immigrant women's resource center
Who We Are?
What We Do
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
For Women By Women
Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS), in partnership with Kwantlen Polytechnic University nursing students, have developed an immigrant women’s resource center. The Immigrant Women’s Resource Center is currently staffed by three Kwantlen Polytechnic University fourth year nursing students. The overall mission of the center is to empower women by providing education and resources surrounding women's health issues, for the purpose of building an environment that supports equal access to our health care system and ensures that women's rights are being maintained.
Our Mission: To empower women by providing education and resources surrounding women's health issues, for the purpose of building an environment that supports equal access to our health care system and ensures that women's rights are being maintained.
Our Mission: To empower women by providing education and resources surrounding women's health issues, for the purpose of building an environment that supports equal access to our health care system and ensures that women's rights are being maintained.
Our Goals:
- To support immigrant women in recognizing and addressing problems and allowing women to speak out in order to find possible resolutions.
- To raise awareness and to provide information regarding women's rights and sexual health.
- To inform women about the many resources available and support offered in the community.
- To help women gain access to health services within their community and elsewhere.
- To assist women in taking responsibility over their health needs and to ensure that optimal health is achieved.
- To advocate for women's rights.
What We Have to Offer:
- Current list of physicians accepting new patients.
- Sexual education classes and workshops.
- One-on-one confidential appointments with an all female staff.
- Resources on: counseling services, sexual health issues, contraception choices, women’s rights in Canada, and housing.
- Free male and female condoms, dental dams, and tampons.
- Provide education for clients, and help them gain access or link them to other organizations that provide primary health care.
- A safe resource center, which is confidential and free of charge.
Staffed by Kwantlen Nursing Students
Get a Hold of Us
Our resource center is open every Thursday from 9am to 3pm. Walk-ins are welcome.Address: We are located at #201-12732 80th Avenue Surrey, BC V3W 3A7.
Phone Number: Call us at 604 595 7962
Email Address: Email us at womens.clinic@pics.bc.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
Is your center a drop-in?
We do offer some walk-in services like information referral, condoms and pregnancy tests, but if you want to see a student nurse, you must first make an appointment. If you are having symptoms that might be a vaginal or urinary tract infection – like burning or pain when urinating or with sexual intercourse, more frequent than usual urination and/or blood in your urine or after or during sex, please visit the Emergency department of your local hospital.
What languages are spoken at the center?
We serve women from the following communities: Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, South Asian, Farsi, African and Caribbean, as well as female youth from all communities. Women from other communities who can understand and speak some English are also welcome.
Are your services free of charge?
Yes, all of our services are free.
Are the services age-limited?
No. We will see any woman.
Are the nurses in your center female?
Yes, all the nurses in our center are women
PREGNANCY
Can I have a pregnancy test without an appointment?
Yes. You can come for a urine pregnancy test anytime after one week of missing your period. You will receive the results within 15 minutes.
Does your clinic do abortions or provide prenatal care?
No. But we can refer you to the appropriate service. I don’t want to get pregnant, but I had unprotected sex – what can I do?
You can go to any major pharmacy to buy the Emergency Contraceptive Pill (ECP/Plan B) – PLEASE NOTE: you must do this within 72 hours from when you had unprotected sex. While the ECP usually works in most cases, we cannot guarantee that it will be effective.BIRTH CONTROL
Will continuous use of birth control/I.U.D./Depo Provera cause any problems if I am trying to get pregnant and start a family in the future?
In some cases, it will. Hormonal birth control such as the birth control pill and injections of Depo-Provera can sometimes cause delays getting pregnant.
Can I use the birth control pill continuously (without a break) to avoid having my period? Is it okay to do that or will there be any health effects?
Yes, you can use your birth control pill continuously to avoid having your period; however, it is best to do this only after talking to your healthcare provider. Although hormonal birth control is very effective in preventing unwanted pregnancy, there is a small chance that you may still get pregnant. If you are not having monthly withdrawal bleeding – your periods – you will not know that you are pregnant. Talk to your healthcare practitioner before deciding to take your pill continuously to make sure it is a safe option for you.
How do I purchase birth control ?
In order to purchase birth control, you must make an appointment with a doctor and get a prescription; once you have that prescription, you can buy your birth control at a pharmacy. We do not fill prescriptions, but we can refer you to a doctor who will write you one.
STIs (SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS)
How can I get an STI test?
You need to book an appointment with your family physician or at a walk-in clinic – we can refer you to one. All testing and results are confidential.What happens if I have a STI?
You will be contacted immediately and a course of treatment and counseling will be offered for you and your partner.Can I find out when I contracted an STI?
No. The test can only tell you whether you are positive or negative for the STIs; it cannot tell you when you contracted them.PAP TEST
Do I need a Pap test if I have never been sexually active?
No, if you have not had any vaginal sexual activity (i.e. vaginal intercourse, vaginal/oral and/or vaginal/digital sexual activity) you are not at risk for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) which cause cervical cancer in women. If you have never had any kind of sexual contact, your risk is low.
(604) 596-7722