The Value Of A Referral Network
An effective referral network is a wonderful way to bring new learners to your CALP, and to provide your current learners with access to opportunities that you may not be able to provide. A strong network helps ensure learners can access the best possible learning and receive the care and supports they need to be successful. By building close relationships with partners in your community, you may also be able to make more cost-effective use of learning and support services that already exist. This video explains how some CALPs are using referral networks to support their learners.
A good referral network will:
1. Increase awareness of services in your community.
2. Bring new learners into your CALP.
3. Create new opportunities for learners and provide better supports along the learning pathway.
4. Allow your CALP to focus on its purpose: supporting literacy and foundational learning. By building good referral networks your CALP no longer has to be the "jack of all trades". Use your network to refer learners to other organizations that have programs that will meet their needs.
5. Help you recognize emerging needs in your community more quickly by maintaining good communication within your network.
And remember, if you see a gap in the supports that are already available, ask if anybody in your network is willing to provide it! In the same way, your network will be grateful for the opportunity to share information on their clients' needs, and have more information about the opportunities that exist within the network.
Typical Supports That Contribute To Learner Success
The opportunities for referrals into your CALP as well as outgoing referrals can be endless. Here is a list of the most common local, regional, provincial and federal supports that you can access and begin building strong relationships with, if you haven't already.
Alberta Works (provincial)
- Alberta Supports
- Training Supports
- Income Support (application available online)
- Health Benefits for Adults (application available online)
- Alberta Child and Family Benefit
Canada Service Centre (federal)
- Employment Insurance (application available online)
- Canada Pension/Old Age Security
- Social Insurance Numbers
- Passports (application available online)
- Student Loans (application available online)
Immigration and Settlement Services
- Citizenship and Immigration Canada
- Immigrant Services in your area
- Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
- Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks
Family and Community Support Services (communities will vary but services include)
- Parent-child development activities
- Temporary or occasional parent relief
- Support services for school aged children
- Parenting and family life education and development programs
- Marriage enrichment
- Retirement planning
- Programs for single adults and single parents
- Courses designed to enhance self-awareness and personal growth
- Individual, family and group counselling services
- Youth development
- Home support
- Education and information
- Outreach and coordination
- Senior's Outreach programs
Health Centres and Supports
- Alberta Addiction and Mental Health
- Crisis line phone number(s)
- Primary Care Networks (family physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, therapists, etc.)
- Local emergency and urgent care facilities
Educational Supports
- Comprehensive Community Colleges (CCIs)
- Other Post-secondary institutions
- CAEC (Canadian Adult Education Credential)
- General Information
- Approved Exam Centres (sites to write exams)
- Local training providers and learning opportunities
Local Services
- Food Bank
- Daycare / Dayhome
- Emergency Shelters
- Registry Offices (Health Cards, ID, Drivers' License, Registrations)
- Thrift Shop
- Town Office
- Real Estate Agents (for new people coming into your community)
- Drug Store
- Schools
- Service Organization (Elks, Rotary, Recreation Boards)
- Library
- Local Businesses
- Lawyers
- Local law enforcement (RCMP, city police, etc.)
- Religious Organizations