Late last year, many central Alberta families were devastated to learn that their beloved ParentLink programs were not going to exist in their communities anymore as changes to the provincial funding model rolled out on April 1, 2020. 

Now, those families can breathe easy knowing the Family Resource Networks (FRNs), which replaced the ParentLink and Healthy Families programming, are available and ready to go in most Alberta communities. Lacombe, Blackfalds, Rocky Mountain House, Stettler and more will soon have access to these program. 

Dixie McLeod is a Senior Practice Specialist with McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association, Family and Community Services Association, the central agency that oversees Family Resource Network funding in central Alberta. The communities she helps to oversee include Lacombe, Blackfalds, Stettler, and more. 

McLeod explained that under the previous model of family programming, those programs were created to help families with children from newborns up to age six. Now, the FRN format has opened up programming to be available for families with kids right up until the age of 18. 

“I think in the past, the Province of Alberta had done an amazing job of supporting kids 0-6, and then kids turned six and they went to school. I think school divisions have been really pressured to operate and address challenges outside of their education mandate to try to help the social and emotional well-being of children and families that they serve,” McLeod said. Now, she believes more families will be able to access programs that are age-appropriate and help build strong relationships with children and their parents. 

FRN programming includes early childhood development programming (0-6), child and youth development programming (7-18), parent education (0-18) and home visitations for 0-6. Family support services are available as well, covering children ages 0-18. 

McLeod said they are working closely with community supporters who previously housed programs like ParentLink because these facilities were well-established throughout the region and have a more distinct understanding of the needs of local families. 

“We’ll be working closely with those existing community agencies who have been, for many years, the experts in their community. We will be working with them, collaborating as far as delivery and service, as well as learning from the relationships they have developed while providing similar services in the past for so many years.”

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”

Services often vary quite a bit for rural versus urban centres. McLeod works with rural communities and smaller centres. Tammy Corsiatto is the Senior Practice Specialist working in Red Deer, where she says things can be a bit different from rural delivery models. 

She said that oftentimes in urban centres, families have more options to find programming and support that works for them. For example, Red Deer’s services will be carried out in partnership with the Red Deer Native Friendship Centre, Family Services of Central Alberta and Red Deer Child Care. 

She said there will be FRN Coordinators in each hub who can help direct families to the most appropriate support for their individual needs. 

“That way, the family only has to make one call and we will find the best service for them, whether that’s an FRN service or another community service that we have worked to partner with. That way we can understand their programs and access them with families in mind,” Corsiatto said. 

An important piece of the FRN model is that families can live in one area and access services in another. For example, if a family lives in Blackfalds or Lacombe but works in Red Deer, it may be easier for parents to access programming in Red Deer or vice versa. 

“Youth can also access services when they need support. Maybe it’s a one-time support, maybe it’s more - but that’s a piece I’m really looking forward to,” Corsiatto said. 

“Families won’t have to become part of a system to get services, they can access that based on need, and if they are wanting that kind of support.”

To access a local Family Resource Network facilitator, parents can reach out to the McMan central office by calling 1 (877) 994-5465. From there, they will be directed to the closest, most appropriate match for services.

Families have been able to access limited programming and online supports since April 1st, and can hope to see some of the brick-and-mortar centres opening up in the coming weeks.