Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association Programs and Services

Mission, Vision and Values Mission: CIWA delivers professional services that facilitate the integration and full participation of women and their families in the community Mission: CIWA delivers professional services that facilitate the integration and full participation of women and their families in the community Vision: Women from diverse backgrounds are empowered to reach their goals and dreams as equal and contributing members of Canadian society Vision: Women from diverse backgrounds are empowered to reach their goals and dreams as equal and contributing members of Canadian society Values: Equality, Empathy, Integrity and Inclusiveness Values: Equality, Empathy, Integrity and Inclusiveness

About CIWA CIWA was established in 1982 to address the needs and concerns of immigrant/refugee women and their families in the community CIWA was established in 1982 to address the needs and concerns of immigrant/refugee women and their families in the community Our core services areas include: Our core services areas include: Settlement and Integration Settlement and Integration Language Training, Employment and Childcare Services Language Training, Employment and Childcare Services Family Services Family Services

Settlement & Integration Settlement Program: Assists new immigrant and refugee women integrate into Canadian society Settlement Program: Assists new immigrant and refugee women integrate into Canadian society Integration Program: Helps immigrant and refugee women secure basic needs Integration Program: Helps immigrant and refugee women secure basic needs New Friends and Neighborhood Groups: Immigrant and refugee women come together to make friends, share experiences and practice conversational English New Friends and Neighborhood Groups: Immigrant and refugee women come together to make friends, share experiences and practice conversational English

Settlement & Integration (cont.) Find Me a Home: Helps multi-barriered immigrant and refugee women escape domestic violence situations by finding safe, affordable housing Find Me a Home: Helps multi-barriered immigrant and refugee women escape domestic violence situations by finding safe, affordable housing In some instances clients are provided with financial support In some instances clients are provided with financial support Clients receive assistance securing basic needs like clothing, food, shelter, and health services Clients receive assistance securing basic needs like clothing, food, shelter, and health services Referrals to other CIWA programs and community services are made Referrals to other CIWA programs and community services are made Secures affordable housing for low-income immigrant families Secures affordable housing for low-income immigrant families Breast Cancer Awareness Project: Targets under-screened and under-served immigrant women at risk of breast cancer Breast Cancer Awareness Project: Targets under-screened and under-served immigrant women at risk of breast cancer

Settlement & Integration (cont.) Diabetes Prevention: Educates immigrant and refugee women about diabetes prevention through exercise and healthy eating Diabetes Prevention: Educates immigrant and refugee women about diabetes prevention through exercise and healthy eating Safe Haven: Provides immediate support services to immigrant women new to Calgary as TFW or secondary migrants who are fleeing domestic violence Safe Haven: Provides immediate support services to immigrant women new to Calgary as TFW or secondary migrants who are fleeing domestic violence Legal Clinic: Immigrant/refugee women and their families receive free legal advice on family or immigration issues from qualified volunteer lawyers Legal Clinic: Immigrant/refugee women and their families receive free legal advice on family or immigration issues from qualified volunteer lawyers

Settlement & Integration (cont.) Filipino Community Development Program: Provides Filipino families information about community services to help families through the reunification process and setting children up for success in the Canadian school system Filipino Community Development Program: Provides Filipino families information about community services to help families through the reunification process and setting children up for success in the Canadian school system Civic Participation Project: Immigrant women and their families learn ways to engage in community-level processes to become more civically engaged Civic Participation Project: Immigrant women and their families learn ways to engage in community-level processes to become more civically engaged

Settlement & Integration (cont.) Volunteer Program: Volunteer Program: Recruits volunteers to support CIWA’s programs and services Recruits volunteers to support CIWA’s programs and services Provides women with Canadian experience, helping their job search Provides women with Canadian experience, helping their job search Connects immigrant/refugee women and Canadian- born women Connects immigrant/refugee women and Canadian- born women

Settlement & Integration (cont.) Arts and Crafts Market: Builds on the skill set and talents of immigrant women in the areas of arts, crafts, culture and entrepreneurial skills – items are sold at local events, festivals, etc. Arts and Crafts Market: Builds on the skill set and talents of immigrant women in the areas of arts, crafts, culture and entrepreneurial skills – items are sold at local events, festivals, etc. Senior Immigrant Women take Arts and Crafts on the Road: Engages senior immigrant women in sharing skills and knowledge with others in the community Senior Immigrant Women take Arts and Crafts on the Road: Engages senior immigrant women in sharing skills and knowledge with others in the community

Language Training, Employment & Childcare LINC: Offers 12 part time classes at various ESL levels LINC: Offers 12 part time classes at various ESL levels Pebbles in the Sand: Provides literacy classes to immigrant/refugee women with 0-7 years of education in their native country not eligible for or enrolled in other ESL classes Pebbles in the Sand: Provides literacy classes to immigrant/refugee women with 0-7 years of education in their native country not eligible for or enrolled in other ESL classes Canadian Pronunciation: 8-week program for women with good English to enhance speech Canadian Pronunciation: 8-week program for women with good English to enhance speech

Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) Choosing the Right Path: Career Choices for Immigrant Women Choosing the Right Path: Career Choices for Immigrant Women SMILES (Small Multicultural Immigrants Learning Early Strategies): Provides early childhood development to promote life-long learning to children ages 0-6 years SMILES (Small Multicultural Immigrants Learning Early Strategies): Provides early childhood development to promote life-long learning to children ages 0-6 years

Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) Bridging the Gap for Foreign Trained Accountants: An enhanced language training program with workplace practicum to help immigrant women re-enter the accounting field in Canada Bridging the Gap for Foreign Trained Accountants: An enhanced language training program with workplace practicum to help immigrant women re-enter the accounting field in Canada Childcare Training for Low Literacy Immigrant Women: A language training program with workplace practicum for immigrant women to work as Early Childhood Educators Childcare Training for Low Literacy Immigrant Women: A language training program with workplace practicum for immigrant women to work as Early Childhood Educators

Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) Individual Employment Counseling: Helps immigrant women identify employment opportunities, set realistic employment goals and implement a plan of action Individual Employment Counseling: Helps immigrant women identify employment opportunities, set realistic employment goals and implement a plan of action Networking Breakfast Meeting: Provides immigrant women with the opportunity to network with various corporate representatives and employment agencies in Calgary Networking Breakfast Meeting: Provides immigrant women with the opportunity to network with various corporate representatives and employment agencies in Calgary

Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) Pre-Employment and Employment Workshops: Group workshops covering a range of employment related topics are offered throughout the year Pre-Employment and Employment Workshops: Group workshops covering a range of employment related topics are offered throughout the year Making Changes: A pre-employment, life skills orientation program done in partnership with the Making Changes Employment Association of Alberta Making Changes: A pre-employment, life skills orientation program done in partnership with the Making Changes Employment Association of Alberta

Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) Accounting Training: A 6-week introductory course offering basic accounting skills Accounting Training: A 6-week introductory course offering basic accounting skills Receptionist Training: Provides immigrant women with administrative backgrounds the skills and knowledge to qualify for entry-level office assistant positions Receptionist Training: Provides immigrant women with administrative backgrounds the skills and knowledge to qualify for entry-level office assistant positions

Family Services Family Conflict: Assists immigrant women and their families who are experiencing abuse, trauma, difficult relationships and life changes Family Conflict: Assists immigrant women and their families who are experiencing abuse, trauma, difficult relationships and life changes Cross-Cultural Parenting: An education program for parents facing the challenges of parenting in a new country and culture Cross-Cultural Parenting: An education program for parents facing the challenges of parenting in a new country and culture Crossing the Bridge: Decreases barriers to community services for immigrant women and their families living in conflict/violent situations Crossing the Bridge: Decreases barriers to community services for immigrant women and their families living in conflict/violent situations

Family Services (cont.) In-Home Support: Supports immigrant children, youth and families feel safe and protected to overcome family violence situations In-Home Support: Supports immigrant children, youth and families feel safe and protected to overcome family violence situations Hand-in-Hand Parent Link Centre: Links parents with parenting programs and services that promotes family wellness and positive parent-child relationships Hand-in-Hand Parent Link Centre: Links parents with parenting programs and services that promotes family wellness and positive parent-child relationships

Family Services (cont.) Best Beginnings: Education for pregnant immigrant women in the areas of health, social needs and financial concerns Best Beginnings: Education for pregnant immigrant women in the areas of health, social needs and financial concerns Home Visitation Partnership with Healthy Families: Supports families with newborns and children aged 0-5 years with education and information about community services Home Visitation Partnership with Healthy Families: Supports families with newborns and children aged 0-5 years with education and information about community services

Family Services (cont.) Youth Program: Addresses the needs and concerns of culturally diverse women between the ages of Youth Program: Addresses the needs and concerns of culturally diverse women between the ages of Guide to Success: Individual counselling for immigrant youth Guide to Success: Individual counselling for immigrant youth Individual Counselling for Senior Immigrant Women: Provides information about health resources, parenting support, family law, community support and intergenerational issues Individual Counselling for Senior Immigrant Women: Provides information about health resources, parenting support, family law, community support and intergenerational issues

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