By Josh Hall and Sheldon Spackman

Supporting Families

Family Resource Networks filling gap left by Parent Link Centres

May 30, 2020 | 10:32 AM

Families both in and around Blackfalds in need of prevention and early intervention services are now able to access them through the Lacombe branch of McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association.

On May 26, officials with the Town of Blackfalds announced that their co-application with Lacombe Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) to access provincial Family Resource Network funding was unsuccessful.

Officials acknowledged however, those much-needed services would instead be offered by the successfull applicant, McMan.

The announcement comes after Alberta Children’s Services Ministry released an ‘expression of interest’ last November for the new funding model for Family Resource Networks.

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The new model is said to include parent link-type programming as well as other offerings for families of children and youth up to age 18.

Since its opening in 2017, the Blackfalds Parent Link Centre was operated by the Central Parkland Parent Link Network, facilitated through a Children’s Services Ministry grant held by Lacombe FCSS.

Through a collaborative effort, the Town of Blackfalds and Lacombe FCSS applied for different aspects of the ‘hub and spoke’ Family Resource Network funding to meet the needs of the provincially defined Network area, including the communities of Alix, Bentley, Blackfalds, Clive, College Heights, Gull Lake, Joffre, Lacombe, Mirror, Morningside and Tees.

Tammy Corsiatto, Senior Practice Specialist at the Red Deer branch of McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association, says the services going forward will now capture a wider range of ages and individuals that can access their programs.

“We still have early childhood development services, whether that’s through home visitation, supports or through running parent education and early education groups and activities,” she explains. “But in addition to early childhood development, we also have child and youth development services, family support services, and parent education services for individuals 0-18.”

Corsiatto notes that families in need of support can access them from their own community if they live outside of that region’s hub.

“McMan staff and some of the other agencies that we’re collaborating with would go out and meet the needs of those families in their own community,” she points out. “Depending on what they’re asking for, it could mean running a group in that community, maybe it could mean running a play and stay activity. We will bring the service to the community, for sure.”

Town officials say Blackfalds FCSS has been in conversations with McMan to determine the opportunities for Blackfalds to collaborate and ensure the needs of Blackfalds families are met through the new model.

The COVID-19 pandemic however, is said to be affecting the opening of the Family Resource Network, meaning timelines of future programming remain to be determined.

“We’re still trying really hard to provide the best service we can with families and individuals that need support,” adds Corsiatto. “So whether that’s through phone support, email, or virtual, the impact is not being able to run those face-to-face groups or play sessions that in pre-COVID you could have. But we’re prepared to go when restrictions begin to lift.”

The Lacombe and Area Family Resource Network can be followed on their Facebook page or reached by phone at 1-877-994-5465.

To locate a Family Resource Network near you, visit www.mcmancentral.ca.