SHORE program provides essential supports for pregnant newcomers
Pregnancy is a joyful time for many women and trans people. But for newcomers to Canada, it can also be scary. Language barriers, varying levels of health insurance, and lack of a support system are significant challenges. However, a new program is helping to reduce those barriers and provide strong supports to pregnant newcomers and refugees.
The SHORE Centre (Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education), which offers sexual and reproductive health services, received $25,000 in funding for its Culturally Inclusive Reproductive and Pregnancy Options Support project through Waterloo Region Community Foundation’s (WRCF) Fund for Gender Equality.
Thanks to this funding, SHORE is able to provide culturally inclusive reproductive health and pregnancy information and support navigating the healthcare system to newcomers and refugees — support that became even more important during COVID-19.
“This particular grant meant we were able to — in a time of high misinformation and fear — offer a service where people could come together virtually and get their questions answered in a culturally supportive environment,” said TK Pritchard, Executive Director of SHORE.
Programming began in June 2021 and is available through SHORE, and they also provide guest facilitation through partner organizations, such as Carizon. The SHORE program manager, Hoda Ghonim, says it’s very important to her to build relationships with the participants and to make sure she is available to them outside of the group.
“COVID-19 has exasperated a lot of this, but pregnant newcomers and refugee participants may have lost their entire support systems,” said Ghonim. “I just encourage them, if you don’t want to share with the group, connect with me and I’ll support you,” said Ghonim.
That support is wide-ranging. Recently, a pregnant woman in the group, who didn’t have an interpreter, went to a doctor’s appointment. But because of the language barrier, the healthcare team didn’t know how to provide instructions to her.
“She called me crying and asking me to please help her,” says Ghonim. “I told members of the healthcare team to just tell me what she needed over the phone. Then I assisted her. It was important to support her because she was very stressed.”
In addition to supporting women with pregnancy, the program also offers a variety of information on other topics, such as domestic violence.
“I don’t think you can underestimate having a space where people can get resources, and connect and be honest about the challenges they are facing, and get support from someone who is providing a program that is culturally relevant and aware of the barriers,” said Pritchard.
Ghonim says they are also always looking for new ways to support moms. Recently, they partnered with the University of Waterloo’s Lab for Infant Development and Language, which helps moms observe cognitive challenges with their babies, and also gives them information on how to take care of their children.
Pritchard says the program has been incredibly impactful, but that it highlights even more work needs to be done.
“These programs demonstrate the need for gender equity work in the health-care system, and how few resources there are for newcomers who are pregnant or parenting,” says Pritchard. “As we continue to run these programs, we also want to ensure that we are asking for change and better experiences for community members.”
To learn more about the SHORE Centre, and to donate, visit: www.shorecentre.ca
Fund for Gender Equality
The Fund for Gender Equality is a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, which is supported by the Government of Canada. From 2021 – 2022, 21 community foundations across the country are granting $3.4M to women and gender-diverse-led and serving organizations. To learn more visit, www.wrcf.ca/gender-equality.
Note: This story was written prior to Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation and Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation unifying to become Waterloo Region Community Foundation. Although the story was created by KWCF, we have updated the organization name to WRCF throughout the story.