stony plain fcss 2014 annual report

2014 Annual Report

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is a cost‐sharing partnership between the Town of Stony Plain, Parkland County and the Government of Alberta. In accordance with the FCSS Act, Alberta Human Services provides an 80% grant por on and the Town of Stony Plain provides a 20% grant por on. In 2014, the Town of Stony Plain increased its grant por on over and above the 20%requirement in order to ensure FCSS programs were able to effec vely meet increasing needs of residents. Parkland County provides funds in the manner of a formal service agreement. This successful partnership ensures quality programs and services are available to Parkland County and Stony Plain residents alike.

Contribu ons from the community also supplement FCSS revenue which helps to ensure programs are successfully delivered to residents within the service area.

Funding for the FCSS program, held within the Town of Stony Plain and Parkland County, is set in accordance with the FCSS Act and Regula on and separated into program categories which include: Children/Youth, Community Development, Families and Adults, FCSS Management and Seniors.

Stony Plain FCSS Funding

$610,081

$610,081

FCSS Program Governance 1

FCSS Board Governance 2

Message from the Board Chair 3

Message from the Director 4

Stony Plain FCSS at a Glance 5

Workshops & Courses 6

Informa on & Referral Services 10

Seniors Programs & Services 12

Community Development & Partnerships 17

Stony Plain Volunteer Centre 22

Stony Plain Youth Centre 26

FCSS 2014 Staff 32

Table of Contents

Serving residents of Stony Plain and Parkland County

FCSS Program Governance

On September 15, 2014, Heather Klimchuk was named Minister of Human Services.

Mr. Manmeet Bhullar was Minister of Human Services from December 13, 2013 to September 15, 2014.

FCSS is an 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta

and municipali es or Mé s Se lements. Provincially the FCSS Program

receives its mandate from the Family and Community Support Services Act

and Regula on. The Regula on sets out the service requirements that a

municipality or Se lement must meet to be eligible for funding. At the local

level, a municipality or Mé s Se lement Council chooses whether to

establish a Program and enters into an agreement with the province to

jointly fund the Program. Under FCSS, communi es design and deliver

social programs that are preven ve in nature to promote and enhance well‐

being among individuals, families, and communi es. The programs depend

on community resources, o en involving volunteers in management and

delivery.

The FCSS philosophy is based on a belief that self‐help contributes to a

sense of integrity, self‐worth and independence. The programs developed

are intended to help individuals in their community to adopt healthy

lifestyles, thereby improving the quality of life and building the capacity to

prevent and/or deal with crisis situa ons should they arise.

Locally there are FCSS programs in Stony Plain and Spruce Grove. Parkland

County entered into a funding agreement (beginning in 2003) with the

Town of Stony Plain (and four addi onal municipali es) for the provision of

FCSS programs and services for its residents. The agreement gives Parkland

County residents access to Stony Plain FCSS programs and services.

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FCSS Service Requirements Services provided under the program must do one or more of the following: 1. Help people develop independence, strengthen coping skills, and become more

resistant to crisis. 2. Help people to develop an awareness of social needs. 3. Help people to develop interpersonal and group skills which enhance construc ve

rela onships among people. 4. Help people and communi es to assume responsibility for decisions and ac ons

which affect them. 5. Provide supports that help sustain people as ac ve par cipants in the community.

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FCSS Board Governance

Board Governance

The Board is directly accountable to Town Council, its overall Governance body. A municipal bylaw and the FCSS Provincial Act provide the basis for the opera on of an FCSS program. The municipal bylaw allows for up to ten board members with a maximum of two from Parkland County and one Town of Stony Plain Council appointee. About the Board

The Board is a volunteer management Board with all the obliga ons and responsibili es of governing the FCSS program in Stony Plain. The Director is hired by the Board and is accountable to the Board for managing the day‐to‐day opera ons of the program. The 2014 Stony Plain FCSS Board consisted of seven members (volunteers) who were Stony Plain residents and one member (volunteer) from Parkland County. The ninth member was a representa ve from Town Council (Councillor Bruce Lloy represented FCSS in 2014 and Councillor Judy Benne was the alternate). Board members can apply for a two‐year term, reapply for an addi onal 2‐year term plus apply for a third term of 1 year. Mission

Stony Plain FCSS supports families and individuals in all life stages through preven on focused programs to promote and maintain social wellness for a healthy community. Statement of Need

Stony Plain FCSS strives to promote accessibility, seniors autonomy, engaged youth, supported families, and partnerships.

(l-r): Russ Graff; Pat Hansard; Bruce Lloy; Mayor William Choy; Robert Twerdoclib; Dwight Ganske; Judy Bennett

2014 Mayor and Council

Back l-r: Justin Laurie, Dr. Bill Forbes (Past Chair), Lisa Smith, Dr. Elizabeth Hood Middle l-r: Tiesha Schmuland (Jan-June), Judy May-McDonald (Board Chair),

Linda Davidson (Parkland County Representative), Leanne Weatherald Front: Judy Bennett (Town Council Alternate Member) - missing from photo is

Bruce Lloy (FCSS Council Representative )

2014 FCSS Board

Message from the Board Chair

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Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) across Alberta have been doing their “quiet work” building healthy communi es for nearly 50 years. Even though provincial funding has not increased since 2008, the Town of Stony Plain has over contributed to ensure Stony Plain FCSS con nues to have the means to deliver high quality programs and services to its residents. More importantly, Stony Plain FCSS has been working hard behind the scenes for 25 years, helping to ensure social crises do not occur, by providing increasingly complex support services to seniors and youth, connec ng volunteers with those who need help, and referring and providing supported informa on and referral services to all who need them. Essen ally we have successfully been connec ng people to our community. 2014 was a busy year. Under the leadership of our Execu ve Director Janine Peter, Board and staff collaborated to update our organiza onal strategic plan and policy manuals. Ini al planning was undertaken to seek out a new loca on for FCSS, and in order to learn more about the needs of our community, funding was secured through the Alberta Rural Development Network and Service Canada to conduct a study on poverty and homelessness in Stony Plain. It cannot be stated enough that the staff are the backbone of our organiza on, and they are commi ed to encouraging people and partners to come together to meet the needs of our residents. A special thank you goes to Board members Elly Van den Brande (4.5 years) and Tiesha Schmuland (3.5 years) for their commitment and valuable contribu ons to the Board and FCSS organiza on overall. You made a difference. To help Stony Plain FCSS advance our important work in 2015, we welcome Sandy Simmie to the Board. Her enthusiasm, range of skills, and experience will be drawn upon to con nue working on our organiza on goals and policies, to lobby leaders and partners to find sustainable financial resources, and to ensure FCSS is able to con nue providing professional and high quality programs and services to residents of Stony Plain and Parkland County. Over the next year, we will be moving from the Stony Plain Town office to the Forest Green Plaza, so this will be a transi on year for us. Stony Plain FCSS commits to achieving the following strategic goals:

• To prevent social distress and enhance social well‐being of individuals, families and the community.

• To communicate effec vely with the public, partner service‐providers and governments. • To nurture effec ve, mutually respec ul service‐delivery partnerships that facilitate op mal

social programs through efficient resource sharing. • To foster a sense of value and engagement within youth and among the broader community. • To work cohesively among staff and Board to achieve organiza onal goals.

Again, thank you to the Town of Stony Plain and Parkland County Councils for their con nued commitment and cri cal investment into the social prosperity of our communi es. A powerful thing happens when you tell people in our Town and County that they ma er – they believe!

Judy May‐McDonald FCSS Board Chair

FCSS believes that a community’s most valuable resources are its people. Investments made in developing and suppor ng people pay dividends in all areas of community life. In manifes ng this belief, Stony Plain FCSS strives to promote accessibility, seniors’ autonomy, engaged youth, supported families, and partnerships. In 2014 FCSS not only met its mandate; but was able to demonstrate its successes more effec vely through formal implementa on of standardized outcome‐based measures. While ensuring FCSS con nues to meet Provincial targets, this uniform framework also allows FCSS to insert an objec ve quality improvement mechanism into our programming, which results in vital program accountability and efficiency of resources, while maintaining the highest quality of service delivery for our clients.

In effec vely iden fying community social needs, this framework also provides the founda on for a significant social planning project ini ated in 2014 ‐ a formal needs assessment, conducted in partnership with the University of Alberta, to take an objec ve look at what poverty and homelessness looks like in an agricultural resource‐based community ‐ Stony Plain. Iden fied by front line service providers, as an increasing and complex social issue, a formal study of the subject will mark the first of a three‐phase project: Stony Plain’s Five Year Plan to Reduce Poverty and Homelessness. We look forward to sharing the results of the study in 2015 and to using the informa on to priori ze and develop, as a community, effec ve solu ons for vulnerable residents centred around evidence‐based findings. I would like to thank the FCSS Board and staff for their commitment to upholding the delivery of quality preven ve social services for Town and County residents alike. I would also like to thank the Town of Stony Plain Mayor, Council, and Administra on, as well as Parkland County for their con nued support, recogni on, and safeguarding of strong social programming that effec vely meets the diverse needs of the community. And of course, very special thanks to our community partners and numerous volunteers without whom our work would not be possible.

Janine Peter

FCSS Director

Message from the Director

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Janine Peter FCSS Director

“To teach a man how he may learn to grow independently and for himself, is perhaps the greatest service that one man can do another.”

‐ Benjamin Jowe

Stony Plain FCSS at a Glance

Board The FCSS Management Board meets monthly, ten months out of the year. The Board establishes the governance framework for the ongoing management, supervision and opera onal func ons of the Stony Plain FCSS program. They accomplish this during an annual planning workshop where the organiza onal Strategic Plan is developed.

Administra on Administra ve staff is comprised of the FCSS Director and Office Coordinator. The Office Coordinator provides fundamental backup, assistance, and support services to the FCSS staff, Board and community partnerships. The Director uses the organiza onal Strategic Plan to set annual goals for programs and services developed and implemented by staff. Under the direc on of the Board, the Director also plans and supervises annual administra ve and community development ac vi es that support staff and enhance the effec veness of direct program delivery in the community. Some of those ac vi es/tasks include annual budget planning, public rela ons, program research, informa on presenta on, par cipa on on commi ees and conferences, and staff training and development.

Informa on and Referral (I&R) I&R has become a crucial focus in an ever‐expanding world of resources. I&R provides a valuable service to the community by ensuring the residents are referred and matched to appropriate services. In addi on to developing and ensuring delivery of needed programs, I&R coordinates the development of an annual updated tri‐community resource directory tled “The Green Book”. It includes resources available in Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and Parkland County.

Seniors’ Services Seniors’ Services is responsible for the planning, development, implementa on and evalua on of preven ve programs and ac vi es that enhance quality of life for community individuals that are advancing in years. This area of FCSS con nues to research and expand services for the aging and their families. In collabora on with I&R, Seniors’ Services develops an annual “Seniors’ Informa on Guide” which is distributed throughout Stony Plain and Parkland County.

Community Development Community Development (CD) is an essen al process by which an organiza on like FCSS can have a long term and posi ve effect on community changes and evolu on. Adhering to the FCSS regula ons and mandate, this means collabora ve leadership and encouragement of partnerships amongst major community players such as other support services, agencies, groups and businesses.

Volunteer Services/Volunteer Centre Promo ng, encouraging and facilita ng the involvement of volunteers in the community are the overall goals of Volunteer Services. Through coordina on of our own volunteers, to the opera on of the Stony Plain Volunteer Centre and serving the voluntary sector as a whole, community members contribute significantly toward the value and quality of life in Stony Plain and Parkland County.

Youth Services/Youth Centre The Youth Centre (supervised by qualified staff and volunteers) is open to all youth in the community.

Daily interac on with those who access the Centre allows for first‐hand knowledge of the needs of

young residents of Stony Plain and the greater Parkland region. Programming and special events are

planned accordingly to address these needs.

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PROGRAMMING

Stony Plain FCSS offers programming, seminars, and workshops that are based on a Holis c Approach Model, taking into considera on all aspects of life that can contribute to individual health, and in turn make for a healthier community.

The 2014 program season provided programs to assist and support individuals in building be er rela onships, learning new skills, and achieving greater sa sfac on in their individual and family lives. The Crea ng Healthy Rela onships program is based on noted author and lecturer John Go man and his model for healthy rela onships. This weekend‐program offered individuals and couples the opportunity to strengthen and renew their rela onships.

FCSS Paren ng A er Separa on, Counselling, and Media on programs each provide families and individuals, either in transi on or in need, with the resources and supports they required to help them move forward, make changes, and make decisions in a healthy, informed, and balanced way.

Individual and self‐development programming in 2014 focused on developing and maintaining meaningful rela onships and living a mindful, balanced, and sa sfying life. The workshops and programs are designed to provide par cipants with informa on and ideas that will help them work towards their goals and assist them in deriving greater sa sfac on in their lives. Program Selec on The Mission of FCSS, to support families and individuals in all life stages through preven on‐focused programs to promote and maintain social wellness for a healthy community, is the guiding principle in the development and selec on of programs and seminars. To serve the residents of Stony Plain and Parkland County with needed and effec ve supports, FCSS uses historical and sta s cal data collected through our Informa on and Referral service and through popula on demographics, feedback from community partners, and feedback from program par cipants. A standardized program evalua on process based on the Outcomes Measures model developed by the Province, provides valuable informa on on measures of success as well as anecdotal feedback from par cipants in our programs. Based on past experience and by con nuously looking forward, FCSS plans and develops new programs as needed and rests and reintroduces others based on demand.

Workshops & Courses

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Building Self Esteem This six week program helped par cipants develop a founda on for heightened self‐esteem. The program sought to teach par cipants to challenge self‐defea ng thoughts, set realis c goals and strengthen their decision‐making skills. All (100%) par cipants surveyed reported that the program helped them develop a more posi ve a tude towards themselves. Basic Facilita on Skills Workshop Stony Plain FCSS has partnered with Alberta Culture & Community Spirit to host this popular workshop since 2008. The program is designed for organiza ons and individuals wishing to develop and enhance their facilita on skills. Par cipants learn basic concepts and approaches to facilita on in an interac ve format and were able to prac ce the techniques and tools through group work. This successful partnership with Alberta Culture & Community Spirit serves the community through building the capacity of partnering agencies and community organiza ons. The program has always been well received with 100% of par cipants repor ng that they had increased knowledge of the core concepts of facilita on and had increased their group facilita on skills. Crea ng Healthy Rela onships Alberta Paren ng for the Future Associa on and Spruce Grove FCSS partnered with Stony Plain FCSS in presen ng this weekend workshop facilitated by cer fied therapist Anne Caroll. Crea ng Healthy Rela onships is a program that was developed for individuals or couples and based on noted researcher and author, John Go man, and his principles for a healthy rela onship. The three weekend morning workshops focused on developing a set of core skills including effec ve communica on, conflict resolu on, problem solving and learning to take responsibility for one’s own emo ons. The evalua ons were excellent with all (100%) par cipants repor ng that they had a be er understanding of what they could do to contribute to a healthy rela onship as a result of the workshop. Living in Balance Living in Balance is a three part series that helped people explore work/life balance and discover a new model for achieving balance. Laurel Vespi, cer fied Life Coach, provided simple but effec ve strategies to help par cipants create a greater sense of balance. All (100%) par cipants surveyed indicated that the program had given them knowledge on how to achieve a balanced life. Mindful Living Mindfulness is recognized as an effec ve way to reduce stress, increase self‐awareness, and effec vely handle nega ve thoughts and feelings. Facilitated by cer fied Life Coach Laurel Vespi, par cipants learned simple yet powerful tools to help make Mindfulness a daily prac ce. Again, 100% of those surveyed reported that following Mindful Living they had the ability to improve their lives.

Workshops & Courses

“I learned new decision making tools to use in groups and ac vi es to use as icebreakers. I will use these skills when facilita ng a group”.

– Basic Facilita on Skills Par cipant

“I learned new awareness of problems and resolu on skills. Developed a much be er understanding of communica on and healthy rela onships”.

– Crea ng Healthy Rela onships Par cipant

“Brought an awareness of being and doing I had never had before. It was personal. I could apply to my own life right away”.

– Living in Balance Par cipant

Paren ng A er Separa on Paren ng A er Separa on, run in partnership with Alberta Jus ce, is a full‐day program that is mandatory for parents who are separa ng or divorcing under the Court of Queen’s Bench. The program ran twice in 2014 and was co‐facilitated by family law lawyer Micia Kawulka of Main Street Law Offices, and mediators Kathryn Nimmons and Barb Hepperle. The March 2014 session of Paren ng A er Separa on had 29 par cipants, and of those 97% reported that they had more confidence in their role and skills as a parent. The November 2014 session had 30 par cipants of which 100% reported that they had more confidence in their role and their skills as a parent following par cipa on in the program.

Workshops & Courses

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Programs in Partnership Par cipants

Basic Facilita on Skills Workshop (x2) In partnership with Alberta Culture and Community Spirit

50

Building Self Esteem In partnership with Alberta Paren ng for the Future Associa on and Spruce Grove Family and Community Support Services

4

Crea ng Healthy Rela onships (x2) In partnership with Alberta Paren ng for the Future Associa on and Spruce Grove Family and Community Support Services

22

Living in Balance In partnership with Alberta Paren ng for the Future Associa on and Spruce Grove Family and Community Support Services

9

Mindful Living In partnership with Alberta Paren ng for the Future Associa on and Spruce Grove Family and Community Support Services

13

Paren ng A er Separa on (x2) In partnership with Alberta Jus ce

59

TOTAL 157

Workshops and Support Services

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BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

Caring Friends The Caring Friends support group meets monthly, and trained facilitators assist par cipants in discussion around the grief process in a suppor ve and caring environment. The group holds an annual Coping with Christmas session to offer addi onal supports for those coping with loss over the holidays. Caring Friends is an ongoing program.

Explora on Through Grief Explora on Through Grief is a 12‐ to 14‐week educa onal series that allows par cipants to fully explore and address their emo ons and issues around their grief. The program ran twice this year and offered addi onal in‐depth supports to those working through their grief.

COUNSELLING SERVICES In 2014, cer fied and registered therapist, Anne Caroll, provided counselling services for the FCSS Counselling Program un l May 2014. Judy Naylor, Provisional Psychologist, began providing counselling services for FCSS in September 2014. The program con nues to offer goal‐focused suppor ve counselling services to individuals, families, and youth. The program is available to low income residents who do not have access to benefits or services through employment or health services. In 2014, 16 individuals accessed counselling services with a total of 36 counselling hours provided. Of those surveyed, 100% reported that counselling hours they received helped them believe they had the ability to improve their lives. MEDIATION SERVICES Kathryn Nimmons, trained mediator and a member of “The Alberta Arbitra on & Media on Society”, con nued to provide media on services to residents of Stony Plain and Parkland County through FCSS. In 2014, Kathryn provided 23 direct hours of media on services to residents looking for assistance in resolving a dispute or an issue. Media on services provide residents with a confiden al and informal process that allows all par es involved the opportunity to address concerns in a neutral and safe environment.

Workshops & Support Services

Programs Par cipants

Bereavement Support 124

FCSS Counselling Services 16

Programs Direct Hours

Bereavement Support 534

FCSS Counselling Services 36

Media on Services 23

Media on Services 11

In 2014, six volunteers donated 534 hours to FCSS bereavement programs and

supported 124 people at a me of need.

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INFORMATION & REFERRAL FCSS provides professional and skilled referral services with two cer fied Informa on and Referral (I&R) Specialists on staff. I&R services available to residents and agencies include: one‐on‐one comprehensive informa on and support, informa ve publica ons, including the Green Book, Housing Booklet and Seniors’ Guide and resource lists. The I&R Specialists are able to work with individuals and families in iden fying needs, developing service plans, and providing referrals to appropriate agencies or services. Supported I&R Services can make a significant difference to the overall quality of life for some of our residents. FCSS is increasingly being asked to provide supported I&R services to ensure that residents are accessing financial benefits and appropriate services for which they qualify. In 2014, FCSS received a total of 2627 requests for informa on and services.

Please note: as of 2010 the total numbers do not include Youth Centre requests for informa on and services.

211 provides Informa on and Referral services to Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, and most of Parkland County, with a single point of access to comprehensive informa on through trained cer fied professionals on a 24‐hour‐a‐day, 7‐days‐a‐week basis. Stony Plain FCSS, Spruce Grove FCSS, and Parkland County have contracted with the Support Network for 211 services since January 2009.

Informa on & Referral Services

Informa on & Referral Services

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PUBLICATIONS

The Green Book Community Resource Directory The “Green Book Community Resource Directory” has been jointly produced by Stony Plain FCSS and Spruce Grove FCSS since 2004. The publica on has grown to become a valued community resource, with 2000 copies printed for distribu on through the Stony Plain FCSS office to individual residents and service agencies alike. In 2011, Stony Plain and Spruce Grove FCSS entered into an agreement wherein Stony Plain FCSS would produce the directory and invoice Spruce Grove FCSS for half of the produc on costs. Each agency would con nue to pay for prin ng costs associated with their orders. As both FCSS offices have been sa sfied with the arrangement, the agreement for produc on con nued in 2014.

Stony Plain Seniors’ Informa on Guide The “Stony Plain Seniors’ Informa on Guide” is updated and produced annually with prin ng of the guides scheduled to coincide with Seniors’ Week fes vi es. In 2014, 400 guides were printed for distribu on to seniors and agencies. Town of Stony Plain Housing Booklet The “Town of Stony Plain Housing Booklet” is updated annually and provides detailed informa on on rental units in Stony Plain. The informa on includes details on rent and damage deposits, size and age of buildings, u lity inclusion, wheelchair accessibility, allowance of pets, and building ameni es. There has been a consistent demand for this publica on. In 2014, there were 250 booklets produced. Resource Lists Resource lists providing informa on on services and supports available locally and regionally are produced and updated throughout the year. The most requested lists are for Christmas Resources, Snow Removal, Lawn and Yard Maintenance, Cleaning and Homecare Services, and Tax Prepara on Services.

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Seniors’ Programs & Services

“The Stony Plain Public Library is very excited & grateful to have been a part of this project”.

‐2015 Caregivers Resource Calendar Project Partner

“This beautiful calendar not only serves as an excellent resource for caregivers but it will also provide insight into the journey of caregivers to those who are unaware of the issues of caregiving”.

‐ 2015 Caregivers Resource Calendar Project Partner

“The music and the feeling of belonging to a

community at the event, make me proud to live in such a clean and friendly town”.

‐ Seniors’ Block Party Par cipant

Seniors Week

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ANNUAL SENIORS’ WEEK BLOCK PARTY On June 5, 2014 approximately 125 residents from Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and Parkland County attended an intergenerational Block Party to celebrate Seniors’ Week. The event has grown over the years from a simple back yard BBQ, hosted by the Youth Centre, to the Seniors’ Week Block Party we have today. There was rain in the forecast so a decision was made to move the event to an indoor location, the Community Centre, where citizens were able to dance to live music and enjoy festivities uninterrupted by the weather.

The event has become well known in the community, which has piqued the interest of new partners wanting to become involved. Following tradition, the Stony Plain Youth Centre hosted the meal which featured beef on a bun, coleslaw and baked beans. The Multicultural Heritage Centre served up homemade ice cream, McDonalds hosted the beverage table, the Lucky Buck Dollar Store provided water and Stony Plain Co‐op donated the celebratory cake. Youth volunteers from the Stony Plain Library and Stony Plain Youth Center provided assistance and support wherever needed. The evening ended with the draw of door prizes that were generously donated by participating partners.

One of the main outcomes of the event was that individuals felt connected with others and a sense of belonging to their community. Youth assisted seniors with completing event evaluations through the use of iPad minis (courtesy of Parkland County). This interaction was a great way for youth and seniors to connect! The event proved to be a success with 92% reporting that they felt connected with others and a sense of community from attending the Seniors’ Week Block Party.

THE ART OF AGING SENIORS CONFERENCE The seventh annual conference was held on October 9, 2014 at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Hall. The purpose of the conference is to aide in the reduc on of social isola on exercising the mind, body, and spirit through educa onal workshops (mind), physical ac vi es (body) and socializa on (spirit). The conference provided a safe environment where a endees enjoyed a meal and entertainment, learned from presenta ons, networked, and acquired valuable connec ons. Keynote speakers provided a wealth of informa on on topics such as Emergency Preparedness, Alzheimer's and Demen a, Financial Abuse, and the Importance of Physical Ac vity related to good health. Local organiza ons provided display tables and were available to answer ques ons during the coffee breaks. Stony Plain FCSS provided $500 sponsorship to the conference along with registra on services and administra ve support to the organizing commi ee. There were 132 a endees, and 108 evalua ons were received with many posi ve comments. PICNIC IN THE PAST The Multicultural Heritage Centre invited Stony Plain FCSS to participate in a project called Picnic in the Past. The purpose of the event was to provide isolated, housebound seniors with an opportunity to attend a social event ensuring transportation wasn’t a barrier. Project partners invited over 100 isolated, housebound seniors and provided transportation to the event held at the Stony Plain and Parkland Pioneer Museum. Participants were greeted by youth volunteers who assisted with four twenty‐minute facilitated tours of the museum’s main attractions. The event included a home‐style picnic lunch, live music and door prize draws.

“The conference was a nice mix of presentations and entertainment, breaks, time to mix with others, and time to look at information on the display tables. Thank you!”

"Well presented. Well organized! Easy to understand and beau fully decorated!"

‐ Art of Aging Conference Participants


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HOME SUPPORT PROGRAM The Home Support Program is now six years old, having provided services to Stony Plain and Parkland County residents since April 2008. The goal of the home support program is to reverse the adverse effects of isolation ‐ housebound citizens will feel less isolated, and more connected. Residents regularly report that they look forward to their worker’s visit, and many of the families involved in the program have indicated that they simply could not maintain their current level of independence without the assistance and support of their home support worker.

Individuals accessing the program must be residents of Stony Plain or Parkland County who are unable to complete household tasks due to physical/mental/emotional difficulties, and meet income criteria to determine FCSS subsidy. The majority of clients on our caseload also receive services from other providers in the area, and it is not uncommon for us to coordinate services resulting in a more comprehensive overall service.

Throughout 2014, up to four casual workers provided light housekeeping services to over 53 households. The service helped individuals remain independent in a clean, safe, home environment for as long as possible performing the day‐to‐day tasks that are required in the upkeep of a household such as dusting, cleaning, and laundry. Home support services are non‐medical in nature.

FCSS offered an additional ‘grocery delivery’ service to home support clients in 2014. The program was offered but was not utilized by clientele. It was discovered that most clients have other options such as family, friends or private services to do their grocery shopping. The program has been shelved, but may be reconsidered if the need for this service should arise in the future.

2015 CAREGIVERS RESOURCE CALENDAR Seniors Services was successful in securing a grant to fund the produc on of the very first 2015 Caregivers Resource Calendar. The outcome was to improve social well‐being of the community. FCSS and twelve partners collected informa on and resources related to caregiving for the calendar content. Project partners all indicated that their organiza on’s knowledge was enhanced on how to address the issue of caregiving, and reported a be er awareness of the impact of caregiving in our communi es. The calendar is being well received throughout the tri area with many posi ve comments. ADOPT‐A‐DRIVEWAY Stony Plain FCSS has managed the volunteer snow removal program for low income Town residents since 2007. Residents who are unable to remove snow from their walkways/driveways due to a medical impairment, and do not have a family support network, can apply to access the program. If successful, they are then matched with a volunteer for the winter season. In 2014, thirty‐two residents were matched with volunteers. Based on a phone survey, 95% of respondents reported “As a result of Adopt‐A‐Driveway I can see that people in my neighborhood/community are willing to help neighbors’’ and they were able to tell others about resources in their community.

“A note of commenda on and recommenda on to thank you from our hearts for this great

and wonderful senior program”.

‐Adopt‐A‐Driveway Par cipant

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IT’S NOT RIGHT – NEIGHBOURS, FAMILY, & FRIENDS BYSTANDER TRAINING PROJECT The Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Network (AEAAN) is a network of Albertans dedicated to increasing awareness and suppor ng a community response to elder abuse. AEAAN has recognized “It’s Not Right” as fi ng with their mandate and have chosen to take a lead in pilo ng the program and developing it across Alberta. The majority of Canadians care about issues of abuse and neglect in rela onship with older adults. This program concentrates on teaching the neighbours, friends and families of older adults to recognize the warning signs and how to respond in a safe suppor ve manner.

The Seniors Services Coordinator was invited to par cipate in training in order to then present the informa on to local helping organiza ons. With two presenta ons in our community, twenty‐seven local ci zens were engaged in a workshop on the topic and are now willing to be ac ve bystanders in the community to tackle the issue of elder abuse. Of those surveyed, a er par cipa ng in a workshop, 79% report they now know where to look for help and/or provide referrals to someone experiencing abuse. The feedback from presented sessions has been beneficial to the pan‐Canadian project. The project commitment includes par cipa ng in monthly teleconferences and submi ng evalua ons to the project lead coordinators.

Ongoing Programs and Projects Participants

Annual Seniors’ Week Block Party

In partnership with Stony Plain Youth Centre, Stony Plain Multicultural Heritage Centre,

Stony Plain Co‐op, Freson Brothers IGA, Stony Plain Public Library, Parkland Search and

Rescue, Stony Plain and Parkland Pioneer Museum, McDonalds, Lucky Buck Dollar Store,

MLA Ken Lemke, Good Samaritan Society – George Hennig Place, Metafitness & Wellness

Center, Philips Lifeline, Town of Stony Plain, and Parkland County.

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The Art of Aging Seniors’ Conference

In partnership with Spruce Grove Family and Community Support Services, Tri‐Community

Adult Learning Association, WestView Health Centre Volunteer Services, Multicultural

Heritage Centre, Stony Plain Public Library, Stony Plain and Parkland Pioneer Museum,

Alberta Seniors, and Parkland County.

132

Home Support Program 53

Adopt‐A‐Driveway 32

TOTAL 342

INFORMATION SESSIONS A long standing partnership between Stony Plain FCSS, Spruce Grove FCSS and Tri‐Community Adult Learning Associa on brought 12 free informa on sessions of interest to our communi es. All (100% ) of those surveyed, reported that as a result of attending one of our Seniors’ Information Sessions, they now have a greater capacity to plan effectively for the future.

Another successful partnership involving Stony Plain FCSS, Stony Plain Public Library and Canadian Ins tute for the Blind brought forward a Vision Loss Support Group. Prior to this partnership, community members could only access this type of support in Edmonton and it is now offered locally.

“Great session! It’s time for me to have a plan for when I can no longer drive”.

‐ Mature Drivers Participant

“Lots of material covered and the session answered questions that were on my mind for both myself and my father in regards to estate planning and wills. Thank you!”

‐ Estate Planning and Wills Participant

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Programs (Information Sessions of Interest)

In partnership with Spruce Grove Family and Community Support Services

and Tri‐Community Adult Learning Association

Participants

Dementia & Alzheimer’s Information Session 19

Mature Drivers—Staying Safe on the Road 7

50+ Social Mixer 28

Pre‐retirement Planning 22

Wills & Estate Planning ( 2 Sessions) 46

Being an Executor, Attorney or Agent 26

Personal Directives & Power of Attorney ( 2 Sessions) 40

Travel Options for Older Adults 13

Real‐Estate Options in the Tri Area for Older Adults 16

Financial Benefits for Older Adults 30

TOTAL 247


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sub‐committees were formed from the main partnership group. Those sub‐committees are: Administration Committee, Critical Connections, the Parkland and Area Response to Family Violence Committee and First Five Forever, which has replaced the Parenting Support Committee. Administration Committee is a group of the partnership members who conduct the business of the group and plan meetings. Critical Connections committee consists of front line staff and agencies that meet monthly to share information on front line service availability and needs within the community. The information shared and presented at the meetings helps to ensure that all participants are up to date on local services and events and allows for enhanced interagency relations. The meetings serve to provide an educational opportunity as agencies are often invited to provide presentations and information on their services. The information provided at these meetings allows all of those participating to make important contacts and enhance the responsiveness of the agencies, and therefore the level of services provided in the community. First Five Forever is a local coali on that came out of the Early Child Development (ECD) Mapping Ini a ve, a province‐wide, five‐year research project looking at factors that influence healthy child development. The Ini a ve results are used to support community agencies and families in ensuring that all children have the best possible start in life. The local coali on, headed by a Community Development Coordinator, has worked towards an increased awareness of the importance of the early years of childhood development and the need for long term planning to improve outcomes.

Community Development & Partnerships

PARKLAND FOOD BANK FCSS has been serving as a depot for emergency food hampers provided by the Parkland Food Bank since September 2011. Our office keeps two to three hampers on hand, and each of these hampers provides enough food for one person for several days or a small family for about three days. The emergency hampers are accessed by those residents who are unable to travel to the food bank or on days the food bank is closed. In 2014, FCSS distributed 29 food hampers ‐ a drop from 2013 when 43 food hampers were provided to residents of Stony Plain and Parkland County. PARKLAND AND AREA COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP Background Between 2003 and 2006, Alberta Children`s Services Business Plan included a $2,000,000 special allocation called the Community Partnership Enhancement Fund (CPEF) which was to remain accessible by the partnerships within Alberta until 2009. The fund was intended to assist and enhance the collaborative partnership between Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) and Child and Family Services Authorities (CFSA), encouraging them to work more closely together in support of their programs and services for children, youth and families. Consequently, in this region, the Parkland and Area Community Partnership was established. It continues to be a collaboration of human service agency representatives who meet quarterly in order to cultivate stable inter‐personal relationships between our key stakeholders, and to work toward inclusive planning of services and programs. A Vision, a Mission and a Strategic Plan were developed to be used as a guideline to achieve Partnership goals. Their Vision Statement is to promote healthy resilient children, families, and communities in order to achieve their full potential. Their Mission is to identify existing services, trends, strengths and gaps with a main goal of working toward an enhanced continuum of supports and services for children and families in this region. In order to fulfill their mandate, four

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Parkland and Area Response to Family Violence Committee (PARFVC) is an interagency coalition committed to promoting safety from family violence through education, accountability, and supports for all Parkland area individuals and families affected. PARFVC was formed in 2009 as an ad hoc community‐justice agency coalition, and through continued growth and development obtained formal society status in December 2012. Participants include representatives from numerous government and community support agencies who deal with domestic violence offenders, victims, and children exposed. In 2013, PARFVC received a grant through the Victims of Crime Fund to hire a Court Caseworker to enhance the Domestic Violence Support Team. Housed out of the RCMP detachment, this individual works closely with RCMP, Probation, Victim Services and community service providers to deliver comprehensive supports to victims whose partner is involved in the Criminal Justice System. Stony Plain FCSS supports this program by administering the grant process, managing the Caseworker position, and by participating on the Board Executive. TRI‐MUNICIPAL DRUG STRATEGY COUNCIL (DSC) Background The Tri‐Municipal Drug Strategy Council (DSC), formerly known as the Tri‐Municipal Drug Strategy Team (DST), is a community development project dedicated to crea ng a process that engages the community, provides educa on, promotes communica on and offers support. The DSC is a member of the Alberta Drug Strategy Coali on and has been opera ng in the Tri‐Municipal region since 2005. The DSC is a registered Society that is con nually evolving to best serve the tri‐communi es and contribute to the well‐being of community members.

In 2014, Stony Plain FCSS con nued to support the DSC by hos ng monthly mee ngs at the Stony Plain Town Office and by providing representa on on DSC goal commi ees. The Town of Stony Plain finance department provides all accoun ng services on behalf of the DSC in addi on to providing an annual opera ons grant. The City of Spruce Grove and Parkland County also offer financial support for the development and implementa on of DSC projects and ac vi es.

The most ambi ous ini a ve of the DSC, the Youth Empowered Players project (YEP), provides support and educa onal programs for youth in care in the Tri‐Municipal region but is not exclusive to youth “in the system”. Any teen who is needing addi onal supports is able to par cipate at no cost when iden fied by a referring agency.

The main goal of YEP is to help build self‐esteem, confidence and resiliency in these youth to assist them in developing the skills necessary to make healthy and safe life choices. This goal is achieved through YEP’s Remuda Horsemanship Program. Remuda is an equine assisted program in which par cipants are encouraged to develop pro‐social skills through interac on with horses. The program concentrates on tradi onal horsemanship methods, used for thousands of years when working with horses, and combines them with ac vi es and ideologies from exis ng adventure‐based learning programs. Groundwork with the horses is the primary skill learned, as par cipants begin to build trust with the horses, with the group and with themselves. Communica on, body language, and respect are the tools used to achieve this. The act of working with a horse to complete a certain task necessitates an awareness of self, along with a certain level of trust and communica on.



VIOLENCE THREAT RISK ASSESSMENT (VTRA) COMMITTEE VTRA is a Violence Threat Risk Assessment Model developed by Kevin Cameron. Kevin is the founder and Execu ve Director of the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response and is recognized both na onally and interna onally as an expert in violence preven on and trauma response.

In 2010, the Parkland and Evergreen School Divisions joined together to bring Kevin to the Tri‐Municipal area to train staff from each of these educa on systems. Currently there are response teams that originate out of each division office with staff trained in most Parkland and Evergreen schools. These cer fied staff members are trained to the degree necessary for them to be part of a safe site planning team and act as a func onal member of a mul disciplinary Violence Threat Risk Assessment unit. The three basic steps to this assessment process are:

Iden fica on of worrisome or threatening behaviours A mul ‐disciplinary and cross sector team to conduct a violence threat risk assessment

(determina on if a threat‐maker poses an actual risk and/or threat) Implementa on of appropriate interven on and risk management strategies

In 2014, the two School Divisions worked together to recruit members from community organiza ons to form a commi ee and develop a VTRA protocol that would assist in crea ng and maintaining an environment where students, staff, parents and the community‐at‐large feel safe. The VTRA Protocol is a document that outlines the three phases of a seamless mul disciplinary VTRA assessment and interven on. It provides detailed informa on that allows the assessment to flow freely and enable the proper interven on for the youth at the right me. The goal of the VTRA commi ee is to have this protocol in place at every youth venue and community ac vity.

Once the Protocol was completed early in 2014, the VTRA Commi ee arranged for Kevin Cameron to return to the Tri‐area and facilitate Level I and Level II training in threat assessment and trauma response. A total of 72 Tri‐Municipal employees from schools, ministries and community agencies, such as Stony Plain FCSS Youth Services, received this training. The completed Protocol was then presented to the community on April 8, 2014 with an official signing ceremony for all those agencies, stakeholders, schools and school divisions who par cipated in the development.

ST. ALBERT SALVATION ARMY / NEIGHBOURLINK PARKLAND/ STONY PLAIN FCSS PARTNERSHIP FCSS continues to partner with the St. Albert Salvation Army and Neighbourlink Parkland to provide assistance and support to residents of Stony Plain and Parkland County. The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Christmas Campaign proceeds are returned back to the community through a grocery and gas voucher program. In 2014, our office provided a total of 168 ($20 each) food and gas vouchers to residents of Stony Plain and Parkland County. In addition to the vouchers, residents that do not qualify

Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) Commi ee


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for other benefits or programs may be able to receive direct financial assistance from the partnering organizations. This assistance can often prevent a crisis by filling service gaps and providing support at a critical time.

STONY PLAIN’S FIVE‐YEAR PLAN TO REDUCE POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS Service providers have identified that a homelessness issue exists in Stony Plain but is vastly hidden and not fully understood. Our project has two main objectives:

1) Put a face to poverty and homelessness in order to form a clear and common understanding of the issue, and 2) Develop and implement a formal community response strategy based on those findings in order to address and reduce the problem in an effective and sustainable way.

The project itself will consist of three phases:

1) Completion of a study in partnership with the University of Alberta to determine the scope and characteristics of the situation,

2) Share results with community stakeholders and together develop a formal response plan in accordance with a Housing First philosophy, and

3) Implement the response plan developed in phase 2.

Awareness Kickoff: A Poverty Simulation Event In order to stimulate awareness of this issue, Stony Plain FCSS in partnership with United Way, Spruce Grove FCSS, and Parkland County, hosted a Poverty Simulation event that took place October 15 at the Heritage Pavilion in Stony Plain. The simulation provided participants with a unique and powerful experience with the intent to challenge perceptions, change perspective, and strengthen understanding and empathy of individuals living in poverty. The event was attended by service provider agencies, government officials, and community members from the Tri‐Municipal Region. Participants were divided into family units

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and challenged to complete a series of tasks relating to their specific family circumstance. They encountered firsthand the obstacles and challenges that a family may face when living a life of poverty. 89% of participants indicated the simulation was an effective way of teaching the community about the issues facing those living in poverty.

97% of participants expressed they now have a better understanding of the importance of supporting those living in poverty.

Phase 1: A Needs Assessment Related to Poverty and Homelessness in an Agricultural Resource‐Based Community, Stony Plain Alberta Stony Plain FCSS received a federal Service Canada grant in the amount of $38,737 administered by the Alberta Rural Development Network. In partnership with the University of Alberta, the grant dollars have been allocated to cover the costs of a full‐ me temporary research project coordinator working out of the FCSS office, and a part‐ me research assistant working with the primary U of A researcher to conduct a 6‐month study on poverty and homelessness in Stony Plain and area. Results from the study will be released in 2015 and will be used, along with other research, as a founda on to commence Phase 2 of the Five Year Plan ‐ building a community response strategy using a Housing First philosophy. Phase 3 is projected to commence in 2017 which will be the final implementa on phase of the project.

The greatest increases in understanding were around the emotional stresses and frustrations created by having limited

supports, and the significant impact that poverty has on our children and youth.


FCSS 2014 MEMBERSHIPS

DISASTER SOCIAL SERVICES Alberta Municipal Affairs delivered a two day training session on Disaster Social Services (DSS) to FCSS staff at the Stony Plain Fire Hall on May 12 and 13. The first day training consisted of Emergency Social Services and the second day focused on Registra on and Inquiry, and Assis ng Persons with Func onal Needs.

This training proved to be beneficial for FCSS both in finalizing the Disaster Social Services Plan for the Town of Stony Plain and in developing the skill, confidence, and common understanding required for staff to organize and deliver services effec vely in the event of an emergency.

FCSS has been ac vely involved in ongoing training related to DSS, with three staff members having a ended the recent Alberta Emergency Management Agency DSS conference on November 26 in Edmonton. The DSS dra plan was completed in 2014. GRANT FUNDING Stony Plain FCSS has supported community organiza ons with grant funding since its incep on in 1989. Helping to fund community organiza ons that “fill the gap” in support services has been an important goal for Stony Plain FCSS and is a strong community development component of our services.

Organiza ons are required to submit an applica on for funding in the fall, and dollars are allocated for the following budget year. FCSS Board members then review, approve or decline applica ons based on available budget dollars and whether the project/program meets provincial funding criteria and the FCSS mandate. A final report is required at the end of the project/program together with a financial statement and a summary of the program outcomes to determine its effec veness.

Grant applica ons were presented to the FCSS Board members at the Wednesday, December 18, 2013 mee ng with the following approved applica ons:

NeighbourLink Parkland is an inter‐faith resource network commi ed to suppor ng and providing prac cal help to those in need who live in the Tri‐Community of Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland County and are unable to access other resources. A grant in the amount of $4500 was provided to the organiza on, alloca ng $1500 towards volunteer apprecia on and $3000 for volunteer training.

Stony Plain and District Health Centre Auxiliary ‐ Postpartum Depression (PDD) Support Group Resiliency Retreat. The 2013 retreat was postponed and $1300 grant dollars were re‐allocated to the 2014 cycle. The organiza on restructured the retreat and delivered it within a series of 3 workshops. Alberta Paren ng for the Future provided childcare for the support group during these mee ng mes, which ensured that childcare would not be a barrier for women to a end. The workshops provided informa on on building resilience, journaling to develop strategies to connect with thoughts and a resiliency spa to enhance relaxa on skills.

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Associa on of Volunteer Centres of Alberta (GoVolunteer member)

Edmonton Inter‐Agency Youth Services Associa on

FCSS Associa on of Alberta (FCSSAA)

Seniors’ Associa on of Greater Edmonton Stony Plain Co‐op Tri‐Community Adult Learning Associa on Volunteer Alberta Volunteer Canada

Stony Plain Volunteer Centre

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Volunteer Week Celebra on

Recogni on of volunteers who have volunteered 20 plus years!

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The Volunteer Centre serves two clients – primarily those seeking volunteer opportuni es so they can make an impact on issues concerning them, and second, agencies needing the support of volunteers to enhance, support or deliver agency programs. THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE Ac ve par cipa on does not happen by chance. Poten al volunteers approach the Volunteer Centre for help in connec ng with available volunteer opportuni es. Many are unaware of the selec on of organiza ons that would benefit from their support and the variety of opportuni es available to them.

The Volunteer Centre provides a central point of access to the volunteer community by bringing together people and community needs. It includes people of all ages and experiences, from a variety of backgrounds and opportuni es. The Volunteer Centre provides a chance for everyone to be involved and to make a difference.

The Volunteer Centre enabled organiza ons to expand their recruitment efforts through govolunteer.ca and the Volunteer Opportuni es adver sement in the community newspaper which was sponsored in part by Birdsell Grant, LLP.

Stony Plain FCSS has been fortunate to have a commi ed team of volunteers serving in a variety of areas including the FCSS Strategic Management Board, service delivery and special events. In 2014, 91% of volunteers surveyed, reported an experience of increased connec on and engagement with community. CAPACITY BUILDING FCSS hosted a Grant Informa on Evening in partnership with Parkland County, City of Spruce Grove and Community Futures Capital Region on May 7, 2014. Kris ne Telenko provided informa on and resources to 80 par cipants on community grants available from the Alberta Government.

A Funders Forum was also hosted in partnership with Stony Plain FCSS, Parkland County, City of Spruce Grove and Community Futures Capital Region on October 1, 2014. The purpose of the forum was to help make local non‐profit groups aware of government and private sector grants that are available to them. The 109 forum a endees enjoyed a dinner, networked, and received immediate answers to their ques ons from the funders.

As part of an ongoing community partnership between Stony Plain FCSS, Parkland County, City of Spruce Grove and Community Futures Capital Region, there were six different community development workshops offered throughout the fall. Par cipants had the opportunity to learn more about strategic planning, commi ee and mee ng leadership, grant wri ng and risk management with a maximum capacity of 20 par cipants in each workshop.

“I volunteer to make a contribu on, connect and build community spirit”. “I loved doing my bereavement work and John is an excellent teacher and support.” “Stony Plain FCSS ladies are very

friendly and caring individuals”.

‐ Community Volunteers


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FCSS VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

Community Volunteer Income Tax Program In partnership with Canada Revenue Agency, Stony Plain FCSS offered 4 Income Tax Clinics in addi on to accep ng drop off Income Tax Returns. Trained volunteers helped 250 low income individuals with comple ng their Income Tax Returns, thus allowing them access to much needed financial benefits.

Adopt A‐Driveway Volunteers Adopt‐A‐Driveway is a volunteer program where individuals, organiza ons, businesses, classrooms, families, and service groups commit to removing snow from the driveway and entranceway of a community resident in need, un l the end of the winter season. In 2014, there were 25 individual volunteers and 2 groups (approximately 50 volunteers available) who grabbed their snow shovels and got involved in Adopt‐A‐ Driveway.

Bereavement Support Volunteers Volunteer John Rushton, con nued to facilitate the Bereavement Support Programs including Caring Friends and Explora on through Grief. Six volunteers donated 534 volunteer hours suppor ng 124 people in 2014.

Youth Centre Volunteers We are grateful to have volunteers who support the work of the Stony Plain Youth Centre through direct interac on with youth, special events, planning and guidance for programming.

In 2014, there were 41 youth volunteers who par cipated in the Summer Youth Volunteer Program doubling from the previous year. This program helps youth get connected in the community and helps them discover the benefits of volunteering. CREATING AWARENESS We con nue to see collabora on between volunteer agencies who work with volunteers and the community. We are a member agency of the Parkland Area Volunteer Ac on Commi ee (PAVAC) and together organized and celebrated Na onal Volunteer Week April 6‐12, 2014.

The PAVAC commi ee organized an annual Volunteer Celebra on Event held at the Pavilion on the evening of April 10. The venue was filled with 300 community volunteers who were treated to a performance and danced to the music of Touch of Country. Volunteers of all ages played crea ve interac ve games and were given a chance to win door prizes (contributed by local organiza ons). The planning commi ee was extremely pleased that the event was a huge success filled with wonderful dessert treats, music, games and apprecia on for everyone!

The local newspaper published a volunteer week supplement highligh ng volunteers in the community and published several photographs from our event.


“This Christmas gi keeps giving all winter. With deepest gra tude and profound apprecia on for the Stony Plain Novice I Hockey Team, coaches and their wives, we say thank you! It’s so wonderful to see leaders teaching the younger genera on good ci zenship and caring for others and, in this instance, seniors. They have so willingly volunteered to help us stay in our beloved home in the wonderful Town of Stony Plain by clearing our snow. Merry Christmas and God bless you all”.

‐ Adopt‐A‐Driveway Program, Resident


Volunteer‐of‐the‐Month Program Tim Hortons con nues to be involved with our Volunteer‐of‐the‐Month program. This past year we acknowledged five volunteers each month with a le er sta ng why the group nominated them, a Cer ficate of Apprecia on, and a $5 gi cer ficate in a Tim Hortons

mug. All names were entered in a yearly draw for a Tassimo coffee machine. The winner this year was Hazel Hoyt from Vic m Services Society of Stony Plain, Spruce Grove & District. FCSS hosted the Parkland Area Volunteer Ac on Commi ee annual networking mee ng which included a presenta on by Brent Collingwood tled: Volunteers – The Renewable Energy Resource. The Town of Stony Plain Community Services Department provided the lunch for 37 a endees.

Pillar of our Community In 2014 we had two of our FCSS Volunteers featured on the Stony Plain Reporter ‘Pillar of our Community’ page.

John Rushton, FCSS Bereavement and Loss Coordinator, was recognized for his valuable contribu on to Vic m Services and the FCSS Bereavement program in the June 6, 2014 edi on.

Bill Shaver was featured in the August 8, 2014 edi on acknowledging his valuable contribu ons to several community boards ‐ the Youth Jus ce Commi ee, the Tri‐Community Drug Strategy Council, the Policing Commi ee and the Stony Plain Youth Centre where he has volunteered since its incep on in 2004.

“He’s kind of a jack‐of‐all‐trades at the Youth Centre, the resident

handyman and mentor to the kids. He barbecues and works their fundraiser concessions to help

subsidize youth centre programs”. ‐ FCSS Volunteer Services Coordinator, Dianne Dube

“We listen to them. We don’t talk about our own stuff ‐ keep our own experiences in our mind. We’re there

for them, not us”. ‐ John Rushton


Volunteer Centre Inquiries 310

Na onal Volunteer Week Celebra on 300

Volunteers ‐ The Renewable Energy Resource 37

Income Tax Clinics 250

Adopt‐A‐Driveway Volunteers 50

Volunteers / FCSS Programs 27

Summer Youth Volunteer Program 41

Funders Forum 109

Grant Informa on Evening 80

TOTAL 1204

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Stony Plain Youth Centre

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Our Lady Queen of Peace Ranch 2014


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ABOUT THE CENTRE

The Stony Plain Youth Centre celebrated ten years of service for the youth of our community in 2014. Since opening the doors of the Stony Plain Youth Centre in 2004, there has been much effort taken to understand what factors must be present for successful youth programs and ini a ves. The Youth Centre has adopted methods, approaches and procedures that have evidence based support to achieve the intended goals of our youth services program. Drop in Ac vi es Drop in ac vi es are offered free of charge to any youth who wish to par cipate. In 2014, Youth Centre staff and volunteers organized and facilitated 148 drop in ac vi es for teens. The purpose of drop in ac vi es is to encourage the youth to try something new and have fun while developing social skills during those cri cal a er school hours. Special Events Special events are opportuni es to connect with our community, o en by invi ng ci zens to join us for an ac vity or event at the Youth Centre. Popular events for 2014 included the Seniors’ Block Party, the Youth Centre Birthday Party and the Annual Christmas Dinner. Core Programs The Stony Plain Youth Centre offers a diverse range of learning opportuni es focusing on self‐development, social awareness, engagement, skill building and cri cal thinking. Programs are ongoing in nature or may be offered as weekly sessions occurring over a fixed period of me. They are facilitated by contracted professionals or community partners with the appropriate exper se.

Special Events Par cipants

Seniors’ Block Party (Youth Volunteer Hosts)

12

Youth Centre Birthday Party 19

Outdoor Pool Party (2 Events) 16

Christmas Dinner 14

TOTAL 61

A total of 230 youth, aged 11 to 17 years old, accessed the Youth Centre programs and services an average of 13 mes each over the course of the

past year.

Total Sign Ins 2014: 2776

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Twelve programs were offered in 2014.

Community Kitchen: A partnership with Alberta Paren ng for the Future (apfa) educa ng young moms about the planning and prepara on of healthy and affordable meals. Sessions were held in the Spring and Fall at the Youth Centre for 8 young moms with childcare provided for their li le ones.

Project of Heart: A hands‐on, collabora ve, inter‐genera onal, ar s c journey of healing and reconcilia on that First Na ons people in Alberta con nue to walk, along with their non‐Aboriginal neighbors. Project of Heart partnered with the Stony Plain Youth Centre in 2013 to offer youth the opportunity to seek truth in educa on for a be er understanding and rela onship with Canada’s First People. As a part of this engaging educa on program, a work of art was created to reflect the cultural teachings and honor survivors of Indian Residen al Schools and is now displayed as a mural on the west exterior wall of the Youth Centre.

The following were returnees to the program line up as they have proven successful in the past: In 2014, 100 % of youth who par cipated in the Red Cross Babysi ng Course reported an increase in their ability to care for themselves when home alone. In 2014, the Youth Centre’s Project of Heart mural was displayed at 3 Stony Plain schools in the weeks leading up to Na onal Aboriginal Day. Youth Centre staff facilitated presenta ons about Project of Heart and the collabora ve work of art for students at Forest Green, Stony Plain Central and Memorial Composite High School. The mural is now mounted on the Youth Centre facility.

Be Free Yoga

Bullying Awareness Week

Clean Scene Peer Support

Cultural Connec ons

Look, See, Learn, Do (5‐8 year olds)

Red Cross Babysi ng Course

Spontaneous Crea on Art Program

Youth Centre Summer Road Trips

Youth Summer Volunteer Program

We’re Listening Counseling Program


“I learned what to do when a child got hurt or is unconscious. I will be more calm in a dangerous situa on”.

‐ Red Cross Babysi ng Course Par cipant


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HEROES® The HEROES® program is a simple, but effec ve twelve‐session, character‐building experience that helps youth discover the greatness inside them. It does not focus on changing behaviour or teaching certain skills. The program is based on evidence sugges ng that posi ve behaviour follows a posi ve self‐concept. The focus of HEROES®, therefore, is within every youth’s unique gi s and abili es.

In 2014, the Stony Plain Youth Centre con nued to partner with the Coordinated Suicide Preven on Program (CSPP), recrui ng community volunteers to become trained HEROES® facilitators. Three CSPP volunteers and two Youth Centre staff delivered the program to Grade 7 students in Stony Plain and Parkland County. Par cipa ng schools included Muir Lake, High Park, John Paul II and Columbus Academy. Youth Centre staff connected with 91 youth when teaching HEROES® at these par cipa ng schools. In 2014, 93% of youth who par cipated in the HEROES® program reported that they felt more confident to be themselves. Summer Programs The Youth Summer Volunteer Program a racted 41 young volunteers in 2014 who contributed 1058 hours to community agencies. FCSS Volunteer Coordinator, Dianne Dube, arranged placements with ten community agencies allowing par cipants to be matched with an appropriate volunteer opportunity. Youth were able to choose from a variety of placements such as the Pioneer Museum, the Stony Plain Public Library, the Stony Plain Youth Centre and the Town of Stony Plain Play Daze program. All youth volunteers who par cipated in the Summer Volunteer Program were acknowledged for their contribu on to the community at an apprecia on event held at the Youth Centre in August. As a result, 69% of youth surveyed reported a posi ve volunteer experience and felt appreciated when par cipa ng in the Youth Volunteer Summer Program. Youth Centre Road Trips were well a ended each week throughout July and August. Youth Centre staff and youth embarked on various adventures throughout the Edmonton area plus an overnight stay at the Calgary Zoo in partnership with the Town of Stony Plain Play Daze program. Road Trip des na ons included:

“I will hold my head high and be proud of

myself”.

“I will be more confident, stop and think

before I do things”.

“I will become the best person I can be”.

‐ HEROES® Par cipants

"The volunteers were very helpful. They were extra hands to help set up ac vi es and are eager to be future leaders".

‐ Town of Stony Plain, Play Daze Program

"We had nine volunteers referred to the summer reading program and had a very posi ve experience with them. They were energe c and took ownership of their responsibili es”.

‐ Stony Plain Public Library

Castrol Raceway Our Lady Queen of Peace Ranch World Waterpark Laser Quest

Launch Pad Trampoline Park Edmonton Corn Maze Young Guns Paintball Tour the Town of Stony Plain


Youth Projects Back Alley Threadz Thri Store is a project that creates two posi ve outcomes: It helps teens develop work‐related skills under the guidance of staff and volunteers, while at the same me raising money to support other programs and ac vi es. Youth can earn credits that enable them to shop at the store in exchange for their contribu on of me. Back Alley Threadz brought in $1851.50 of sales revenue in 2014.

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Bullying Awareness Week 16

Clean Scene Peer Support 15

Community Kitchen 8

Cultural Connec ons 8

Divas By Design 5

HEROES® 91

Look, See, Learn, Do (5 ‐ 8 year olds) 6

Red Cross Babysi ng Course (3 sessions) 42

We’re Listening 8

YC Summer Road Trips 59

Youth Summer Volunteer Program 41

TOTAL 749

Project of Heart School Presenta ons 450

YC Summer Road Trip: Tour the Town

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Supports and Resources Family support is offered through a program called We’re Listening. It became necessary to recruit a new therapist in 2014 once Stepping Stones Counselling Services moved out of the community. Sessions are offered on a sliding scale fee for service with heavily subsidized rates for low income families. This service supports individual or family needs that fall outside of Alberta Health Services‐Mental Health mandate. Youth Resources The “Parkland Area Youth Services Directory” is a lis ng of all support agencies in Stony Plain and surrounding areas that provide services relevant to youth issues. The pocket booklet includes resources for substance abuse, employment, sexual health and addi onal counseling supports.

The Stony Plain Youth Team (SPYT) SPYT is a project that promotes volunteerism in our youth and o en involves a fundraising opportunity. Our team of volunteers raise money for the Youth Centre by providing concessions at various community events such as:

the outdoor movie night spring and fall street markets Alberta Arts Days the Mini Monster Bash

A er expenses, the concession raised $1860.50.

Our youth team also raised money for the Parkland Food Bank by holding a car wash and hot dog sale. Other community organiza ons supported by SPYT volunteers include Tender Hearts Founda on and the Town of Stony Plain for events such as Light Up and New Year’s Eve Family Fest.

Stony Plain Youth Centre Volunteers A total of 1160 volunteer hours were contributed by 11 adult volunteers who assisted with supervision of youth, program support, and special events. Field Placement students from Grant MacEwan University, NorQuest College and Yellowhead Tribal College contributed 710 of those volunteer hours. The purpose of the field placement is to provide the student with an opportunity to gain prac cal experience at the community level, gain an awareness of community resources, and learn how to develop meaningful and purposeful rela onships with youth.

Youth volunteer hours were contributed by 16 teens who are a part of the Stony Plain Youth Team (SPYT) in addi on to 10 other youth who were assigned community service hours by Community Correc ons or the Youth Jus ce Commi ee. A total of 425 hours were contributed by our youth volunteers.


FCSS 2014 Staff

Janine Peter

FCSS Director

Margaret Gosselin

Office Coordinator

Kai Shuler

Information & Referral Specialist

Deanna Butz

Seniors’ Services Coordinator (P/T)

Dianne Dube

Volunteer Services Coordinator (P/T)

Cheryl Pronovost

Youth Services Supervisor

Landon Penner

Youth Projects Coordinator

Shannon Sanfacon

Youth Worker (P/T)

32

Stony Plain Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) 4905 - 51 Avenue Stony Plain, Alberta T7Z 1Y1 Phone: (780) 963-8583 Fax: (780) 963-1951 Email: [email protected] Website: www.stonyplain.com/fcss

stony plain fcss 2014 annual report

Documents