Communities across the Lakeland will host programs under the new Family Resource Network stream of funding. The Government of Alberta released its list of successful applicants on April 7, which included organizations in St. Paul, Bonnyville, and Lac La Biche.
Town of St. Paul FCSS director Lynn Smid confirmed the program, previously known as Parent Link, had signed a contract with the province to provide services in St. Paul. She noted the announcement was “good news” for the area.
St. Paul is among a handful of groups in the Lakeland that received funding, she noted, adding, “It is a regional network . . . We are very grateful and excited.”
Family Resource Networks will deliver prevention and early intervention services and supports through a provincial network of community-based service providers, according to a media release, dated April 7.
Supports will be targeted to families facing poverty or trauma, those who may need support and guidance to build healthy families and contribute to healthy communities, ultimately reducing the number of children who will come into provincial care. As Alberta faces both a pandemic and an economic contraction due to the oil price drop, support to families in need will be critical, according to the province.
“Now, more than ever, we need to make sure that children and their families have targeted supports that promote child safety, well-being and development. Our new Family Resource Networks will provide programs, services and supports to build stronger, more resilient families and communities across the province,” said Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Children’s Services
Smid says the funding means staff members can continue some of the work that was already started, such as the ages and stages screening program that families can still access via phone. While some childhood development will be offered in St. Paul, there likely won’t be as much as previously offered, said Smid.
But, the important thing is that people can still reach out for support.
A new name and new funding structure may mean a lot of new things for the Family Resource Network in St. Paul, but a very familiar team will continue to lead the way for families in the community. Michelle Duffy will be the Family Resource Network programmer in St. Paul, and Kim Ouellette will be the program assistant. Both had previously lead the Parent Link program in St. Paul.
When speaking to the current situation and acknowledging the stresses that young families may feel, Smid encourages residents to “look out for one another.” She also asks people to reach out if they, or someone they know, is in need of support.
Bonnyville hub for region
The Town of Bonnyville will become the hub for the Family Resource Network (FRN) for their region, which includes the Village of Glendon, Village of Vilna, Town of Elk Point, and Town of St. Paul.
The Bonnyville and District FCSS will be heading up the endeavour, and is currently in the process of figuring out what exactly it will look like.
“Given the limitations of the current pandemic, the original plans are being revised,” said David Beale, director of community services for the Bonnyville FCSS. “In other words, how we thought we were going to roll this out isn’t quite happening the way we thought it would just like everything else isn’t happening the way it would normally happen.”
Beale declined to say how much provincial funding they will receive as the hub for the region.
Programming will be available to parents at the Bonnyville Parent Child Centre once the public health orders are lifted, Beale stated, and the Bonnyville FCSS is reassessing the other supports they will be offering in the future.
While the City of Cold Lake was included in the communities chosen in the north region for the Family Resource Network, their funding status was listed as pending.
Included in the list released last week were a number of area organizations, including: The Town of Bonnyvlle, Town of St. Paul FCSS, Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre, Lac La Biche County FCSS, Town of Smoky Lake, and Two Hills Family & Community Services Society. Native Counselling Services of Alberta and WJS Canada, which both offer services in the region were also included in FRN funding. A number of Métis settlements were also approved for funding.
Networks will coordinate the delivery of prevention and early intervention services in all geographic areas and in various cultural communities across the province. The new approach allows for a flexible, responsive service model, reflecting the unique needs of each community. The new model also ensures no area of the province is left out, and that supports are both linked and consistent wherever a family lives or moves to, according to the media release.
“Supports and services will specifically focus on strengthening parenting and care giving knowledge, social support, coping and problem-solving skills, access to other community supports and resources, improving child and youth development, building resiliency and fostering well-being,” reads the media release.
In November of 2019, the Ministry of Children’s Services invited prevention and early intervention service providers across the province to submit proposals for the delivery of services through a formal expression of interest. More than 400 proposals were submitted.
The realignment of services is expected to save the government $15 million in 2020-21 by reducing redundancies and targeting supports.
