Mountain View County Alberta FCSS Spending Report: A Comprehensive Analysis

Mountain View County's Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program represents a significant investment in preventative social programming across the region. This analysis examines the county's FCSS spending patterns, funding allocation processes, and community impact through recent fiscal years.

FCSS Program Structure and Funding Framework

Family and Community Support Services in Mountain View County operates as a cost-sharing partnership between the provincial government of Alberta (80%) and the county (20%)1. This collaborative funding model enables the development and implementation of preventative social initiatives designed to enhance community wellbeing. The county both administers FCSS programs directly and provides funding to eligible community organizations that deliver qualifying services2.

The fundamental purpose of FCSS is to support programs that help individuals adopt healthy lifestyles, improve quality of life, and build capacity to prevent or address crisis situations1. Programs must be preventative rather than reactive, focusing on early intervention strategies that promote social wellbeing.

Funding Allocation Process

Mountain View County employs a structured process for FCSS fund allocation:

Organizations submit detailed applications for program funding using standardized forms
County administration reviews applications for compliance with FCSS eligibility requirements
A multi-stakeholder grant review committee evaluates applications and makes recommendations
County council makes final approval decisions, with authority over program administration and delivery1 5

This process ensures accountability while allowing flexibility to respond to changing community needs. For the 2026 funding year, applications will open in October 2025, maintaining the county's annual cycle of support2.

Recent FCSS Expenditure Reports

2023 Fiscal Year Allocations

In 2023, Mountain View County received funding requests totaling $218,462 from 21 community organizations1. The grant review committee recommended, and council approved, a county contribution of $130,000. This funding was distributed among 18 organizations, with three applicants not receiving support.

Key recipients in 2023 included:

Chinook's Edge School Division Family School Wellness Program: $50,000
Chinook's Edge Youth Empowerment and Support Program: $10,000
Chinook Arch Victim Services CAVSS volunteer training: $11,000
Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society outreach programs: $10,000
Olds & District Hospice Society: $5,0001

2025 Fiscal Year Allocations

For the 2025 fiscal year, Mountain View County council approved $132,851 in FCSS funding to 18 community organizations5. This represents a slight increase from the 2023 allocation. Additionally, the county contributes $245,332 to urban centers (Carstairs, Olds, Didsbury, Sundre, and Cremona) through separate FCSS agreements, bringing the total FCSS investment to approximately $378,1835.

Significant 2025 funding recipients include:

Chinook's Edge School Division Family School Wellness Program: $50,000
Chinook's Edge Youth Empowerment and Support Program: $18,050 (increased from 2023)
Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society: $6,525
BGC of Olds and Area youth center: $6,000
Town of Didsbury Out of School Care program: $5,200
Mountain View Hospice Society: $5,0005

Regional FCSS Funding Distribution

Town of Olds FCSS Allocations (2025)

Within Mountain View County, individual municipalities also administer FCSS funding. For example, the Town of Olds approved $53,850 in FCSS grants for 20253. Major recipients included:

BGC Olds and Area: $26,050 (after-school programs, summer programs, youth center)
Chinook's Edge School Division: $13,335 (Youth Empowerment and Support program)
Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society: $5,500 (outreach and education programs)
Olds & District Special Family Voices: $3,715 (bi-weekly inclusion events)3

This demonstrates how FCSS funding cascades through multiple levels of government to reach community organizations.

Program Eligibility and Accountability

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for FCSS funding, programs must:

Be preventative in nature, enhancing social wellbeing through promotion or early intervention
Help people develop independence and strengthen coping skills
Foster awareness of social needs and interpersonal skills
Empower communities to assume responsibility for decisions affecting them
Support active community participation2 3 9

Conversely, programs are ineligible if they:

Primarily serve recreational or leisure purposes
Provide sustained basic needs (food, clothing, shelter)
Focus on rehabilitation rather than prevention
Duplicate existing government services4 9

Reporting and Accountability Measures

Organizations receiving FCSS funding must demonstrate program outcomes and impact through detailed reporting. As noted by Heather Dixon, Lead Community Facilitator for the Town of Olds, "We absolutely must do that in order to report everything back to the province and that's done annually"3.

The reporting process has evolved, with Mountain View County updating its project report format to emphasize outcome measurement2. Organizations must use standardized provincial priority measures from the FCSS Measures Bank to track and report program effectiveness24.

Community Impact and Administrative Assessment

County officials consistently express satisfaction with the FCSS program's impact. Councillor Peggy Johnson characterized FCSS funding as "money well spent"1, while Reeve Angela Aalbers emphasized that "Council is privileged to be able to allocate funds to support these groups"5.

Administrative oversight ensures funding aligns with strategic priorities. As Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Holmes stated, programs are "intended to help individuals within their communities to adopt healthy lifestyles, thereby improving the quality of life and building capacity to prevent and/or deal with crisis situations"5.

Conclusion

Mountain View County's FCSS spending reports demonstrate a structured, accountable approach to preventative social programming. The consistent funding increases between 2023 and 2025, coupled with the broad range of supported organizations, reflect the county's commitment to community wellbeing. Through direct administration and collaborative partnerships with municipalities and community organizations, the FCSS program creates a comprehensive social support network throughout Mountain View County.

The county's emphasis on measurable outcomes and strategic funding allocation ensures that FCSS investments generate meaningful impact while meeting provincial requirements. As the county prepares for 2026 funding applications, this established system provides a solid foundation for continued investment in preventative social services.

Citations:

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