensitive manner. For a detailed overview of cLaudia check her Bio page.
For more information contact us at info@futurefocus.info
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