Background

Muslims in Canada face unique challenges attributed to their intersectional identities of race, culture, gender, and ability, which are compounded by their experiences of racism, Islamophobia, and anti-Muslim sentiments. There is limited research on the social service needs of Muslim communities. This is a community-based participatory action research project which started as a student-led initiative to create a Muslim student group (Muslim Human Service Alliance) at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work with the support of Professor Ka Tat Tsang. The study will fill a gap in social work research by exploring the social service needs of Ontario’s Muslim population in order to help social workers better understand the barriers and facilitators impacting Muslims as they access social services. The research will ultimately inform recommendations on how to improve services for this diverse population.

Objectives

  • Explore the lived experiences of Muslims accessing social services

  • Identify the existing challenges or barriers in accessing social services

  • Critically examine the gaps in service provision and delivery amongst diverse Muslim communities in Ontario

  • Develop recommendations to improve service provision for Muslim communities

Project Details

Funding

This project has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant.

Recruitment

The study includes 12 focus groups and 24 interviews with service users, and 2 focus groups with service providers.

Project Timeline

Governance Structure

Research Team

Project Coordinator

  • Mishal Javed

 

Research Assistants 

  • Shazzaneiy Mohamed Nalir
  • Alyna Walji
  • Saira Khan
  • Rumia Owaisi
  • Masuma Behzad
  • Tamana Hassan
  • Bouran Abbas
  • Iman Al Samaneh
  • Faraz Chattha

Steering Committee 

Principal Investigator 

  • Dr. Ka Tat Tsang

 

Academics

  • Michael Shier
  • Purnima George
  • Muhammad Asadullah
  • Amina Hussain
  • Shaheen Azmi

Academic Partners

  • University of Regina
  • Toronto Metropolitan University

Community Partners

  • Muslim Food Bank and Community Services
  • Muslim Children’s Aid and Support Services
  • Naseeha
  • Healing as One
  • Mishka Social Services
  • NISA Homes
  • Canadian Rohingya Development Initiative
  • Quba Community Services
  • Danforth Community Center
  • Jamiah Qasimul Uloom
  • Scarborough Muslim Association
  • Islamic Foundation of Toronto
  • Toronto Islamic Centre

CBPAR Facilitator

  • Ruth Wilson
 

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