Family and Community Support Services – In Focus
Georgia Dubois
Director
Smoky River FCSS
Who are we? Going into my fifth year as director, I am asked this question frequently in the region and beyond. I always start with, well how much time to you have to spend as we have a lot to offer.
Promotion and advocacy of what FCSS does will always be a yearly goal. With the assistance of our local paper, on a weekly basis we shall continue to submit an article on the various programs and services we have to offer. FCSS is always looking for volunteers to assist in the various programs, please contact the office if you are interested. A little bit of background.
Smoky River FCSS is a partnership between the provincial government and the five municipalities in the Smoky River region, including the Municipal District of Smoky River No. 130, Town of McLennan, Town of Falher, Village of Donnelly and the Village of Girouxville.
Our mandate is to develop locally driven preventative social initiatives to enhance the well-being of individuals, families and communities. What this means is that FCSS is here for you!
Our Vision is to build strong communities through positive, caring interaction and mutual respect. What this means is that FCSS is here for you!
Highlights for 2015:
. Number of times our services were utilized grew from 7,023 to 9,219, which is fabulous!
. Our Senior, Youth and Community Programs make up the majority of our programming in 2015.
. Our Facebook page grew to 406 and continues to grow!
. The Smoky River transportation program saw a growth in ridership in 2015.
. Ol Tyme Family Nite celebrated its eighth year of programming.
. Pilot year of the Christmas Voucher program that was very well received and very much appreciated by those who applied as well as by the local businesses.
. Smoky River interagency membership has grown with more outreach organizations offering programs in the Smoky River area.
. Roots of Empathy facilitated programs in two schools in the region.
. 2015 brought more growth to our youth programs offered in the regional schools.
. Information and referrals continued to be prominent as well as supportive listening.
. Emergency Social Services is continuing to recruit volunteers for its reception centres.
. We said farewell to some staff and welcomed others.
If the public wants a copy of our annual report and audited financials, they can contact the office at (780) 837-2220, or drop by the office.
Bottom line is that FCSS is here for you! We look forward to becoming a regular part of the your reading time of the Smoky River Express and to continue to have an opportunity to share with you, the assets of all of our communities and to explain who we are and what we do and to put our programs into focus for you!
Summer Youth Programs
Don’t forget to register your youth ages 6-12 for the regular four-day program for youth ages 10-15, for the one-day Horse Program, as well as youth ages 6-12 for the other one-day horse program. Contact the office today!
Check us on Facebook.