Supporting the Integration of Immigrant Parents by Preparing Their Children for School

Borrowed with permission from the Journal La Source – Read the original article in French

Réseau-Femmes Colombie-Britannique now offers francophone families newly settled in Greater Vancouver the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) and Supporting Mothers and Raising Toddlers (SMART) programs to help prepare their preschool-aged children for school.

What is the HIPPY Program?

The HIPPY program, for children aged 3 to 5, and the SMART program, for children aged 18 months to 3 years, are designed to help parents support their children’s educational success. In Canada, Mothers Matter Canada offers these programs to immigrant and refugee parents from its Vancouver office through program-delivery partners across the country.

Monique Best, Director of Francophone Programs at Mothers Matter Canada, oversees HIPPY and SMART for the francophone community in Canada.

“HIPPY was first launched as a university pilot project in British Columbia in 2000, before expanding across the country. Today, it’s offered through eight francophone partners and about twenty home visitors who work in French.”

The introduction of SMART in 2020 addressed a need identified by families with very young children.

“According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, regardless of the program, what matters most is that parents have access to services that help them settle and integrate into their communities”, explains Monique Best.

How does it work?

Naouar Belhou, a staff member at Réseau-Femmes, leads the new francophone program.

“HIPPY-SMART runs for 30 weeks, with weekly home visits. Each family receives personalized support, along with free educational materials, toys, and books.”

Impressed by the positive impact of the English-language programs already offered in the province, the HIPPY-SMART program lead is committed to ensuring high-quality service.

“Our goal is to support 41 families in this first year”, she says.

“At first, parents commit to supporting their children, but as the sessions progress, they realize that we can also offer guidance – whether it’s finding employment, understanding how the school system works, or overcoming isolation. It’s a holistic form of support that empowers parents to become their children’s first and best teachers.”

HIPPY-SMART goes beyond education by embracing a broader approach to social support and strengthening the francophone community.

“The goal is to break the isolation experienced by many newly arrived families”, she emphasizes. “We aim to connect them with the francophone community and provide access to valuable resources.”

Réseau-Femmes organizes monthly gatherings to encourage interaction between parents and their children.

“We don’t just deliver a program – we listen, we guide, we support, and we bring people together,” summarizes Naouar Belhou.

In the field

Makalé Simba, a community educator with Réseau-Femmes’ HIPPY-SMART program, is one of three home visitors who accompany families in their day-to-day lives.

For her, the key to success lies in trust and active listening.

“The first meeting is mainly about making a connection. We step into families’ homes, take the time to listen, to reassure them, and to understand their reality truly. It’s human-centred support – non-judgmental, built on dialogue and respect.”

Drawing on her own experience as both an immigrant and a mother, Makalé Simba highlights the importance of the program’s relational dimension.

“It’s more than an educational offering — it’s an outstretched hand that helps parents give their children the tools to thrive, while also equipping themselves to support them with confidence.”

An Invitation

Naouar Belhou reminds us that the HIPPY and SMART programs are based on proven expertise and are established in more than twenty countries.

“Réseau-Femmes provides training for francophone and immigrant mothers to become community educators.”

The HIPPY and SMART programs also provide former participant mothers with the opportunity to become home visitors, gaining valuable work experience in Canada.

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