Services and Programs
As with any people of a diverse culture and origin, each has a certain need. The Somali Centre for Family Services has recognized those needs and provides various services that are aimed at helping the Somali Community in Ottawa.
These services focus on a wide spectrum of issues faced by the Somali Community and are:
- Community Capacity Building
- Counseling Services
- Employment and Training Services
- Settlement & Integration Services
- Seniors Services
- Women Services
- Youth Services
Community Capacity Building
- Community Organizing
- Bringing together professionally trained community members to discuss issues relevant to the community
- Initiating community development activities such as the community night, cultural events and information sharing forums and/or workshops
- Organization of workshops to develop a strategic plan that suits the community’s needs
- Advancing better linkages and working relationships of the centre with other service providers and funders, etc.
Counseling Services
- Individual, group and family counseling
- Conflict resolution in the family setting
- Anger management
- Mental Counseling
- Crisis Intervention
- Addressing feelings pertaining to war trauma, poverty, joblessness, isolation, cultural barriers, access issues, intergenerational gaps, depression, etc.
Employment and Training Services
- Provision of information
- Appropriate referrals about the job market and job training
- Linkage with employment centers, etc.
Settlement and Integration Services
- Interpretation/ translation services
- Assistance with housing issues
- Linkage with legal resources
- Connection with primary health care and health promotion services
- Assistance with immigration issues and processes
- Advocacy and outreach
- Provision of information and appropriate referrals
- Conflict resolution in the neighborhoods
- Drop-in and support services, etc.
Seniors Services
- Provide moral support and strong network
- Address health and isolation issues
- Help them deal with issues of loss of identity and loved ones
- Organize culturally appropriate recreation and social activities, etc.
Women Services
- Address issues of violence and abuse
- Educate about rights and responsibilities
- Build support network so as to minimize isolation
- Improve issues related to self-esteem and self care
- Share information and resources
- Help to acquire cross-cultural parenting skills
- Educate about Canadian systems and values, etc.
Youth Services
- Provide culturally sensitive intergenerational counseling
- Effect positive attitudes and emphasize the consequences of their choices
- Provide education on delinquencies, crime and drugs
- Emphasize the value and importance of education
- Organize youth programs and activities (e.g. Recreation, drop-in and IT training, workshops).
- Provide information and appropriate referrals, etc.
