Family Resource Network funding

In January, Strathcona County Family and Community Services applied to Alberta Children’s Services to serve as the Family Resource Network hub for Strathcona County.

Strathcona County is successful in its application to become the hub and received a $900,000 provincial grant to support new Family Resource Network programming.

Provincial grants for early childhood prevention and early intervention, including the Parent Link program, ended on March 31.

Under the Alberta Children’s Services Well-being and Resilience Framework, the new Family Resource Networks are designed as a ‘hub and spoke’ model. They are in place to deliver high quality prevention and early intervention services and supports for children 0 to 18 years old.

As a hub, Strathcona County Family and Community Services is responsible for direct service delivery and the coordination and monitoring of services in the community. Big Brother Big Sisters, and the Boys and Girls Club of Strathcona County are the designated ‘spokes’ within the new Family Resource Network for Strathcona County. The spokes are responsible for providing services, supports and programming in the community.

Strathcona County Family Resource Network will provide programs and services for families and caregivers of children and youth 0 to 18 years old that focus on improving child and youth development, strengthening parenting knowledge and skills, fostering family well-being and resiliency, and help to access community supports and resources.

“Receiving this grant ensures that we can continue to provide important social supports for children, youth and families in our community,” says Mayor Rod Frank. “Given the current COVID circumstances, such services are needed even more so. The County will look to deliver them in innovative and digitally accessible ways.”     

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Family and Community Services and its partners are identifying alternate methods to support children, youth and their families. Strathcona County residents can call 780-464-4044 or visit strathcona.ca/fcs to learn more.

Since launching the Social Framework in 2017, Family and Community Services has been operating as a hub in the community for residents to access social services and programs.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of hydrocarbon processing in Western Canada. Strathcona County is a leader in environmental conservation, and 55 per cent of its land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595