In an effort to offer more services and increase convenience to those accessing services, the Town of Elk Point and County of St. Paul have decided to amalgamate their Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) departments.
Although it was essentially financial reasons that brought the two groups together, the benefits of the amalgamation will be even more far reaching, according to County of St. Paul and Elk Point FCSS director Janice Fodchuk.
Both departments received funding from the provincial government annually, based on the same formula, with the county getting $170,481 and the Town of Elk Point getting $39,057.
Offering programming with less than $40,000 is pretty limiting, said Fodchuk. A number of county residents in the areas surrounding Elk Point access FCSS programs, but had to travel all the way to St. Paul to get access. Now, those residents will be able to visit the Elk Point FCSS office, which is located at the Eco-Centre, rather than drive the extra miles to St. Paul.
The town and county decided it would be better for the communities if the two groups joined together, “because we are one community,” said Fodchuk. For now, the Elk Point office is committed to being open three days a week, while those involved assess the community’s needs.
“From now, to the end of November, if we get enough walk-ins and we get enough community need, we have already said that we could do five days a week,” said Fodchuk. The next step for the Elk Point office is to hire an administration position to help Fodchuk.
New programs that the community of Elk Point will see include a welcome baby program, a welcome to Elk Point program, assistance to complete Alberta Seniors Benefit program documents, volunteer and seniors’ week celebrations, self-esteem programs in the schools, a volunteer income tax program, and the continuation of the Meals on Wheels program.
All the programs offered through the County of St. Paul FCSS department will be available to Elk Point residents, said Fodchuk, who sees “huge benefits” for residents because of the merger.
“We’re really excited to start getting into the community.”
Over the past 15 years, the Town of St. Paul has done its own feasibility studies to review the benefits and detriments of joining its FCSS department with the County of St. Paul.
“Both times, it was deemed to leave each department the same,” says Town of St. Paul CAO Ron Boisvert, adding, “There would be no problem with revisiting the possible merger if both municipalities are in favour.”
The Town of St. Paul’s FCSS department is unique in that is offers a Parent Link program. The town is also mindful that a merger could affect its provincial funding.
