Calgary Supports for Children + Families

There are several community-based resources to support families in Calgary. This list is non-exhaustive.

• Families Matter: a dedicated local support system helping navigate transitions to parenthood.

• Made by Momma: a grassroots non-profit organization charity. They help families facing situations of adversity and crisis by providing healthy prepared meals, wholesome baked goods, baby essentials, children’s items, supportive in-home visits, and many other services.

• Mamas for Mamas: a group created to help fill the gaps for the many families that struggle day after day. Resources include the Karma Market & Mama wellness groups.

• Children's Cottage Society:  provides families with the help they need to cope with and overcome their challenges, build on their strengths, keep their children safe, and turn adversity into possibility. Programs include the Crisis Nursery, links to the Kindred (Rapid Access Counselling) program, child development programs, and Indigenous family supports. 

• City of Calgary Children & Youth Programs: social programs and services for children and youth in Calgary. They include the Calgary AfterSchool program, Park n' Play program, Youth Employment Centre (YEC), and many other community-based programs. 

• Calgary Board of Education: has compiled a comprehensive list of nearly all community-based resources in Calgary, called the "Family Resource Guide". These include but not limited to: mental health & counselling services, LGBTQ2S+ resources, legal assistance, housing supports, food supports, emergency shelters, resources related to domestic violence, newcomers to Canada, parenting services, Indigenous supports, camps, neurodiverse children & youth supports.

• Calgary Public Library: has resources for parents & caregivers, resources for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers, programs and digitial resources for kids, and teen spaces and programs. 

• Carya Calgary: free-to-low cost programs to strengthen families and promote meaningful social connections. Programs include supports around family functioning like the Parent-Child Mother Goose program, Parent Chat, and Infant massage and songs program. 

• Alberta Health Services, nutrition services workshops: free nutrition classes to help with healthy eating for pregnancy, feeding your baby, and picky eating: feeding your child (1-5 years). Register on birthandbabies.com, Many of them have recorded sessions or webinars you can watch on your own time. All developed and delivered by AHS Occupational Therapists, Registered Dietitians, Speech Language Pathologists, and other multidisciplinary health care providers.