Red Deer & District Family and Community Support Services

Funded projects 2012 – 2014

Red Deer & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is committed to empowered individuals, healthy families, and caring communities.

What is FCSS?FCSS is a partnership between local municipal governments and the provincial Human Services Ministry. The partnership provides provincial funding that is matched with local tax dollars on an 80/20 share basis.

The FCSS Act requires this funding be used to support social initiatives that are preventive. The social well-being of individuals and families must be enhanced through promotion or intervention strategies provided at the earliest opportunity. The initiatives must also do one or more of the following:

1. Help people to develop independence, strengthen coping skills and become more resistant to crisis;

2. Help people to develop awareness of social needs; 3. Help people to develop interpersonal and

group skills which enhance constructive relationships among people;

4. Help people and communities to assume responsibility for decisions and actions which affect them;

5. Provide supports that help sustain people as active participants in the community.

Protective factors and prevention gohand in hand.Protective factors are conditions that build resilience in a person, family or community. The presence of protective factors in individual lives and in a community are vital to the success of prevention. Because of this integral link, the Red Deer & District FCSS Board selected six protective factors to focus funding on during the 2012-2014 funding cycle. The projects funded address at least one protective factor and at least one FCSS outcome. The protective factors selected are:

1. Access to personal supports and counseling in times of need

2. Positive adult mentors and role models3. Secure emotional bonds/attachments with

parents and caregivers4. Organizations and networks with high

participation5. Positive parenting practices in day to day life6. Strong family and social support networks

FCSS in Red Deer and Central AlbertaFCSS is represented locally by the Red Deer and District FCSS Board, which was founded in 1968 and has operated under its current structure since 1974.

The City of Red Deer proudly administers Red Deer and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) in partnership with the Town of Bowden, the Village of Delburne, the Village of Elnora, the Town of Penhold, Red Deer County, and the City of Red Deer.

Red Deer & District FCSS provides funding to non-profit agencies, school boards and partner municipalities to deliver social services, supports or projects that meet the criteria of the FCSS Act.

Currently, FCSS projects are funded in one of five categories: • Children and Youth • Community Development• Family • Seniors• Adults

The following projects have been funded by the Red Deer & District FCSS for the 2012 – 2014 Funding Cycle.

Children & YouthBig Brothers & Big Sisters of Innisfail – In School Mentoring ProgramThe In School Mentoring Program matches screened adult or teen volunteer mentors with children in a school setting. Mentoring is provided in Bowden, Penhold, and Spruce View.403.227.6766

Central Alberta Refugee Effort – Immigrant Youth ProgramThe Immigrant Youth Program assists newly arrived immigrant and refugee youth with integrating socially and culturally into mainstream Canadian society.403.346.8818

Chinook’s Edge School Division – Family School Wellness ProgramThe Family School Wellness Program is available at schools within the division, working with youth and their families when they are facing social or economic challenges. It is also a link to a variety of community agencies, and the program advocates effectively in support of students and their families. 403.227.7051

Children & Youth – continued

Playschools Local playschools encourage children to play in a learning environment and prepare them academically and socially for kindergarten.

Bowden Play and Learn Society: 403.227.5075 Benalto Playschool: 403.746.5065 Delburne Playschool Society: 403.749.3606Elnora Playschool Society: 403.773.3920

Crisis Centre – Community Education ProgramThe Community Education Program assists children and youth in understanding the issues of sexual assault, and also provides issue-specific training to professionals, employee groups and community groups regarding personal safety and responses to sexual assault.403.340.1124

Red Deer Child Care Society – School Age Childcare ProgramThe Red Deer Child Care Society provides a safe developmental environment in the before- and after-school hours for children whose parents are working or going to school. 403.347.7973

Red Deer Public School Division – Family School Wellness ProgramThe Family School Wellness program provides preventive services and early intervention assistance to children and their families in the Red Deer Public School Division and Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division.403.342.4320

Children & Youth – continued

Red Deer Youth and Volunteer Centre – Boys and Girls ClubThe Boys and Girls Club creates safe environments where children and youth experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life.403.342.6500

Red Deer Youth and Volunteer Centre – Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Red Deer The program includes the traditional match along with In School Mentoring and Teen Mentoring. The program matches an adult or teen mentor one-on-one with a child or youth 5-15 years of age in Red Deer.403.342.6500

Red Deer Youth and Volunteer Centre – 49th Street Youth Shelter Outreach ProgramThe Outreach program provides support to youth age 12-17 and their families who may be experiencing dysfunction within the family unit. Shelter residents and their families have access to Shelter Outreach Services to promote a smooth transition returning home.403.342.6500

Town of Penhold – Youth ClubThe Penhold Youth Club offers free after-school programming, two days per week for youth ages 10-15 years. The program is designed to ensure youth have a safe, supervised, inclusive “3rd place” in which they may receive guidance, support and encouragement from adult leaders in Penhold.403.304.0198

Community DevelopmentCity of Red Deer – Community FacilitatorsThe City of Red Deer has three Community Facilitators funded by the Red Deer & District FCSS program. As community developers, the facilitators seek to increase awareness of social needs and engage the community to assume responsibility for decisions and actions that affect them. 403.342.8100.

Red Deer County – Community FacilitatorThe roles and responsibilities are similar to that of the City of Red Deer Community Facilitators, with a rural focus. 403.350.2150

District Community Workers The District Community Workers in each of the five partner municipalities deliver preventive programming and enhance the social well-being of individuals and families in the rural areas in accordance with the FCSS mandate.

Town of Bowden: 403.224.2207 Village of Delburne: 403.749.3654 Village of Elnora: 403.773.3920 Town of Penhold: 403.886.5464 West Red Deer County: 403.505.9091 Springbrook (as part of Red Deer County): 403.350.9533

Families

Family Services of Central Alberta – Infant Preschool Wellness ProgramThe Infant Preschool Wellness Program addresses the health, developmental needs and well-being of children 0-6 years of age and their families living in conditions of risk.403.343.6400

Family Services of Central Alberta – Parent Education ProgramThe Parent Education Program teaches parents valuable skills needed to be effective parents in creating strong families with high capacity. 403.343.6400

Seniors

Family Services of Central Alberta – Home Support ProgramThe Home Support Program offers individualized in-home services to people with temporary or chronic disabilities, to older adults and to those recovering from injury. 403.343.6400

Seniors – continuedGolden Circle Senior Resource Centre – Outreach Social ServicesThe Outreach Social Services program provides up-to-date preventive social services and resources emphasizing the social well-being of older adults and their care givers, 55 years and up.403.343.6074

Meals on Wheels programs The Meals on Wheels programs assist those who are unable to prepare food or lack the ability to obtain food for preparation by providing nutritious hot meals at times when they are unable to prepare such meals on their own.

Village of Elnora: 403.773.3920Village of Delburne: 403.749.3606Red Deer Meals on Wheels: 403.340.2511

Central Alberta Refugee Effort – Immigrant Seniors program – Men’s GroupThis program provides individual and group activities for immigrant and refugee men who are older adults or seniors. It facilitates social integration into the community and offers opportunities to make new friends, share and learn about each other’s culture, improve English language skills, and add a sense of belonging within the community. 403.346.8818

Adults

Central Alberta Refugee Effort – Learning Together ProgramThe Immigrant Family Program strives to help newcomers increase their knowledge and skills with respect to settlement and integration, and increase their sense of belonging and independence to ease their transition into their new community. 403.346.8818

Family Services of Central Alberta –Counseling Counseling helps citizens to develop effective ways of dealing with problems and personal relationships, improve coping skills and gain confidence in their ability to solve future challenges.403.343.6400

Canadian Mental Health Association –Education ProgramThe Education Program is designed to increase the mental health and wellness of people with mental illnesses, their family members and friends, service providers or professionals, and the community at large. 403.342.2266

Adults – continued

Central Alberta Woman’s Outreach Society – Boundaries GroupThe Boundaries Group provides information and support to women wanting to learn more about creating healthy relationships. Participants in the program will learn the skills important to maintain healthy relationships while working within a group setting.403.347.2480

Parkland Youth Homes – Walk-In ClinicThe Walk-In Clinic provides single session therapy counseling to individuals, couples or families with no fee for service. 403.340.8995

Family Services of Central Alberta – Take CareA facilitator-lead course for an adult who finds themselves anticipating a caregiving role or already in the position of caregiver to someone with a long-term health condition or physical limitation.403.343.6400

For more information on Red Deer & District FCSS or the administration of the program please visit www.reddeer.ca/socialplanning or call Social Planning at 403.342.8100

FCSS regional partners:Town of BowdenVillage of DelburneVillage of ElnoraTown of PenholdRed Deer CountyCity of Red Deer