The federal government has committed to bringing 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada over the coming weeks and months. Many of these will be children and youth, who will have a range of physical, emotional and mental health needs.
Caring for Kids New to Canada is a comprehensive resource for people who work with immigrant and refugee children, youth and families. Developed by the Canadian Paediatric Society with input from a range of experts and organizations, the site has evidence-based information on medical conditions, mental health, child development, and much more. It also has a range of tools, checklists and links to local resources.
Among the many health issues covered on the site are:
- Medical assessment of immigrant and refugee children and Electronic checklists for medical assessment
- Adaptation and acculturation
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Symptoms, signs and clinical problems: A tool for differential diagnosis
- Oral health screening
- Immunizations: Bringing newcomer children up-to-date
The site also features resources to help families navigate the health system, and to make connections with local agencies:
- FAQs about medication coverage for refugee claimants and Health insurance for immigrant and refugee families: Resources to help professionals educate newcomers about the Canadian health system.
- Using interpreters in health settings: Describes risks of using a patient’s family members or friends as interpreters, and cautions against the use of children and youth.
- Community resources serving newcomer families: Links to local organizations across Canada that provide a range of services to immigrants and refugees.
- Health information for parents: Links to organizations with health information on a range of topics, in many different languages, including Arabic.
Users can also access archived webinars and other presentations on various health topics.