Many people found themselves needing to ask for help for the 1st time in 2016 as they weathered a downturn in the economy according to Lacombe and District Family and Community Support Services.
 
The agency experienced an increase in many of their programs, including the Community Outreach Program which helps individuals and families dealing with low income, inadequate housing, family and relationship issues and changes and other basic needs.
 
FCSS Executive Director Susan MacDonald says it was a program they expanded last year to reach out to more individuals needing help.

“we did experience a significant increase in the number of clients that were asking for assistance and one additional program that we added to that, we added a Rural Community Outreach Program as a pilot program for a year. We were able to hire the services of a Social Worker three days a week, so one day extra in Lacombe, one day in Bentley and one day in Clive”.

MacDonald says that rural pilot program will continue until August of this year at which time they will review its success.

FCSS is also host to the Parkland Regional Parent Link Network which includes Parent Link Centres in Lacombe, Wetaskiwin, Ponoka, Rimbey and the addition of Blackfalds last spring.

MacDonald says it’s a busy program and they are gearing up for the opening of Parent Link in a great new space in Blackfalds.

“one of the fastest growing communities in Canada with young children so Parent Link certainly is a great program for all the young families in that community. The Town of Blackfalds is building a new Parent Link Centre and it will be on the current Community Hall, it looks like that project will be complete about the end of May, first part of June and then we’ll focus on setting up the facility and then we’ll have our own Parent Link Centre which will be wonderful”.

In terms of other programming for families, MacDonald says last year they offered a summer program for children once a week at a local playground and they are hoping to offer it again this summer.
 
The transportation services offered by FCSS will also see a nice boost soon according to MacDonald.

“this year we will be getting a new bus for the Connex fleet so I think that will be arriving sometime early spring so we look forward to that, it will replace an older unit that is pretty well maxed out on miles”.