The Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter is committed to helping children and youth overcome family violence and ensure it is not a factor in their futures.

Children entering the Shelter receive therapeutic childcare, individual, family and group counselling sessions, art and recreation opportunities and educational programs in partnership with the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic School District.

Children receive grief and trauma counselling, and therapy is provided to deal with any attachment, behavioural and other critical issues that can determine a child’s success later in life.

By developing Family Goal Plans and Safety Plans, counsellors are able to help mothers develop supportive and effective strategies to help their children. Many Shelter residents benefit from support in developing the parent-child relationship, and in learning how children cope with family violence.   

Once a child has left the Shelter, we continue to provide similar services through a Child and Adolescent Outreach Counsellor. The Children’s Outreach Service is targeted to children four to 18 years, and helps ensure that families continue to receive support after their stay at the Shelter. Unfortunately, lack of resources has resulted in a long waiting list for these services, a situation the Calgary Women’s Emergency Shelter hopes to resolve with additional staffing and funding.

The service often makes referrals to community parenting and counselling services, and to our Men’s Counselling Service. Child and Adolescent Services supported 389 children in 2007, most of them 13 years and younger.

To access services or for more information

call our Helpline at (403) 234-7233 (SAFE)
Toll-Free: (866) 606-7233

TTY#: (403) 262-2768
Email: info@cwes.ca

Direct line to Child Services: (403) 539-5101
Direct email: bobbiec@cwes.ca