CISA walks alongside families of children with diverse needs — from FSCD navigation to behaviour support to caregiver mental health and community advocacy. We've lived this journey. We know the way.
CISA exists to eliminate the stigma that keeps Calgary families from getting help. Through peer-guided support, FSCD navigation, and mental health resources for caregivers, we walk alongside families — especially those from minority and newcomer communities — until they find their footing. Because when a parent is supported, the whole family benefits.
Every service is delivered by people who have personally navigated what you're going through. No jargon. No long wait for our support. Just people who show up.
Using the Collaborative Problem Solving framework, we work directly with families to understand behaviour and build strategies that work — while you wait for FSCD services to begin.
Learn more →We walk alongside you through the FSCD application, help you understand your rights, prepare for caseworker meetings, and connect you with community resources — in plain language.
Read the guide →We've seen what happens when caregivers burn out with no support — the cycle affects the whole family. CISA provides mental health resources and peer connection so parents don't carry it alone.
Reach out →We speak up for families navigating broken systems — from IPP barriers in charter schools to gaps in newcomer access to FSCD funding and support.
Our advocacy →CISA was built because the systems that exist weren't working for the families we serve. Families were waiting too long. Stigma was keeping children from support. Fear of IPP files was closing school doors. Caregivers were burning out with nowhere to turn.
Advocacy is not a side project for CISA — it is part of our core. We show up in community spaces, we amplify family voices, and we push for systemic change alongside the direct support we deliver every day.
Partner with us on advocacyHelping families understand IPP files and charter school access — so fear doesn't make the decision for them.
Pushing for culturally responsive services across Calgary's support landscape for newcomer families.
Documenting family experiences and advocating for shorter, better-supported wait periods.
Community education and outreach to normalize asking for help — especially in minority communities.
Don't just wait. Get real support while your application is being processed.
Navigating a new country and a new system at the same time. We understand both.
Fear of stigma, fear of labels, fear of losing school options. We help you choose without fear.
Your mental health matters. Asking for help is not weakness — it is what your family needs.
We put together a plain-language guide for families — no jargon, no complicated language. Just what you need to know about applying, the waitlist, IPP files, and your rights.
CISA was founded by people who have personally navigated the FSCD system, the school system, and the cultural barriers that make asking for help feel impossible in many communities.
We know the hesitation. We know the fear of labels. We know what the waitlist feels like when your child needs help right now. That is why we show up differently.
Connect with usBecause when a parent is supported, the whole family benefits.
— CISA MissionWhether you need behaviour support, help with FSCD, advocacy, or just someone who understands — reach out. We will get back to you within 2 business days.