By Sheldon Spackman

Help Is Available

Community Resource Navigation Team helping families affected by pandemic

Dec 14, 2020 | 2:47 PM

A helping hand is being extended to local families left feeling isolated by COVID-19.

Family Services of Central Alberta (FSCA) recently launched its Community Resource Navigation Team to support area families in accessing appropriate community supports and services aimed at strengthening their safety and well-being.

Executive Director Judy Scott says to date, they have had a variety of clients access their team, from individuals young and old, to single parents and families.

“We have seen referrals to the program from schools, child care agencies, Primary Care Network and AHS,” she explained. “Over the past seven weeks we have successfully connected and supported 16 clients. We have had 16 referrals so far – eight self-referrals and eight referred from various sources.”

Scott says they know that several agencies in the community have changed how they provide service, but people can still access them.

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“With the Christmas season we have several options if families need support for the holidays, from the Christmas Bureau, Salvation Army, Outreach and FSCA. Golden Circle is going to be delivering 100 turkey dinners to seniors. There are other supports for clothing and food hampers.”

Scott says counselling services are also being provided by phone or video calls.

“Several agencies are conducting wellness calls to older adults and seniors who are shut in,” adds Scott. “Several of the people we have supported expressed gratitude in knowing they are not alone in their struggle. We have successfully been able to connect one young couple, for example, to Bredin’s PATH program so they could get out of an unsafe housing situation and into their own place.”

Scott cited another family new to Red Deer with several health issues that they helped connect to several resources to help them access the supports they need, along with older adults who needed support in completing forms to access either their Canada Pension or AISH.

“One of the tools that we use and support community partners and clients in accessing, is the new HelpSeeker App that is fairly new to Red Deer. The HelpSeeker app gives you access to 130k+ of community, health, and social services and enables to provide help to those in need when they need it the most.”

Scott says the biggest thing is that they do all the calling around to find the best supports for the family or individual’s needs.

“This is really important, as during a difficult time people may tend to give up when they keep getting passed from one phone call to another. Collaboration is a key to making this project successful. We have been working with many community partners ensuring that their information is up to date and accurate of HelpSeeker, as it is one of the tools we are using to connect people to the right resources.”

Scott says it works like a cycle where partner agencies refer clients to them, and they in-turn, send referrals their way once they know what the different organizations and agencies offer and who can access their programs and supports.

“The optimum goal is to make it easier for people to access the right service the first time, rather than having to tell their story multiple times,” shares Scott. “There is help out there. You don’t need to struggle alone. We all need help at some point.”

Scott says they are hopeful the pilot project can be extended into the New Year.

“We have seen great outcomes in such a short time that we would love to have the opportunity to continue on,” she explained. “These are different times right now with the pandemic, and topped-off by economics, job losses and at-home learning for school kids. Many community members who have never had to access supports are finding themselves needing help and not knowing where to turn.

“We have been told by those who have referred to us, this is a program that is needed and will be utilized more and more as people begin to recognize the value of this service. I guess we will have to see what 2021 brings.”