Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) Funding Increase
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate to the Government of Alberta to immediately increase provincial funding for Family and Community Support Services commensurate to population growth and annual inflation rates, which would currently amount to funding of $161.5 million in 2025, to adequately and sustainably fund necessary prevention programs and services in communities across Alberta.
WHEREAS the Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) program promotes and enhances the well-being of Albertans, families and communities by funding preventive programs intended to help individuals adopt healthy lifestyles, improve their quality of life and build capacity to prevent and deal with crisis situations should they arise; (1)
(1) Government of Alberta, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program, https://www.alberta.ca/family-andcommunity-support-services-fcss-program
WHEREAS FCSS is an 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta and more than 318 participating municipalities and Metis settlements; WHEREAS between 2015 and 2022 provincial funding for FCSS was stagnant and the $5 million increase, to a total of $105 million, in 2023 does not adequately reflect the need for services in Alberta communities;
WHEREAS in October 2023, the Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta called on the Alberta Government to increase total funding to $130 million allowing FCSS programming to be maintained and for the fund to be indexed to inflation; and
WHEREAS investment in prevention creates a sustainable system of local support for Albertans, families and communities and by not increasing FCSS funding to take into account inflation and population growth the result will be a decrease or elimination of critical programs and services.
Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) has provided funding for vital programs and services to residents in municipalities across Alberta since 1966. Today, eligible services under FCSS must be preventative in nature and may include initiatives and programs that help communities:
- identify their social needs and develop responses;
- promote, encourage and support volunteer work in the community;
- inform the public about services;
- support children and their families’ social development;
- help families enrich and strengthen family life and function more effectively in their own environment; and,
- enhance retired and semi-retired people’s quality of life. (2)
(2) Government of Alberta, Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program, https://www.alberta.ca/family-andcommunity-support-services-fcss-program
Previous FCSS funding resolutions were adopted at Alberta Municipalities’ Conventions in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2014. The Government of Alberta increased funding to a total of $100 million in 2015 and added an additional $5 million in 2023. Provincial funding increases have not kept pace with population growth or inflation. From 20002023 Alberta added nearly 1.7 million people and inflation averaged 2.25% per year over the same time period. Quickly eroding any additional funds provided by the province and municipalities.
In October 2023, the Family and Community Support Services Association (FCSSA) of Alberta requested an additional $25 million, a 24% increase, in funding from the Government of Alberta to fund FCSS programs. Noting that preventive programming significantly reduces the amount of money that needs to be invested in health care, mental health, addictions, and the justice system.
“Every dollar invested in preventive services saves us $7 to $12 in future spending on justice, health care and addictions. As our provincial priorities focus on critical social issues, Albertans have never needed FCSS more than today.”
Murtaza Jamaly, President
Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta
October 3, 2023
FCSSA is a member-driven organization that was established in 1981 to bring FCSS programs from across the province together to connect, collaborate, and to maximize resources.
A funding increase of $25 million to $130 million would help to maintain current FCSS programming levels across the province according to the FCSSA. No additional funding was allotted to FCSS in the 2024 Alberta Budget. Should provincial funding be increased, municipalities would need to increase contribution rates to maintain the 80/20 funding partnership required under the Family and Community Support Services Regulation. It should be noted that many municipalities are currently contributing more than 20% to local prevention programs.
This resolution aligns with ABmunis’ past advocacy where the unchanged level of FCSS funding from 2015-16 to 2022-23 and again in 2024-25 represent a downloading of costs onto municipal governments. The resolution aligns with ABmunis previous advocacy to seek an increase in FCSS funding to keep pace with Alberta’s growth and costs of services. If this resolution is passed, it would be forwarded to the Government of Alberta for response and further advocacy would be recommended to the ABmunis Board by the Safe and Healthy Communities Committee within the context of related priorities and positions.