OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants

Site: Toronto

Service: OCASI

Record #: MET5092
Last Full Update: 28 Aug 2024

Contact Information

Office Phone 416-322-4950
Fax 416-322-8084
E-Mail generalmail@ocasi.org
Website www.ocasi.org
Social Media Facebook Facebook, Instagram Instagram, LinkedIn LinkedIn, YouTube YouTube
Primary Contact Peggy Ho, Senior Coordinator, Finance and Administration; Phone: 416-322-4950 ext 223; Email: pho@ocasi.org
Alternate Contact Eta Woldeab, Associate Executive Director; Phone: 416-322-4950 ext 224; Email: ewoldeab@ocasi.org

Description and Service Details

Description (Service)

A collective voice for immigrant serving agencies and to coordinate responses to shared needs and concerns

  • advisory and resource body for community service agencies, government and other stakeholders in regard to matters of immigrant services
  • stimulates and conducts research for the sector
  • information exchange among member agencies

Accessibility Initiative (AI), ocasi.org/accessibility - Training for settlement sector employees to better serve immigrants with disabilities

Allies in Refugee Integration (ARI), ocasi.org/allies-refugee-integration - Aims to increase and strengthen collaboration between settlement service providers and refugee sponsorship groups in Ontario

Canadian Network for Equity and Racial Justice (CNERJ), ocasi.org/canadian-network-equity-racial-justice-cnerj - Ongoing working group of civil society leaders, including representatives of the community, business, media, academia, education, philanthropic, labour, arts, sport, and health sectors

Capacity Building and Training for Small Black-led and Racialized Organizations (SBLROs), ocasi.org/capacity-building-training-small-black-led-racialized-organizations-sblros - Project enables OCASI to promote equity for small Black-led and Racialized organizations

Enhancing National Sector Gender Based Analysis (GBA) Plus Capacity, ocasi.org/enhancing-national-sector-gender-based-analysis-gba-plus-capacity - Project supports equity-building initiatives across the immigrant and refugee serving sector in partnership with settlement umbrella agencies

Immigrant and Refugee Communities, Neighbours, Friends & Families, immigrantandrefugeenff.ca -- Ontario-wide campaign to raise awareness about the signs of woman abuse and to promote bystander intervention

Journeys to Active Citizenship, ocasi.org/journeys-active-citizenship - Develops civic engagement program models and curriculum tools that will ultimately be adopted by settlement agencies to continue fostering active citizenship amongst newcomers across Canada.

Maximizing Governance, ocasi.org/maximizing-governance - Provides governance training to board members and senior leaders of incorporated, community-based not-for-profit organizations based in Ontario, including roles/responsibilities of board members regarding money and law, and how boards can best represent those they serve

Mental Health Promotion, ocasi.org/mental-health-promotion - Builds capacity of immigrant and refugee services to promote newcomer mental health and wellbeing, and respond to mental health issues; project works with immigrant and refugee serving organizations, primary health, and the mental health sector to support the implementation of a service delivery model for mental health promotion

Newcomer Donation Network (NDN), NewcomerDonations.ca - Centralized tool designed to connect public donation offers with community agencies and newcomers in need

Positive Spaces Initiative, positivespaces.ca - Website with information and resources to help agencies better serve LGBTQIA+ newcomers (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual, genderqueer)

SettleNet.org, settlenet.org - Bilingual National Settlement Sector Community of Practice (CoP) where settlement sector staff, leaders and those in related fields can learn, share, connect and collaborate

Hours Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm; organization has hybrid work model, so call ahead of visiting office
Areas Served Ontario ; Ontario
Eligibility Immigrant and refugee service providers, community agencies
Application Application package available on website
Languages English, French
Fees Annual membership fee based on organization's budget -- $100 to $2300

Site Information

Located In Community Toronto
Address & Map
110 Eglinton Ave W
Suite 200
Toronto, ON
Canada M4R 1A3
Mailing Address 110 Eglinton Ave W, Suite 200 
Toronto, ON 
Canada M4R 1A3
Physical Access Fully accessible - Wheelchair accessible building including main entrance and barrier free second floor washroom; Street parking close to entrance

Categories and Classification

HCSD Main Heading Community Programs ; Youth
HCSD Sub Heading 2SLGBTQ+ ; 2SLGBTQ+ Supports ; Donation Drop-off/Pick-up
Service Categories Board Development Support ; Community Involvement Programs ~ Immigrants/Refugees ; Internet Information Resources ~ Community/Social Services Occupations ; Internet Information Resources ~ Immigration Issues ; Internet Information Resources ~ LGBTQ2+ Issues ; Issue Advocacy ~ Black Community ; Issue Advocacy ~ Immigration Issues ; Material Goods Donation Information/Matching Services ; Planning/Coordinating/Advisory Groups ~ Cultural/Racial Issues ; Planning/Coordinating/Advisory Groups ~ Immigration Issues ; Planning/Coordinating/Advisory Groups ~ Women's Issues ; Professional Skills Development Support ~ Immigration Issues ; Professional Skills Development Support ~ Mental Health Issues ; Spouse/Intimate Partner Abuse Prevention

Agency Overview