August at Your YW

August 2020

YW Calgary is committed to supporting the safety

and well-being of community members.

Summer sun and reopening fun

August at the Community's YW

It is hard to believe we are already in the month of August with the ‘Dog Days of Summer’ not far off. Over the past month, YW has been thoughtfully and somewhat cautiously relaunching our in-person delivery of programs and services. Our YW Fitness Centre members have been excited to restart their routines and are finding the added step of signing up for workout time slots and doing online health checks before entering the facility is a valuable component of a healthy workout experience. Parents and children are safely returning to YW Childcare and we are just beginning to roll out a new program, the Family Resource Network, which includes some innovative options designed to improve child and youth development by building resilience and fostering well-being.

This continues to be a challenging time for many in our community, as the pandemic and economic instability are taking their toll. YW wants to help in this area and recently launched a new web-based skill-building tool called Mindfulicity to help people better manage their mental wellness. We welcome our community members to try Coping with Uncertainty, the first offering of this new initiative, available now, FREE until the end of August. To learn more about Mindfulicity and its potential benefits for you, click here.

Amidst the ongoing uncertainly, YW continues to follow Alberta Health Services guidelines to keep our clients, team members and community safe. We look forward to the day when we can fully re-open our community spaces again and enjoy reconnecting with our community members.

How YW Calgary and Calgary Police Service Work Together

Chatting with a Community Resource Officer

From YW WALK A MILE IN HER SHOES® to walking around the neighbourhoods where we live and work, YW Calgary and the Calgary Police Service (CPS) have a longstanding relationship. YW works most closely with our Community Resource Officers (CROs) in the communities in which we operate. YW meets on a semi-regular basis with our CROs to discuss issues that the community reports to CPS or to YW as well as work on collaborative projects to better support our communities together.

In Inglewood, Ramsay, Victoria Park, Erlton & Alyth/Bonnybrook area, we work with Constable Ryan Wood. YW recently asked Cst. Wood a few questions on the topics of community policing, his work with YW and our clients and what he sees in the neighbourhoods he supports. Read our blog, Chatting with a Community Resource Officer to hear what Cst. Wood had to say and how we can work together to create a safer community.

A safe haven in times of crisis or transition

YW's Transitional Housing Program

Have you ever thought about what your worst-case scenario would be? Developing an illness, losing your home, experiencing abuse? All it can take is one tragedy, one major life incident to find yourself feeling vulnerable, isolated and in need of support.

For many of the 100 women living in YW's Transitional Housing, your worst case scenario may be their reality. Many have experienced homelessness, fled violence and continue to experience challenges with mental wellness, addictions and other barriers. They come to YW to work through their trauma and receive the support they need in a safe space.

With a roof over their head and the help of YW Case Coordinators, clients can begin to recover and connect with community resources. Our Case Coordinators put their hearts and souls into their work. They focus on creating linkages with internal and external supports including counselling, mental health resources, employment and income help, Indigenous supports as well as the community. Often, women have experienced very complex and complicated situations and YW is a place for them to rest in times of transition or crisis.

Women can spend up to two years in Transitional Housing, with the goal of moving into long-term housing in the community. We help them learn the life skills needed to do this, like understanding financial stability and maintaining a household. By the time women are ready to attain long-term housing, many of them have begun to enjoy being part of a community and are eager to interact with their neighbours and those around them.

Flexible and Safe Childcare near Downtown Calgary

YW Childcare Centre is Open in Inglewood

YW Childcare Centre in Inglewood is open once again to everyone with full-time, part-time and drop-in spaces for children up to five years old. With so much uncertainty these days, we are excited to offer flexible childcare options just minutes away from downtown Calgary.

At YW, safety is and has always been first in everything we do. We continue to follow Alberta Health Care requirements to limit class sizes, perform health screenings upon entry and increase sanitizing schedules. The YW Hub facility – home to YW Childcare Centre – is less than a year old and has state-of-the-art amenities to support your child's health and safety. From in-room sterilizers, washing machines and dryers to card-access doors and onsite security, you can feel comfortable registering your child.

Many Calgarians have come to know and rely on YW's licensed childcare that encourages your child’s individual development by emphasizing creative play and child-centred activities. Our childcare professionals go above and beyond each day to ensure all appropriate activities during COVID-19 are being maintained. Hand washing, social distancing and learning about face shields have all been incorporated into daily activities, along with a healthy dose of fun!

Take a virtual tour and register today. Call 403.232.1594 or email us.

Neighbour to Neighbour

Recapping YW's Virtual Neighbour Day

YW was thrilled to be able to celebrated Neighbour Day virtually this year! On June 20, 2020, YW Calgary joined its neighbours and community partners in celebrating our love for our communities. We were so pleased to safely celebrate this day online with our partners at the Inglewood Community Association, the Alex, the Drop-In Centre, Momentum, Wood’s Homes, Vibrant Communities Calgary and the offices of Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra, MLA Joe Ceci and MP Greg McLean. Each organization and office shared a warm message about their value for their neighbours and community. It was a great way to engage with our partners and build some positivity during this challenging time. By far the cutest video was from our childcare team. Hear what some of our smallest clients like about their neighbourhood.

Triple your impact until August 30

Donate to YW with #ChipinforKids

YW Calgary and Shaw invite you to #ChipinforKids by texting KIDS210 to 30333 to donate $10 and help us support vulnerable women and their families to thrive. To make your generous contribution go further, Shaw will match your donation and the matched donation amount will then be matched again by the Shaw Charity Classic, up to an additional 50 per cent.

Your $10 #ChipinforKids text donation can grow into a donation of $30 to YW Calgary!

We need your support now more than ever as demand for our services continue to increase. The donations raised through the #ChipinforKids program will help ensure that charities like ours that have been strained by COVID-19 will be able to continue supporting those most vulnerable in our community.