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What is the Kara Program?
The Kara Program is the Calgary Catholic School District’s Community
of Caring program for pregnant and parenting teens, male and female. The
Calgary Catholic School District, together with the Kara Community Advisory
Association (KCAA), Alberta Health Services, and other friends and supporters,
provide services to pregnant and parenting students (see For
Students). There is also a Kara Outreach component (see Outreach
Clients) for clients (up to age 24) who are not in school and would
like the assistance of the Kara Social Worker and Kara Nurse.
What is the Kara Community Advisory Association (KCAA)?
The Kara Community Advisory Association (KCAA) is a non-profit registered
charity (Charitable Registration #89539 2884 RR0001). The Board of Directors
are made up of volunteers dedicated to providing support to Kara students
and Kara Outreach clients. The main focus of the KCAA is to provide social
work services to these students and clients in order to help meet their
non-educational needs. The KCAA also provides educational bursaries, emergency
financial assistance, sponsorship of Kara retreats and Kara Infant &
Child CPR training days, volunteer coordination, assistance with distribution
of non-financial donations, and other non-educational support. Currently,
the KCAA has the following membership:
- President: Anita Carey
- Vice-President: Margaret Bailey
- Treasurer: Shannon Cook
- Secretary: Carla Volpi
- CWL Representative: Shirley Hazen
- K of C Representative: Vince Mendonsa
- Diocesan Life & Family Resource Centre Representative: Norline
Johnson
- Outreach Committee Chairperson: Lucille Harrison
- Educational Bursary Committee Chairperson: Margaret Bailey & Stephanie
Jaunin
- Calgary Catholic School District Representative: Elisabeth MacDonald
- Member at Large: Carol Hartwick
History of Kara and the Kara Community Advisory Association
The Calgary Catholic School District opened its first Kara Centre in
January of 1991. Inspired by the Kennedy Foundation’s Community of Caring
Program, the Kara Program was created to help pregnant and parenting teens
complete their education while addressing the more complex needs of their
unique challenges. Recognizing that the School District alone could not
meet all these needs, the Kara Community Advisory Association (KCAA) was
formed in June 1991. Since that time the KCAA has continued its support
of the program, mainly through the provision of the Kara Social Worker.
This could not have been done without the very generous support of Catholic
Charities and other friends of Kara (see Friends
of Kara). The Calgary Health Region (now Alberta Health Services)
has also continued its generous support of Kara by providing the services
of the Kara Nurse. Together, the Kara Community Advisory Association,
Alberta Health Services, and the Calgary Catholic School District help
pregnant and parenting young people through education, support, and caring.
The Calgary Catholic School District, the Kara Community Advisory Association,
and the Calgary Health Region were honoured to accept the Mayors Excellence
Award 2007 for their partnership work in the category of Special Needs.
This prestigious Calgary Educational Partnership Foundation award recognizes
the strong relationship between these partners and their important work
with young people.
Testimonials
“Our family has been very happy with our experience of the Kara
program. The Kara Social Worker has been extremely supportive these past
two years and we appreciate all of her time and effort. Our daughter is
in school today because of that support.”
“The Kara Program was one of the best programs my daughter and
I were a part of. I got pregnant when I was nineteen years old. At the
time I found out I was going to have a child life became very tough for
me… I approached my teacher one day and she introduced me to the Kara
Program staff. The Kara Social Worker and I talked every other day and
she helped me make the best choice for me and my child. I know I’m a very
strong person, but keeping my child was the best and hardest decision
I have ever made. Becoming a mother isn’t easy when you’re doing it alone
and having the father not there…I got through high school even though
it took longer, at least I did it…I’ve been with my employer for 4 years
now and still counting…I have been able to save money to pay for my
registration for post-secondary…no matter how long or how hard I have
to work, I will do it for both of us…” |
