Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association

1. Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association Programs and Services

2. Mission, Vision and Values • 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 • Values: Equality, Empathy, Integrity and Inclusiveness

3. About CIWA • 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: • Settlement and Integration • Language Training, Employment and Childcare Services • Family Services

4. Settlement & Integration • Settlement Program: Assists new immigrant and refugee women integrate into Canadian society • 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

5. Settlement & Integration (cont.) • 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 • Clients receive assistance securing basic needs like clothing, food, shelter, and health services • Referrals to other CIWA programs and community services are made • 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

6. Settlement & Integration (cont.) • 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 • Legal Clinic: Immigrant/refugee women and their families receive free legal advice on family or immigration issues from qualified volunteer lawyers

7. 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 • Civic Participation Project: Immigrant women and their families learn ways to engage in community-level processes to become more civically engaged

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

9. 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. • Senior Immigrant Women take Arts and Crafts on the Road: Engages senior immigrant women in sharing skills and knowledge with others in the community

10. Language Training, Employment & Childcare • 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 • Canadian Pronunciation: 8-week program for women with good English to enhance speech

11. Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) • 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

12. 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 • Childcare Training for Low Literacy Immigrant Women: A language training program with workplace practicum for immigrant women to work as Early Childhood Educators

13. Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) • 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

14. Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) • 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

15. Language Training, Employment & Childcare (cont.) • 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

16. Family Services • 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 • Crossing the Bridge: Decreases barriers to community services for immigrant women and their families living in conflict/violent situations

17. Family Services (cont.) • 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

18. Family Services (cont.) • 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

19. Family Services (cont.) • Youth Program: Addresses the needs and concerns of culturally diverse women between the ages of 10-19 • 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

20. Questions?