Council hears challenges facing Family, Community Support Services

By Rob Vogt
Insufficient funding, inaccessibility of provincial social services in rural Alberta, and changing and increasing social needs in rural communities are the challenges facing Family and Community Support Services, and Claresholm town council will raise them with the provincial government.
Barbara Bell, director of Claresholm and District Family and Community Support Services, appeared at council’s Sept. 25 meeting to discuss the results of a report on FCSS commissioned by Rural Municipalities of Alberta.
“It’s probably the best report I’ve seen,” Bell said.
The report identifies three challenges – insufficient provincial funding, inaccessibility of provincial social services in rural Alberta, and changing and increasing social needs in rural communities.
Bell said FCSS is all about the citizens of Claresholm.
“We want them all to be healthy and happy,” she said. “That’s our main focus.”
The mandate of FCSS is prevention, but Bell said now they are dealing with a lot of crisis situations.
“We’re getting burned out. Our staff is burned out already so we have to be very aware of that,” she said. “Even though it’s our mandate, we don’t turn anyone way. We help everyone that comes through that door.”
If they cannot help directly, they will find ways to help.
Bell turned her attention to the issues identified in the report.
She said the government is ignoring FCSS, as far as funding is concerned. By not increasing funding at all every year, it amounts to a claw back because costs continue to go up.
Without increased funding, she continued, FCSS is run ragged.
“We are doing a lot of things outside our mandate,” Bell said, adding there are government agencies in place to offer services and another part of the mandate is to not cross boundaries with them.
Another concern, Bell said, is every provincial service now goes to a 1-800 number call system, and access is online.
She explained clients do not have enough knowledge to do that. There are seniors who have never used a computer, and online portals are not user-friendly.
Bell said FCSS tries to help them. These portals usually require an e-mail address, something clients have never had. So FCSS staff generate e-mail addresses, that are never used again, to access services.
“We’re just jumping through hoops to help these people to survive,” Bell said.
She stressed it’s not just about financial survival, but mental health too.
Anything to do with government services has gone to these online portals without any consultation.
“They don’t talk to anybody about it,” Bell said.

Whereas these clients need face-to-face interaction.
“FCSS offices are the only people around,” Bell said, adding they are flooded with people.
She pointed out, with the aftermath of the pandemic, this has been the worst year of her 10 years with FCSS. Social issues and anxiety have increased, and some people are afraid of coming out of their homes.
“We just don’t have the resources in our small town,” Bell said.
Consequently, her request of council was this.
“Go to bat for us,” she said.
If council talks to provincial government officials, plead FCSS’ case and ask for more funding.
She also pointed out at various times the provincial government threatened to cancel FCSS or claw back fund if they did not keep quiet.
“We’re doing great things in our community,” she said, noting there are a lot of things and resources people can access for free. “I’d have to say we’re very lucky, we are blessed here.
“We’re doing the best that we can, we’re running as many programs as we can.”
Council was supportive.
“You do a fantastic job,” said Coun. Kandice Meister. “I see the difference you make with some people and you guys are invaluable in this community.”
Coun. Mike Cutler agreed, having worked alongside FCSS for years.
“It is a very core program within our community,” he said.
Cutler added when they are in Edmonton for the Alberta Municipalities convention, they will raise the subject.
Coun. Craig Zimmer asked for a summary of the report so it could go to the local MLA.