Delivery of health and social programs for temporary and precarious status (TAPS) migrants in Ontario, Canada: A systematic mapping review.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, Canada has accepted more temporary migrants to fulfill labour shortages and support economic productivity. These temporary and precarious status (TAPS) migrants, including temporary foreign workers, international students, refugee claimants, and non-status individuals, work in various sectors to fill gaps in the labour force. However, the precarity and uncertainty experienced by TAPS migrants create challenges around their access to health and social services. In response to shifting migration policies that may exacerbate these challenges, this study aims to identify and describe the extent, range, and nature of health and social programs for TAPS migrants in Ontario. METHODS: We conducted a systematic mapping review using a systematic search strategy to identify relevant programs and services that addressed the social determinants of health through searching organizational, network, and institutional websites; municipal, provincial, and federal government agency websites; and the Canadian Business and Current Affairs database. RESULTS: We identified 143 programs serving TAPS migrants, mostly implemented across southern Ontario and delivering both broad settlement services and issue-specific programs. Additionally, most programs identified in this mapping review served refugee claimants in major urban and suburban cities. In contrast, there were limited programs in northern Ontario and for non-status individuals. Key elements of health and social programs serving TAPS migrants included fostering accessibility, engaging subject matter experts, and developing enabling partnerships among service providers. CONCLUSION: These findings provide an understanding of existing programs serving TAPS migrants in Ontario and offer insights that could inform future programs as migration policies evolve in Canada.