Village of Elnora FCSS Funding and Neighbourhood Place Partnership

The Village of Elnora in Alberta maintains a structured community support system through the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program, which operates in partnership with the Elnora Neighbourhood Place to deliver essential preventative social services to residents. This report examines the funding structure, program offerings, and collaborative framework that supports community well-being in Elnora.

FCSS Funding Structure and Regional Partnership

Family and Community Support Services represents a unique funding partnership between the Government of Alberta and participating municipalities or Métis Settlements. This partnership operates on an 80/20 funding model, where the provincial government provides 80% of the funding while municipalities contribute 20%10. The Village of Elnora participates in the broader Red Deer & District FCSS region, which includes The City of Red Deer, Red Deer County, Town of Bowden, Town of Penhold, and Village of Delburne9.

For the 2024-2026 funding cycle, the Village of Elnora has been awarded $19,424.49 in annual funding from the Red Deer & District FCSS Board11. Additionally, the Elnora Playschool received $5,250.00 in funding for the same period11. These allocations form part of a larger $2.47 million funding distribution approved by the Red Deer & District FCSS Board for programs focusing on positive child and youth development, mental health, strong neighbourhoods and communities, and strong family connections11.

Application Process and Funding Distribution

Applications for FCSS funding follow a structured process overseen by the Red Deer & District FCSS. The most recent application period for the 2024-2026 funding cycle closed on April 6, 20231. Funding is specifically designated for not-for-profit organizations, school boards, and playschools that provide preventative social programs within the participating municipalities1.

The funding distribution prioritizes initiatives that focus on:

• Positive child and youth development

• Mental health

• Strong neighbourhoods and communities

• Strong family connections13

Elnora FCSS Programs and Services

Elnora Family and Community Support Services operates with a mission "to provide preventative and social programs that enhance the lives of individuals, families, and the community"12. Located at 219 Main Street in Elnora, the FCSS office is led by Community Worker Michelle Rich and operates Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM47.

Core Program Offerings

The Elnora FCSS provides a diverse range of preventative social services including:

1. Food Security Programs:

   • Meals on Wheels service (currently operating two days per week)

   • Red Deer County Frozen Meal Service

   • Fruit to School program

   • Forgotten Lunches program

   • Breakfast Program

   • Emergency food bank47

2. Community Development Initiatives:

   • Community Garden

   • Community Connections

   • Welcome Packages for new residents

   • Monthly newsletter47

3. Support Services:

   • Lifeline service

   • Caregiver Training workshops

   • Computer Basics 101

   • Referrals to other community resources47

4. Youth and Family Programs:

   • Preschool fairs and group activities

   • Play school support

   • Summer Fun program

   • Vision for Non-Violence programming7

All programs align with the FCSS mandate to provide preventative services that enhance social well-being through early intervention strategies4.

Partnership with Elnora Neighbourhood Place

A notable aspect of Elnora's community support framework is the partnership between the FCSS and Elnora Neighbourhood Place7. This collaborative relationship is explicitly identified in service descriptions, with official documentation noting: "Affiliation: Partnered with Elnora Neighbourhood Place and The Village of Elnora"7.

While the specific operational details of this partnership are not extensively documented in the available information, both organizations are recognized as important community institutions in Elnora's development planning5. The partnership represents an integrated approach to community support, combining resources to deliver more comprehensive services to residents.

Eligibility and Access

Services provided through the Elnora FCSS and its partnership with Neighbourhood Place are targeted primarily to residents of Elnora and Red Deer County7. While some programs may have associated fees, many core services are accessible through direct contact with the FCSS office7.

FCSS Regulatory Framework

All FCSS-funded programs must adhere to specific criteria outlined in Section 2.1 of the FCSS Regulation. Programs must:

1. Be of a preventive nature that enhances social well-being through promotion or early intervention strategies4

2. Accomplish one or more of the following objectives:

   • Help people develop independence and strengthen coping skills

   • Develop awareness of social needs

   • Develop interpersonal and group skills for constructive relationships

   • Help people and communities assume responsibility for decisions affecting them

   • Provide supports that sustain active community participation48

Programs focused solely on leisure, basic living supports (food, money, shelter), rehabilitation, or those duplicating government services are ineligible for FCSS funding10.

Conclusion

The Village of Elnora's participation in the FCSS program, and its partnership with Neighbourhood Place, represents a structured approach to community support and development. Through provincial-municipal funding collaboration, Elnora has established a framework for delivering preventative social services that address local needs and priorities. The $19,424.49 annual funding allocation for 2024-2026 will continue to support these essential community-based initiatives aimed at enhancing the social well-being of Elnora residents.

As community needs evolve, the partnership between FCSS and Neighbourhood Place offers a collaborative model for addressing social challenges and building community resilience through preventative programming and coordinated service delivery.

Citations:

1. https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/applications-now-open-for-fcss-funding-6824962
2. https://informalberta.ca/public/service/serviceProfileStyled.do?serviceQueryId=1016653
3. https://rdnewsnow.com/2023/07/10/funding-announced-for-preventive-social-well-being-programs/
4. https://www.villageofelnora.com/fcss
5. https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/ma-elnora-public-library-plan-of-service.pdf
6. https://bowden.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=7009c538-2ef6-427e-b7d9-6a178b89bc56
7. https://ab.211.ca/record/1032014/
8. https://www.reddeer.ca/media/reddeerca/about-red-deer/social-well-being-and-community-initiatives/fcss/FCSS-Red-Deer-Funding-Guide.pdf
9. https://www.reddeer.ca/about-red-deer/social-well-being-and-community-initiatives/family-and-community-support-services/
10. https://www.alberta.ca/family-and-community-support-services-fcss-program
11. https://www.reddeer.ca/about-red-deer/social-well-being-and-community-initiatives/family-and-community-support-services/funded-projects/
12. https://ab.211.ca/record/1032014/agency/
13. https://www.rdcounty.ca/186/Family-Community-Support-Services-FCSS
14. https://www.villageofelnora.com
15. https://www.mapquest.com/ca/alberta/elnora-fcss-423655586
16. https://informalberta.ca/public/organization/orgProfileStyled.do?organizationQueryId=1012002
17. https://bowden.ca/p/fcss
18. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs/amounts-paid-2024/alberta.html
19. https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/36f33d8b-8527-48c5-adff-343639ec4b50/resource/717c609e-f7be-4a26-91ca-dc2076bbb3d2/download/csj-eec-2024_alberta.csv
20. https://canoeprocurement.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Canoe-Current-Future-Members.xlsx
21. https://www.olds.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/meetings/agenda/apr1816.pdf
22. https://www.statefunding.ca/wp-content/uploads/Archive/Alberta/2008_Alberta_PA.pdf

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