Community Bridging Services (Stream 2)

Community Bridging Services match newcomer individuals or families with volunteers from the host society so that they can better understand Canadian life and culture, develop friendships and a sense of connectedness, and learn to access services in the community. Host volunteers are usually established residents who are familiar with the social, educational and recreational systems in their community.

The host volunteers and their communities also benefit from these friendships and learn more about immigrants and immigration. Read a Stream 2 Success Story.

Community Bridging Services and activities include:

• recruitment, assessment and orientation of newcomers and hosts;
• training for participants;
• matching newcomers and hosts;
• paired and group activities;
• referrals and linking to services in the community;
• service bridging – collaborating with other agencies and promoting partnerships; and
• service support – maintaining networks of contacts, participating in community consultations, professional development, and program evaluation.

Funding for Community Bridging Services is obtained through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. During the last tendering period, two separate Stream 2 RFPs were issued, one procuring services for youth and one for adults and families, for service between July 1st, 2008 - June 30th, 2009. The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development retains the option of extending these contracts for up to two additional one-year periods based on budgets, service demands and contractor performance.

RFP documents are available on BC Bid and can be located by using these guidelines:

• Click on the "Browse for Bid Opportunities or Bid Results" link.
• Browse current ("open") or expired ("closed") opportunities using the BC Bid Advanced Search function, using keywords such as "Stream 2", "Adaptation", and "Settlement". If there is no currently open BCSAP Stream 2 RFP on BC Bid, you will need to browse closed opportunities. When browsing closed opportunities, remember to adjust the date range. Please note that the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development assumed responsibility for BCSAP administration in mid 2008; prior to that date, BCSAP and related RFPs were administered by the Ministry of Attorney General.
• Browse current open opportunities by organization under the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, which has had responsibility for posting Stream 2 RFPs since mid 2008.
• Browse services (click on the "Services" link within "Browse Opportunities") to see current open opportunities (there are usually between 200 to 400 current open service-related opportunities).

For more information please consult:

• BCSAP Stream 2 Information Sheet (PDF - 162KB)
• BCSAP Stream 2 Logic Model (PDF - 36KB)

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