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Service Eligibility Criteria for EL Shama CARES

To ensure our services reach those most in need, El Shama CARES Foundation prioritizes support for individuals and families who meet age requirement and  one or more of the following criteria:

1. Low-Income Status

  • Household income falls below the Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) or local poverty threshold

  • Receives government income supports (e.g. AISH, Alberta Works, CERB, etc.)

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2. Marginalized or Underserved Communities

  • Lives in priority or underserved neighbourhoods (e.g., Edmonton areas with limited access to social services)

  • Experiences barriers related to race, gender identity, disability, or immigration status

 

3. BIPOC Youth and Families

  • Identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour

  • Seeking culturally responsive programming that reflects lived experience

 

4. Newcomer or Refugee Status

  • Recently arrived in Canada or navigating the settlement process

  • Lacking access to traditional support systems or community networks

 

5. At-Risk Youth

  • Youth aged 12–29 experiencing or at risk of:

    • Mental health challenges

    • School disengagement or exclusion

    • Justice system involvement

    • Family instability or trauma exposure

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6. Situational Disadvantage

  • Temporary crisis or life transition (e.g. housing instability, domestic violence, bereavement, or displacement)

  • Lacking access to traditional support services due to systemic or personal barriers

 

 

We believe in meeting people where they are. If you're unsure whether you qualify, please reach out, our intake team is here to help.

Referral Sources We Work With

Legitimate pathways to service access and partnership in Edmonton

Government & Municipal Services

  • Edmonton Children's Services (Alberta Ministry of Children & Family Services)

  • Edmonton Youth Justice Services

  • Alberta Health Services (AHS) – Addiction & Mental Health Programs

  • City of Edmonton – Family & Community Support Services (FCSS)

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Health & Mental Health Providers

  • Royal Alexandra Hospital – Social Work Department

  • Stollery Children’s Hospital – Family-Centered Care Program

  • Alberta Health Services (Referrals from Community Mental Health Clinics)

  • Boyle McCauley Health Centre

  • iHuman Youth Society (Mental Health & Outreach Services)

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Community Agencies & Nonprofits

  • Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society

  • Multicultural Health Brokers Co-op (MCHB)

  • The Mustard Seed

  • Bissell Centre

  • E4C

  • Youth Empowerment & Support Services (YESS)

  • REACH Edmonton

  • Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA)

  • Africa Centre

  • Catholic Social Services – Immigration & Settlement

  • The Mennonite Centre for Newcomers

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Education & School-Based Referrals

  • Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) – Student Services

  • Edmonton Catholic Schools – Inclusive Learning Services

  • NorQuest College Student Supports

  • MacEwan University Wellness & Mental Health Services

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Justice & Diversion Programs

  • Youth Restorative Action Project (YRAP)

  • Edmonton Police Service – Youth Intervention Programs

  • Community Corrections (Probation Officers)

Land Acknowledgement

El Shama Cares Foundation acknowledges with deep respect that we live, work, and serve on Treaty 6 Territory, the traditional and ancestral lands of many First Nations, including the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota Sioux, Blackfoot, and Dene peoples, as well as the Métis Nation of Alberta. 

We honour the enduring presence of Indigenous peoples on this land, past, present, and future, and we recognize their ongoing contributions to our communities and our collective well-being.

As an organization dedicated to healing, empowerment, and care, we acknowledge that true reconciliation begins with listening, learning, and building authentic relationships rooted in respect and understanding.

We commit ourselves to walking alongside Indigenous communities in the spirit of partnership, fostering pathways of equity, healing, and shared responsibility for the generations to come.

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