Emma Maternity House Society

Published purpose

This 29-month project will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic change. Emma Maternity House Society will achieve this by forming an advisory committee comprised of key multi-sectoral stakeholders; engaging community leaders, service providers, government officials, and women with lived experience from across Alberta in discussions on the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on homeless pregnant women; compiling and analyzing research and stakeholder feedback to develop recommendations and strategies for combating identified predominant barriers to equality; and conducting a symposium to broadly share project findings, highlight best practices, and mobilize support across sectors for resources, policies, and practices that are inclusive and take an intersectional approach. At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by advancing inclusive policies and practices, increasing networks and collaboration to accelerate systemic change, and addressing persistent harmful gender norms and attitudes to support women’s equality. Women with lived experience will be involved in each component of the project. The project will culminate with influential stakeholders and decision makers from across Alberta being brought together to advance solutions and formalize systemic change commitments to support at-risk pregnant youth and women towards a recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.