Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Funding
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association request the Government of Alberta to immediately increase provincial funding to municipalities for Family and Community Support Services commensurate to the population growth and annual inflations, thereby relieving some of the pressure on crisis intervention and prevention services and ensuring the sustainability of these essential programs.
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association work with other partners including, but not limited to Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta, and Calgary FCSS Sustainability Forum to advocate for a fully funded, sustainable provincial FCSS program.
WHEREAS the purpose of a municipality is to provide good governance, services, facilities or other things that in the opinion of Council are necessary or desirable for all or part of the municipality and to develop and maintain safe and viable communities;
WHEREAS Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) programs are of a preventive nature that enhances the social well-being of individuals and families through promotion or intervention strategies;
WHEREAS over 318 municipalities and Metis settlements participate in the program;
WHEREAS in 2006, 2007 and 2010 the AUMA adopted resolutions calling on the provincial government to provide greater support to FCSS;
WHEREAS in response to the 2010 resolution the Minister of Human Services in a meeting with the AUMA Executive Committee acknowledged the importance of FCSS programs but indicated there is such tremendous pressure on income support programs and child protection that he will be unable to increase the funding in 2013;
WHEREAS the FCSS Association issued a media release dated March 20, 2014 outlining its discouragement and concern about the 2014 Human Services’ projected budgets for the next two years and the lack of increases for FCSS programs since 2009 which will result in FCSS funding being flat-lined for eight years;
WHEREAS the investment in prevention will be a significant step in creating a sustainable system for children, youth and families and no increase in funding will result in decreasing or eliminating services and programs; and
WHEREAS the social costs of crime including policing, health care and corrections are significant items in budget expenditures.
The FCSS philosophy is based on a belief that self-help contributes to the sense of integrity self-worth and independence. The programs developed are intended to help individuals in the community to adopt healthy lifestyles thereby improving the quality of life and building the capacity to prevent and or deal with crisis situations should the need arise. There has been no increase in funding since 2009 to help support the cost of these programs. Because of this FCSS is falling further behind in its ability to maintain its level of support to Albertans and in many cases reducing or eliminating much needed services and programs in many communities.
Municipalities appreciate that the province honoured its commitment to increase Family and Community Support Services by $25 million. In an October 27, 2015 news release, AUMA President Lisa Holmes said, “These services help our most vulnerable community members. We are so pleased that the province is honoring its cost sharing agreement and working with municipalities to jointly resource these important social services. This funding will be a tremendous benefit to the nearly 400 communities across this province”.
https://auma.ca/news/province-making-progress-boosting-fcss-funding