New program launches for Calgary single mothers
The Muslim Families Network Society has launched a new program for single mothers. The initative aims to support single mothers by teaching them life skills such as financial literacy and navigating the court system.
The single mother self sufficiency program runs virtually on Sunday mornings. Each session features a speaker on a different topic, ranging from parenting skills to budgeting workshops. The program is also translated into Arabic for the 85 per cent of clients who have emigrated from an Arabic-speaking country.
“When newcomers first come to Canada, they experience a lot of problems … accessing resources, poor social support systems, language barriers, unemployment. This [experience] becomes compounded with single mothers.” said Faraz Khan, the program facilitator. “It’s double marginalization,” he adds.
Muslim Families Network Society noticed in 2019 that the majority of the clients at their Halal food bank were single mothers. This prompted organizers of the program to conduct a series of interviews to discover what kind of support single mothers could benefit from. Dealing with anxiety and depression, as well as adjusting to life as a sole provider were common areas where the women reported needing support.
Muslim Single Mothers network
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Most of the women enrolled in the program have experienced domestic violence, making mental health resources a focus of the single mother program.
Organizers advocate for women to take care of themselves as individuals so that they can be successful parents.
“We all know that when we go to the airplane and something happens, the airplane people [tell us] to put the mask on yourself first then you help the child. This is the same strategy; you have to help the children by looking after your own well-being,” said Idrees Khan, Muslim Families Network Society board chair.
Today, the program is in its third week, with 24 women enrolled. At the end of 10 weeks, participants will receive financial support as well as a certificate for completing the program. Women currently in the program report feeling a greater sense of community and support that was lacking for them as a single parent.
“The goal of this program is that at the end they can move on with their lives, be self-sufficient, and get out of this dilemma that prevents them from being effective” parents and members of the community, said Dorothea Sautter, a Muslim Family Network Society board member.
“If they help themselves, they will be able to help their children,” Idrees Khan added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.
Government proposes new policy for federally regulated employees to disconnect from work
In their 2024 budget, the federal government wants to amend the Canada Labour Code, so employers in federally regulated sectors will eliminate work-related communication with employees outside of scheduled hours. If implemented, this would affect roughly 500,000 across the country.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.