RESEARCH & LEARNING FOCUS

RESEARCH & LEARNING FOCUS

The Calgary Single Mothers Society is committed to community-informed research that centres the lived experiences of single mothers, women, families, and marginalized communities. Our research efforts aim to identify gaps, challenges, and systemic barriers while highlighting strengths, resilience, and community-driven solutions.

Our research and learning activities focus on:

● Understanding the social, economic, and mental health challenges faced by single mothers and women

● Identifying barriers to accessing services such as housing, employment, childcare, legal support, and healthcare

● Exploring the impacts of poverty, racism, immigration status, and systemic inequities on families

● Evaluating the effectiveness of community-based programs and supports

● Amplifying community voices to inform policy, advocacy, and system-level change

We prioritize participatory and ethical research approaches, ensuring communitymembers are actively involved in shaping research questions, sharing experiences, andguiding recommendations. Findings are used to inform program design, strengthenservice delivery, support advocacy efforts, and contribute to policy discussions thatpromote equity, dignity, and inclusion.

Through research, CSMS works to turn lived experience into evidence that drivesmeaningful and sustainable change.