Community Social Work
Community Social Work Program
The community social work program is composed of approximately 25 community social workers located in specific geographic areas who focus on community development at the local/neighbourhood level. Funding for the program comes from Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) which is a funding partnership between the Government of Alberta and municipal sources.
Community Social Work Programs & Events
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Community Nature Walks in Kingsland
July 21st and Sept. 15th from 6 to 7:15 pm. Please arrive at 5:45 pm.
The May 19th meeting place is at the Kingsland Community Hall, 505 - 78 Ave SW. This will be a leisurely stroll around the west perimeter of the park, returning along 4th Street as we talk about nature in our neighbourhoods.
Join staff from Calgary Parks and learn about flora, wildlife, and parks protection and care while connecting with neighbours. Your community social worker will be there as well to give information about what’s happening in the neighbourhood.
These will be a 60-to-90-minute leisure walk but you don’t have to finish the whole walk if you have mobility challenges. This is for all ages; and dogs on a leash are welcome.
To register, please email: viviana.reinberg@calgary.ca
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Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary
Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary (AAWC) returns this year from June 21 to 26 with a theme of “Keeping the Circle Strong.”
Everyone is invited to Family Day & POWWOW, June 25, 9 am to 6 pm at the Stampede Grounds. Arts & Crafts Market, Children’s corner, Exhibition of Inuit and Metis.
For a listing of all the Aboriginal Awareness Week Calgary please visit aawc.ca
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Aboriginal Awareness Week Artisan Market
The Aboriginal Awareness Week Artisan Market runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m on June 25th & 26th at Southcentre Mall. Held in the mall’s Centre Court, the market starts with an opening ceremony that will have a traditional dance performance and a prayer with Elder Dian EagleSpeaker.
There will be 10 Indigenous vendors to shop from, as well as a resource centre where guests can learn more about Indigenous culture. There will also be an opportunity to donate to the Colouring It Forward Reconciliation Society and receive an orange ribbon to honour residential school children.
100 Anderson Rd. S.E., southcentremall.com
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The Neighbourhood Grant Program
If you have a great idea for Kingsland or Acadia, you can apply and get $ 1,000.
The Community Social Work program offers grants of up to $1,000 to Kingsland and Acadia residents wanting to do neighbourhood based projects.
Projects can be small or large and meet one of the following criteria:
Build Inclusive Neighbourhoods
Foster Truth & Reconciliation
Increase Economic Participation
Examples of Projects/Activities:
Documentary & conversation about local issues, celebrating an international day, a book club to get to know your neighbours, sports equipment lending library, resume & interview peer support group, Indigenous storytelling, healing circles.
For more information about the grant program and to apply for the grant committee, contact:
Viviana Reinberg
Community Social Worker
403-651-1629
viviana.reinberg@calgary.ca -
Virtual Skill Sharing
Informal, Friendly, One-Hour Virtual Gatherings
Laughter Yoga June 21st, 7 – 8 pm
Josh will be sharing Laughter Yoga techniques. You will get
in-depth knowledge about laughter Yoga wisdom - how and why it works, as well as the immeasurable benefits it provides for body-mind wellness. No Yoga poses, just laughter.
Share Your Skills- Everyone has skills or knowledge about something, please consider sharing yours so others can benefit!
Examples: ethnic cooking, exercise, nutrition, dancing, scrapbooking, canning, candle making, vegetarianism, global issues, Aboriginal traditions, using a digital program, etc.
To register or offer a skill, contact Viviana, Community Social Worker, The City of Calgary
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Dental Clinics for Low-Income Individuals & Families
The Chumir Dental Clinic at the Sheldon Chumir Centre provides reduced-fee dental treatment services to eligible families living on low incomes.
Qualified dentists provide reduced-fee dental treatment services to eligible low-income individuals or families who are without access to dental insurance.
This service provides:
reduced-fee dental treatment services by qualified dentists to families in financial need and without access to dental insurance
check-ups, X-rays, fluoride treatment, sealants, fillings, front tooth root canals, extractions, etc
priority to emergency based treatments
Location:
Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre
Dental Clinic, 6th floor
1213 4 Street SW
403-955-6888 -
Retail Training Program
Program Details
11 weeks of in-class training
4 weeks of combined work experience and training
Training in retail vocabulary, customer service and numeracy
Certificates in Basic Food Safety and WHMIS
Computer training and equipment use
Canadian workplace preparation
Employment skills training
Eligibility
The project is available to immigrant women who are permanent residents, have no more than 12 years of schooling, have Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 and require support in obtaining meaningful employment.
Work experience is offered in collaboration with retail businesses. Students are reimbursed for childcare and transportation costs.
For more information please email:
workplaceservices@ciwa-online.com -
New Friends and Neighbourhood Groups (NFNG)
This program offers workshops for immigrant women to practice and improve their English conversation skills, learn about resources available to them, and share experiences with other immigrant women. This is a safe and supportive environment for immigrant women to form meaningful relationships.
Each group is led by a team of 2-3 volunteer facilitators. They plan and lead activities based on the interests and needs of participants within their group. Some examples of workshops include budgeting, grammar / vocabulary, holidays, recreation, local events / activities, vital resources that are available to Calgarians, and many more! In addition, guest speakers come to the groups to deliver meaningful presentations or guide conversations with the groups.
Virtual 2-hour drop-in weekly Monday to Friday at different times
Free, onsite child care (at select locations) for children or grandchildren
No advance registration is necessary
No requirement for English speaking level, skill level
No restriction on immigration status.
For information and to register, contact:
Onyinye (Oh-ing) Odih
403-263-4414 ext. 156
onyinyeo@ciwa-online.comThis is a program from Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA)
What does a Community Social Worker do?
To a community social worker, HOW projects are done is just as important (if not more so) as getting them started.
Connect residents and local groups with one another to increase social inclusion and create a sense of belonging for everyone
Help residents, local groups, and partners to identify social issues that impact their neighborhood and assist with actions to address those issues
Create opportunities for networking, conversation, and skill building
Support residents to become leaders within their neighbourhood
Community Social Work Guiding Principles
Everyone has the ability to make a difference in their neighbourhood
Each person has gifts and talents that can benefit others and their neighbourhood
Those affected by an issue need to be part of decisions meant to address those issues. The living experience of folks affected by an issue is as important as other types of knowledge
Social inclusion, participation and involvement of diverse groups are important for the wellbeing of the neighbourhood
No one knows everything, but together we know a lot