DIDSBURY - Town council has approved recommended Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) grant allocations to community groups totalling $64,000.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
Those receiving the support funding include Chinook Arch Victim's Services ($4,000), Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) Family School Wellness ($14,046), CESD Youth Empowerment and Support ($8,500), Didsbury preschool ($6,900), Didsbury Municipal Library ($1,385), and Essentials For Our Community ($3,480).
Others include Holy Trinity Catholic School ($500), HOPE - A Conservation Has To Happen ($1,224), Mountain View Emergency Shelter ($11,465), Olds & District Hospice Society ($1,500), and Town of Didsbury - Didsbury Out of School Care Association - Before and After School ($11,000).
Chinook Arch Victim's Services (CAVS) provides emergency crisis intervention, support, information and referrals to victims of crime and tragedy, administration said in a briefing note to council.
“They provide court preparation and accompaniment for victims and witnesses, and provide ongoing updates and support as a file makes it way through the criminal justice system.”
CAVS also arranges transportation to women’s and/or homeless shelters and will, if no other options are available, pay for short-term accommodation for high risk victims and children until shelter spaces becomes available.”
The CESD family school wellness program addresses the needs and support for families and children up to 18 years of age.
“They offer preventative programming, individual one on one service, information and referral and crises response to support families in need (and) supports children, youth and families as they encounter family based difficulties in their everyday lives.”
The CESD youth empowerment and support program focuses on “improving resiliency by increasing development assets and protective factors, increasing parental involvement, increasing positive peer interactions, reducing barriers for participation and providing greater awareness for mental health.”
HOPE - Conservation Has To Happen works to increase “community knowledge and understanding of social issues affecting our community such as depression, suicide and other mental health issues.”
Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society works to “end family violence by providing safe shelter to victims as to provide support, services and education to victims of family violence that will educate/assist individuals in strengthening coping skills and making appropriate life choices to lead to a safer, healthier and more secure life.”
The Olds & District Hospice Society provides support for terminally diagnosed individuals and their families by trained volunteers, bereavement support, information, education, advocacy and communication.
“This program supports the provision of quality, compassionate care in a home-like setting for those facing death as well as supporting their family before, during and after death.”
Funding requests from the groups in 2022 totalled $178,696.
Councillors will hold further discussions about FCSS funding during upcoming budget deliberations.
