Sheway Pregnancy Outreach Program

Staffed by Community Health Nurses and regular Sheway physicians and other health care providers, the Sheway Medical Clinic is a "one-stop" interdisciplinary clinic that provides primary healthcare services to Sheway clients and their children. While all Sheway clients are eligible to seek health care services at Sheway, clients may also choose to see their original medical care providers.

Sheway clients may talk to a Family Advice Lawyer every week to obtain:

• Free legal advice for parents with child protection and family issues
• Help with legal aid applications for child protection, family, and criminal matters

Appointments will be made for Mondays. 
If you are not a client at Sheway, please visit the Legal Services Society website to find a legal aid office near you.

Sheway clients may also talk to an Outreach Worker for services, including:

• Accompanying clients on medical and legal appointments
• Providing advice in areas like financial and legal aid

Drop-in hours are Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Please visit the Legal Information and Services resource page to learn more about BC's legal procedures and other legal services.

Sheway clients may talk with an Income Assistance Adviser to obtain:

• Help with the Income Assistance application process
• Information and advice about other financial aid services for parents with children or single mothers

Drop-in hours are from Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Thursday: 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please note: the income assistant adviser is not on site the week social assistance cheques are distributed.
*If you are not a client at Sheway, please visit the Ministry of Social Development website to find an Income Adviser near you.

Hot Lunch

On weekdays, clients may stop by the Sheway drop-in to receive a hot lunch. Lunch options usually include salads, proteins, fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, and juice.

Lunch is served Monday – Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Except holidays)

Sheway Food Support

• Sheway clients who are pregnant are eligible to receive food bags once a week.
• Sheway provides emergency food bags to clients when we are able.
• Clients receive a weekly milk supplement, a fresh fruit bag,  a dozen eggs every second week and a block of cheese monthly.

Community Kitchen

The Community Kitchen gives the clients a chance to:

• Work in a kitchen with staff and other clients
• Experiment with a diverse range of foods
• Learn the necessary skills to cook nutritious meals on a budget that they can then take home.

Community Kitchen is held on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. To participate, clients should put their names on the sign-up sheet on the dietitian's door. Space is limited to only six clients each week. All participating clients must wear long pants and closed shoes for safety reasons. Child minding is available to the participants.

Visit the Food Banks & Food Services resource page for more information about the food banks and food services available in your community!

A special thank you to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Virtuous Pie, BC Egg Board, Love Child Organics and East End Food Co-op for kind food donations!

Sheway clients may talk to a staff member to obtain:

• Information about available housing options
• Help with housing applications
• Applications for housing subsidies
• Advocacy for housing

Drop-in hours: Monday to Friday 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Visit the Affordable Housing resource page to learn more about tenancy rights and available housing options in BC.

The Sheway Infant Development Program (IDP) is family centered and voluntary. The Sheway consultants are here to provide clients with information, answer questions around activities that might best meet a child's and family's needs. The IDP staff can provide support and referrals in a group setting, at home, or one to one.

Sheway clients may talk to the Infant Development Program Consultants at Sheway:

• During regular drop-in hours: Monday – Friday 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• By phone: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 604-216-1699

Available services:

• Clients' participation is voluntary and free of cost.
• Ages & Stages questionnaires starting at 4 months
• Information on Child Development
• Safety checks of your baby's equipment, and can provide safety equipment when available
• Home visits and activity planning
• Service coordination
• Community referrals
• Outreach and Support
• Infant equipment and delivery

The Sheway IDP Consultants host Parenting Classes every Friday 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. The babies get a chance to become more independent, discover their abilities and learn new skills. 

• Learn ways to encourage their child's development
• Meet other parents
• Discuss parenting and child development issues
• Make the best use of other community resources and activities

The classes include:

• Make the Connection
• You Make the Difference
• Mother Goose
• Daily Routines
• Early Language and Literacy

Sheway also offers Circle of Security Parenting Classes which run weekly for 10 weeks 3-4 times per year

Infants understand what we are saying and begin to communicate with music and sound before they can speak. Music therapy gives infants, children, and adults an opportunity to:

• Express themselves
• Promote communication
• Promote secure bonding
• Enhance coordination and physical development
• Develop positive social interaction

Sheway clients may visit a Music Therapist every week in the drop-in center:

• Friday 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
• During scheduled "Sign and Song" workshops

If you are not a client at Sheway, please visit the Music Therapy Association of BC website to find a Music Therapist near you.

Sheway is a voluntary program that provides services to women who:

• Are pregnant and/or parenting infants/children
• Have a current or recent history of drug and/or alcohol use
• Live in Vancouver

Any woman interested in accessing Sheway services can drop in during the regular drop-in hours. 

Community Health Nurses

Sheway clients and children may seek health care from Sheway's Community Health Nurses in a number of areas including prenatal care and education, STI and well-woman care, PAP tests, contraception, well-baby and child care, and immunizations. (Outreach and home visits can also be arranged.)

• Drop-in hours: Monday to Friday, 9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Counsellor

Counselling is available at Sheway full-time to provide clients and their families with confidential counselling, education, and support to promote healthy lifestyle choices, as well as referrals to treatment programs.

• Drop-in hours: Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Appointments available upon request

Family Physicians

Sheway clients and children may see the Sheway physicians as their family doctor. The doctors provide primary care services, prenatal care, and Addiction Medicine- including Opiate Replacement Therapy.

Pregnant women also have access to a doctor on call 24/7 through BC Women's Hospital.

• Drop-in hours: Monday to Friday, 9:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Psychiatrist

Sheway clients and children may see a psychiatrist specializing in psychiatric assessments for issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, PTSD, and parent and infant psychotherapy.

• Drop-in hours:
  Women-centred mental health services: Wednesdays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  Children-centred mental health services are provided through RICHER by appointment.

Dental Care Service Providers

Clients' children may see a hygienist at Sheway once a month to provide cleanings and referrals as needed.

• Please make an appointment at the clinic or call (604) 216-1684.

*Emergency or adult services can be found at Reduced Cost Dental Clinics (Source: BC Dental Association)

Pediatricians

Sheway clients and children may see a Pediatrician from the RICHER Program who provides developmental assessments and/or care at the Sheway clinic, that meets the unique needs of children and families in Vancouver's inner-city neighbourhoods.

• Call (604) 216-1684 for an appointment