FCSS Athabasca 2017 Annual Report

What is FCSS?

The FCSS Program provides a wide range of services designed to promote individual, family and community wellness.

This program is a partnership between the Government, Athabasca County, Town of Athabasca, Village of Boyle, and the Summer Villages of Mewatha, , Sunset Beach and Island Lake South.

An advisory board is in place to assist with program planning to ensure programs meet the needs of the community. The members represent the various regions of the community and understand the needs and issues that are affecting us.

Athabasca County FCSS services focus on maintaining or enhancing positive family and community functioning. Our programs are coordinated by professionals with experience in providing family support services and community development programs. FCSS Athabasca 2017 Annual Report

2017 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Athabasca Family & Community Support Services Program.

We celebrated this milestone by hosting a Breakfast We had two staff go on maternity leave, one staff move Event. It was well attended by local partnering agencies, out of country, one staff relocate to the County Office government department representatives and local and one staff retire, after 37 years of service. We took dignitaries, as well as past and present volunteers, this opportunity to do a salary and position review and board members and staff. a new grid system was approved by County Council in October. In January, our Manager was invited to take part in a Budget Roundtable discussion with Minister of Finance We continue to be involved in community partnerships Joe Ceci and other local representatives. This was and initiatives, such as, Coalition 4 Success, an opportunity to give input into the priorities the Community Health & Wellness Coalition, Interagency, government should focus on and to share the challenges and the Prevention of Relationship Abuse Action being faced in our area. Later in the summer, the Committee. Our staff took part in a number of Minister of Children’s Services Danielle Larivee visited community events, including Registration Night, back Athabasca and again we had the opportunity to share to school events, Community Christmas Dinner and our thoughts, this time on the priorities related to Early Santa’s Anonymous. Learning and Child Care. Emergency Social Services continues to be an area 2017 was the start of our coordination of the SHARED of focus for our area and regional discussions have Early Childhood Coalition for our area. With a core been held regarding training and representation on group of agency representatives, the Coalition was able the Emergency Social Services Network of Alberta. to host two successful family events during the year and Our Director of Emergency Management and the produce a local FamilyResource Guide for parents with Manager of FCSS presented a session on Emergency young children. Planning & ESS at the Community Planning Association of Alberta Conference held in May. In April, our Parent Link Centre joined the Parent Link West Network and is now partnering with the On a provincial level, in November, our Manager was communities of Hinton, Jasper, Edson and Yellowhead appointed to the FCSS Association of Alberta Board as County. a Directors’ Network Representative. She will serve a two year term beginning in January 2018. There were a number of staff changes again this year. Debbie Wood, FCSS Manager Athabasca County 2017

Page 2 Athabasca County FCSS Programs, Initiatives and Partnerships

• Community Program (page 3)

• Early Childhood Development Program (page 4)

• Early Intervention Program (page 5)

• Families Matter Diversion Program (page 6)

• Family School Liaision Program (page 7)

• Initiatives and Partnerships (page 8)

• Information and Referral Program (page 8)

• Parent Link Program (page 9)

• Seniors Program (page 10)

2017 Community Programming Mentee’s responses when asked to describe • Mentorship Program (Grades 3 and 4) time spent with their • Digital Drama co-facilitation with Early Intervention mentor: Mentor Quotes “Feeling loved and happy. Amazing!” “I really enjoyed this program. It gave me a chance to step back from my busy life and just ‘play’; I enjoyed getting to know my mentee and build a relationship with him.” “Fun, great, grateful, awesome, very fantastic, “Great experience. I feel like I’ve had a positive influence on a young mind and the community.” funny, stupendous, lucky, special “ Parent of a Mentee’s Quote 100% of Mentees “The program has impacted my children’s life by attitude and using would like to have a words not fighting. I have noticed a change in my child.” mentor again.

Page 3 2017 Early Childhood Development ECD Offsite Locations: Programming Activities • Athabasca Multiplex • Drop In • ANFC • Early Learning and Care • Boyle • Cornwall Park • Family Support • Grassland • Parent Education • Rochester • Everyone Be Fit

73% of activites took place at the Parent Link Centre, 27% occurred offsite.

Early Learning and Care Quotes 100% of Early Learning “My child really enjoyed coming to these classes. My youngest Participants report that also enjoys coming here as well for a change of scenery. I their children are more have really enjoyed this as it got us out of the house to be in confident in sharing their an easy comfortable environment. After coming to Ready Set ideas and feelings with Kindergarten we will most likely come to drop in once and others. awhile.”

“It made my child want to learn more and enjoy doing school work at home.” 83% of Family Support participants report that they are better able to provide support to others. Family Support Quotes “Yes! Great fun x 100000 Yes to another night!” 75% of Everyone be Fit “Improved my nutrition knowledge.” participants reported that they reconnected with people from the group outside of the class.

Page 4 Program Activities • Babysitter Bootcamp • Digital Drama • Glow Girls • Home Alone • Identifying Feelings • Inner Ninjas • Kool to be Kind • Let’s Be Friends • Stress Busters • Student Safety • Mermaids

Other locations included Athabasca Native Friendship Centre and Boyle Teen Centre. Activity Co-facilitators Co-facilitation accounted for 19% of all EI EI Student Quotes activities “It made me feel included and happier.” • Alberta Health Services Mental Health “I learned how to regulate myself and to be more aware • FCSS Athabasca Community Program of how I have to treat people.” • FCSS Athabasca Family School Liaison Program “The program impacted me by teaching me more about • FCSS Community Program social media and how fast one mistake can turn into a big mistake. It impacted me to be myself and don’t 100% of Glow Girls participants believe in cyberbully.” themselves. “I understand people’s feelings and I am more helpful.” 100% of Inner Ninja participants know more about self-regulation.

100% of Stress Buster participants have a better understanding about stress.

93% of Digital Drama participants will be more responsible in the digital world.

85% of Unstoppable participants agree that it is important for boys as well as girls to be able to talk about their feelings.

Page 5 Client Communities • Athabasca • Boyle • Grassland • Hondo • Rochester • • Wandering River • Whispering Hills Direct Client Engagement • 100 Home Visits • 163 Office Visits • 4382 Phone Calls/Text Messages

Collateral Engagement • 62 with stakeholders and clients • 149 with stakeholders only In 2017, 95 adults and their families were supported. Collateral Stakeholders • AB Works 100% of clients feel more supported. • AHS Addictions • AHS Mental Health • AISH 93% know more about community resources. • Children Services • Family School Liaision Program • FSCD • Healthy Families Healthy Futures 90% have more knowledge about parenting. • Parent Link Program • Schools Client Quotes • Thrive • Taking Care Counselling “Validated current practices - taught me new ways-better • WJS ways of parenting (ie. better communication, stronger boundaries) - helped me to empower my child.” “More support in family matters/child issues as well as learning different ways to parent/discipline and deal/cope with child’s behavioral issues. Enjoyed each visit very much :)” “Given me more confidence in my abilities as a mother. I don’t feel as alone or strange and immature.”

Page 6 Participating Schools

• Edwin Parr • Grassland • Landing Trail • Rochester • Wandering River • Whispering Hills • Home School Direct Client Engagement • 325 School Visits • 32 FCSS Office Visits Collateral Engagement 34% between the ages of 5 to 9 • 115 Face to Face Meetings 51% between the ages of 10 to 13 • 106 Written Communications 15% between the ages of 14 to 17 • 227 Phone Calls • 34 Text Messages In 2017, 41 students were supported. Collateral Stakeholders After the program 5 to 12 year old • AHS Mental Health students reported: • Children Services • FASD Network • FCSS Internal Programs 100% of students believe respecting others • Parent Link Program is important. • Schools • Student Families 97% believe they deserve respect. • Taking Care Counselling • Thrive • WJS 91% feel good about their relationships with friends. Student Quotes After the program 12 to 17 year old students reported: “You helped me breath and calm down when I’m mad or sad.” 100% of students believe respecting others is important. “You helped me feel confident in my future.” 100% believe they deserve respect.

65% very often or often feel good about their “You made me kind and loving to myself.” relationships with friends.

Page 7 Initiatives & Partnerships

• 13 Reasons to Talk • FASD Network • Alberta Health Services • FCSS Directors Network • Alberta Mentorship Program • FSCD • Athabasca Native Friendship Centre • Inter-agency • Aspen Service Providers • Library • Athabasca Teen Centre • Play and Say • Children Services • Pleasant Valley Lodge • Community Coalition Health & Wellness • PRAAC Elder Abuse Panel • Early Childhood Coalitions of Alberta • Success in Schools • Extendicare • Words Work

Information & Referral Program Referrals provided to and/or about:

AB Works Income Support ADD/ADHD Screening Jump Start AHS Addictions Kidsport AHS Mental Health LAPP AHS Public Health Meals on Wheels AISH Mediation Anger Management Moving Forward Counselling Aspenview School Division Parenting Course Athabasca County Personal Taxes Athabasca Health Unit Physicians Athabasca Native Friendship Centre PRAAC Child Care Public Works Children Services RCMP County Office Registered Day Homes Extendicare Respite Family Centre Santa’s Anonymous First Aid Training Taking Care Counselling Food Bank Tax Help Foster Care Triple P Parenting Government Services Vagina Monologues Greater North Foundation FCSS Healthy Family Healthy Futures Words Work Literacy Home Care

Page 8 2017 Parent Link Programming Activities PL Offsite Locations: • Baby Club • Petite Beat • Athabasca Multiplex • Calm Kids • Play and Say • Boyle • Crafts • Ready Set • Cornwall Park • Drop In Kindergarten • Extendicare • First Aid • Rhymes that Bind • Grassland • Fitness for Life • Salsa Tots • Perryvale Hall • Gynastics Days • Self Defense • Pleasant Valley Lodge • Messy Play • Smart Choices • Rochester • Mom’s Night Out • Spray Park Day • Partners in Time • Talk Time

85% of activites took place at the Parent Link Centre, 15% occurred offsite. Parent Link Participant Quotes “Excellent programme for all ages and sizes over the years. I 100% of Early Learning have seen so much positive in the new parents, your staff should Participants report that be commended for all the positive work they do.” their children have “Very good information! I love how we are challenged to improve additional healthy ways our eating.” to handle negative emotions.

100% of Parent Education participants reported that they have “Awesome night!!! Looking forward to the next one! :) ” more confidence in their parenting skills. “This was an amazing event! Would love to do it again.”

87% of Family Support participants report that they are more aware of what’s happening in the community.

Page 9 Communities Visited

• Athabasca • Boyle • Wandering River • Westlock

Senior Program Activities

• Facilitated the Athabasca Seniors Symposium • Facilitated the Boyle Seniors Symposium • Co-facilitated a presentation called Breaking the Silence • Co-facilitated Care for the Care Givers group. • Helped at the Annual Community Christmas Supper

Senior Program Participant Quotes 100% of Boyle Symposium participants report they know more about Continuum of “Alzheimer’s presentation very informative. Lots of general Care important information.”

“a) Excellent presentation with clear, simple information on 97% of Athabasca Dementia. b) Clear, thorough presentation - good info. c) Symposium participants Good Information. d) Good Info- thanks Irene Thanks to report they know more about Kim and FCSS for a very informative day.” Community Response on Elder Abuse “Excellent leadership and speakers. Informative handouts. Especially liked getting together with many local old folks.”

“Lunch was super duper good, light and healthy. Brochures shared were very informative as handy reference.”

Page 10 FCSS Athabasca 2017 Annual Report