Support for the hardest moments
in life, in your language.
Wellbeing and Resiliency
Support for the hardest moments in life, in your language.
Safety and crisis support
Support for women and children facing violence, or living through a crisis. These services are confidential.
Crisis Case Management Supports
What it is: Immediate support in a crisis, to help you and your children find safety and stability, and move forward.
Who it’s for: Immigrant and refugee women and their children. Preference is given to women who are not permanent residents or citizens.
How it runs: Contact the team directly. Culturally sensitive, trauma-informed support that continues for as long as you need it.
Contact: crisiscasemanagement@ciwa.org, 403-263-4414 ext. 142
What you can gain:
- Immediate crisis intervention
- Personalized safety planning
- Emotional counselling
- Legal advocacy
- Access to emergency housing
- Long-term psychosocial and case management support
Learn more: Program flyer link, supplied by CIWA
Quote:
[No testimonial in the source. Add one, with consent and Family Services review, when available.]
Funded By
Gender-Based Violence Prevention
What it is: Counselling and case management for women and families living with family conflict, abuse, or violence. Includes emotional support, workshops, advocacy, and help finding safe shelter.
Who it’s for: Immigrant women and families aged 15 and older.
How it runs: One-on-one, couples, or family sessions. Confidential sessions at community locations. Free childcare during sessions, conditions apply.
Contact: [Program contact address, to be confirmed]
What you can gain:
- Emotional support and counselling
- Safety planning and advocacy
- Help finding safe shelter
- Workshops on healthy relationships and gender-based violence
- Referrals to community and legal supports
Learn more: Program flyer link, supplied by CIWA
Quote:
[No testimonial in the source. Add one, with consent and Family Services review, when available.]
Funded By
Her Way Forward: Pathways to Justice
What it is: Counselling and case management for women and families living with family conflict, abuse, or violence. Includes emotional support, workshops, advocacy, and help finding safe shelter.
Who it’s for: Immigrant women and families aged 15 and older.
How it runs: One-on-one, couples, or family sessions. Confidential sessions at community locations. Free childcare during sessions, conditions apply.
Contact: [Program contact address, to be confirmed]
What you can gain:
- Emotional support and counselling
- Safety planning and advocacy
- Help finding safe shelter
- Workshops on healthy relationships and gender-based violence
- Referrals to community and legal supports
Learn more: Program flyer link, supplied by CIWA
Quote:
[No testimonial in the source. Add one, with consent and Family Services review, when available.]
Funded By
Counselling and wellbeing
Somewhere to talk, and space to look after yourself, with people who understand your language and your culture.
Culturally Responsive Counselling
What it is: One-on-one counselling, group sessions on women’s health and wellbeing, and community activities that bring women together. Includes Grandma’s Kitchen and activities shared between seniors and youth.
Who it’s for: Two streams. Immigrant women aged 50 and over, and young immigrant women aged 15 to 30. Permanent residents.
How it runs: By phone, video call, in person at the CIWA main office, or a home visit. Transportation support, first-language support, and childcare available, restrictions apply.
Contact: noreenm@ciwa.org, 403-263-4414 ext. 147
What you can gain:
- Individual counselling that respects your culture and life experience
- Educational workshops on women’s health, mental health, and overall wellbeing
- Group wellness and community activities
- Intergenerational activities connecting seniors and youth
- Grandma’s Kitchen, and home visits
Learn more: Program flyer link, supplied by CIWA
Quote:
[No testimonial in the source. Add one, with consent and Family Services review, when available.]
Funded By
Mental Health and Addiction Support
What it is: Counselling in your first language for mental health and addiction, for you or your family. Includes support groups, workshops, and referrals to community and clinical services.
Who it’s for: Immigrants, refugees, and newcomers. Support groups are open to women and men.
How it runs: Individual, couple, and family counselling. Groups and workshops.
Contact: [Program contact address, to be confirmed]
What you can gain:
- Counselling in your first language
- Support for mental health, addiction, and grief
- Support groups and workshops
- Referrals to community and clinical services
Learn more: [Program flyer link, supplied by CIWA]
Quote:
After a life-threatening accident that left me with a brain injury, I fell into deep depression. Through counselling in my own language, I felt understood and supported. I learned how to cope, regained control of my life, and moved forward with confidence and hope for myself and my family.
– A CIWA client
Funded By
Mindfulness Hut
What it is: Two private rooms where you can rest, breathe, and take time for yourself. Each room has a reclining or massage chair, guided mindfulness videos on the walls, a yoga mat, and an essential oil diffuser. Created with the Alberta Mindfulness Association.
Who it’s for: All registered CIWA clients.
How it runs: Book a 30 or 60 minute session by email. When you arrive, our staff will show you to the room. Free, during business hours. Videos in English, Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Tigrinya.
Contact: mindfulness@ciwa.org
What you can gain:
- A quiet, private place to rest and breathe
- Guided mindfulness in your language
- Deep breathing, body scan, mindful walking, stretching, and meditation
- Time for yourself, for free
Learn more: Program flyer link, supplied by CIWA
Quote:
[No testimonial in the source. Add one, with consent and Family Services review, when available.]
Funded By
Family Conflict Prevention Program
What it is: [Program content to be supplied. The annual report describes it as a 30-year program supporting women, seniors, spouses, children, and families experiencing or at risk of violence and abuse, through education, prevention, counselling, and community-based work.]
Who it’s for: [To be confirmed.]
Contact: [Program contact address, to be confirmed]
What you can gain:
- [Program details to be supplied.]
Learn more: [Program flyer link, supplied by CIWA]
Quote:
[No testimonial in the source. Add one, with consent and Family Services review, when available.]
Funded By
For organizations and partners
Work that strengthens the wider sector supporting immigrant and refugee women.
Uncovering Promising Futures
What it is: A gender-based violence prevention and support model built and tested by CIWA between 2024 and 2026, designed to help agencies serve immigrant, refugee, and newcomer women affected by violence.
Who it’s for: Organizations, agencies, and community groups. This is not a client service.
How it runs: Online learning modules, in development. Contact the project team to learn about the model or get support to use it in your organization.
Contact: promisingfutures@ciwa.org
What you can gain:
- A tested model for serving women affected by gender-based violence
- Online learning modules
- Support to apply the model in your organization
Learn more: [Program flyer link, supplied by CIWA]
Quote:
[No testimonial in the source. Add one, with consent and Family Services review, when available.]
Funded By
Stories from our community
Real stories from women in our employment programs..
Frequently Asked Questions
Are CIWA Settlement Services free?
Yes. All CIWA Settlement Services are provided free of charge to eligible newcomers and community members.
Who can access Settlement Services?
CIWA is a nonprofit organization that supports immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families through a wide range of settlement, language, employment, and community programs.
Can I receive support in my own language?
CIWA is a nonprofit organization that supports immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families through a wide range of settlement, language, employment, and community programs.
What kind of help can I receive?
CIWA is a nonprofit organization that supports immigrant and refugee women, girls, and their families through a wide range of settlement, language, employment, and community programs.
