DIDSBURY - Town council has approved 2021 Family Community Support Services (FCSS) funding for seven local groups totalling $52,019.
The move came by way of motion during a recent regularly scheduled council meeting, following a presentation by Nicole Aasen, manager of community services.
Groups receiving funding are Chinook’s Edge School Division (CESD) Family School Wellness program ($15,840), CESD Youth Empowerment and Support ($8,500), Didsbury Preschool Society program ($6,900), Didsbury Municipal Library teen advisory council ($2,770), Mountain View Emergency Shelter ($2,900), Olds and District Hospice Society ($1,500), and Town of Didsbury - Didsbury Out of School Care Association ($13,609).
The CESD school wellness program addresses the needs and support for families and children 0-18 years of age, offering preventative programming, referrals and crisis response to support families in need, council heard.
The CESD youth program works to “increase coping, knowledge and skills children and youth to enable them to make better choices and adopt behaviours to self-protect their physical, and mental health at as early an age as possible.”
The program also focuses on “improving resiliency by increasing developmental assets and protective factors, increasing parental involvement, increasing positive peer interactions and reducing barriers for participation and providing greater awareness of mental health.”
The Didsbury preschool program offers a “safe, educational, and fun learning environment for children during their early years, providing a successful start for them and our community.” It also “fosters excitement about school and learning, teaches problem solving, decision making and conflict resolution.”
The Didsbury library teen advisory council “engages and empowers teens while connecting them to one another, the library and their community.”
The shelter society outreach worker program works to “end family violence by providing safe shelter to victims as well as to provide support, services and education to victims of family violence that will educate and assist the individuals in coping skills and making appropriate life choices to lead to a safer, healthier and more secure life.”
The hospice society funds will be used for volunteer recruitment and advertising in support of terminally-diagnosed individuals and their families.
The Town of Didsbury - Didsbury Out of School Care Association offers safe, fun and education programming for children aged 5-12.
Councillors voted unanimously to support the funding allocations. Coun. John Baswick did not attend the Feb. 9 council meeting.