Social Service Worker – Immigrants and Refugees (SSWI)

About the Program

This two-year diploma program prepares you to succeed as a social service provider working with immigrants and refugees from diverse backgrounds. With a framework based on equity, social justice and anti-oppression principles, this program will provide insight and understanding of pre-migration conditions and how to effectively aid clients with migration and the integration process.

Your success in this program will be measured by your ability to grow, change and challenge your own beliefs, values and promote social justice, human dignity and equality.

As a graduate of this program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, you are eligible to pursue Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Mental Health and Addiction program. This unique pathway allows you to earn a degree within two years (4 semesters plus a work-term) after completion of a summer bridging stream.

Completion of the summer bridging stream includes the following courses:

MHB399 Advanced Studies in Community Mental Health
MHB499 Health and Community Psychology
MHB599 Introduction to Mental Health and Addiction
MHB699 Crisis Counselling and Therapeutic Approaches
MHB799 Trauma Methods and Practice in Community Mental Health

Credential Awarded

Ontario College Diploma

Duration

4 Semesters (2 Years)

Starts

September

Program and Course Delivery

This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format with some courses available in Seneca's flexible delivery format. Some coursework is online and some must be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus to complete in-person learning requirements. For courses offered in the flexible delivery format, professors use innovative learning spaces and technology to teach students in a classroom or lab and broadcast in real time to students attending remotely. In flexible courses, students have the choice of coming on campus or learning online.

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

International and national migration policies
Settlement counselling
Case management
Community development
Advocacy
Fundraising and proposal writing
Program planning
Development and evaluation

Work Experience

Field Placement

As a student of this program, if you meet all the academic requirements, you will complete 600 hours of field placement during semesters 2 to 4 in a professional setting. Unpaid field placements will take place two days a week during each semester.

Your Career

When you graduate from this program, these are the types of career options you can explore:

Settlement agencies
Schools
Refugee shelters
Community centres
Criminal justice system
Women’s programs, shelters and agencies offering services for immigrant youth

Based on your skills, interests and professional background you will qualify to work as:

Job search workshop facilitator
Host program worker
Settlement worker
Housing worker
School settlement worker

Program of Study

Course List
Course Code	Course Name	Weekly Hours
Semester 1
COM101	Communicating Across Contexts	3
or COM111	Communicating Across Contexts (Enriched)
SSW101	Interpersonal Communications	3
SSW102	Anti Oppressive Practice	3
SSW206	Resiliency through the Life Span	3
WIR100	Introduction to Immigrant and Refugee Policies	3
WIR147	Field Seminar: Laws, Principles and Ethics	3
Semester 2
SSW201	Group Dynamics	3
SSW212	Interviewing Skills and Principles	3
WIR208	Introduction to Settlement Sectors	3
WIR227	Immigrant Families and Systemic Violence	3
WIR247	Integrative Field Work Seminar	3
WIR257	Field Placement	3
Semester 3
SSW311	Service Coordination and Advocacy	3
SSW312	Supportive Counselling	3
WIR347	Integrative Field Work Seminar	3
WIR357	Field Placement	4
WIR377	Non-Profit Funding and Grant Writing	3
plus: General Education Course (1)		3
Semester 4
SSW402	Community Practice	3
WIR408	Migration and Trauma	3
WIR447	Integrative Field Work Seminar	3
WIR457	Field Placement	4
plus: General Education Course (2)		6

Program Learning Outcomes

This Seneca program has been validated by the Credential Validation Service as an Ontario College Credential as required by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

As a graduate, you will be prepared to reliably demonstrate the ability to:

Develop and maintain professional relationships which adhere to professional, legal, and ethical standards aligned to social service work.
Identify strengths, resources, and challenges of individuals, families, groups, and communities to assist them in achieving their goals.
Recognize diverse needs and experiences of individuals, groups, families, and communities to promote accessible and responsive programs and services.
Identify current social policy, relevant legislation, and political, social, and/or economic systems and their impacts on service delivery.
Advocate for appropriate access to resources to assist individuals, families, groups, and communities.
Develop and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and community partners.
Develop strategies and plans that lead to the promotion of self-care, improved job performance, and enhanced work relationships.
Integrate social group work and group facilitation skills across a wide range of environments, supporting growth and development of individuals, families, and communities.
Work in communities to advocate for change strategies that promote social and economic justice and challenge patterns of oppression and discrimination.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or a mature applicant
English: Grade 12 C or U, or equivalent course

Canadian citizens and permanent residents may satisfy the English requirements for this program through successful Seneca pre-admission testing.

Additional Information

After admission but before beginning field placement, you must obtain a Police Vulnerable Sector Check.

International Student Information

International admissions requirements vary by program and in addition to English requirements, programs may require credits in mathematics, biology, and chemistry at a level equivalent to Ontario’s curriculum, or a postsecondary degree or diploma, equivalent to an Ontario university or college. Program-specific pre-requisite courses and credentials are listed with the admission requirements on each program page. To review the academic requirements please visit: Academic Requirements - Seneca, Toronto, Canada (senecapolytechnic.ca).