Parents, Families and Youth

Youth and Family Services identifies and addresses youth, young adult, and family social issues in the community through direct service and/or in partnerships with other social agencies.

Connect Parent Group

A 10 week Attachment-Based Program to support parents and caregivers of pre-teens (ages 10-14).

  • Parents meet in groups of 10-16 with two trained group leaders.
  • Each session provides parents with an attachment perspective on parent-child relationships and adolescent development.
  • Parents watch role-plays, do exercises and discuss ways of responding to challenging behaviour and problems.

To register or find out when the next session is running contact Jennifer at 780-997-4164.

Dragonfly Support Group

A monthly group for parents whose children face mental health challenges.

This groups is a safe and supportive place for parents and caregivers to:

  • share challenges and concerns
  • learn and grow as a caregiver, and
  • access supports from those who are facing similar struggles.

Meetings are every 3rd Monday of the month from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the CN Station (10030-99ave), Kinsmen Room.

To register, please call 780-992-6265

Family School Liaison Program

Family School Liaisons (FSLs) provide short-term, goal-oriented support to students, aged 6-18 years, and their families. They work with a student's existing strengths while building connections between families, schools and community services.

FSLs help students with...

  • Emotional Concerns: self-esteem, managing emotions, grief and loss, stress, life changes, coping skills
  • Family Concerns: separation or divorce, parent-teen conflict, sibling conflict, parenting tools, advocacy
  • School Based Concerns: transition to a new school, attendance issues, improve communication between families and the school
  • Social Concerns: problem solving, social skills, communication, peer relationships

Who is eligible?

This is a confidential, free service provided to Fort Saskatchewan residents. FSLs are able to meet with students in a variety of settings – at school, home or at the office.

Individual sessions may focus on:

  • Connecting the family to community resources
  • Acting as a liaison between the school, community agencies and the family
  • Identifying strategies to support both the student and/or family
  • Supporting parents to empower themselves and their children
  • Working to meet student goals while building relationships

Family School Liaisons do not provide psychiatric assessments or intervention services.

How can services be accessed?

To apply to the program or for more information, please contact the FCSS Intake Line: 780-992-6265.

In School Programs

Family and Community Support Services offers supports in schools throughout the year such as boys group, girls group and healthy relationship presentations. If your school would be interested in discussing these topics or others please call 780-992-6265.

All About Boys/All About Girls Groups

Boys and Girls today face many challenges: the media telling them that they have to look like celebrities, friends pressuring them, their bodies continually changing, and just trying to figure out who they are. It is hard to be a boy and/or girl in today’s society. The All About Boys and All About Girls groups will provide them with the opportunity to talk about issues that influence their self confidence and self-esteem during adolescence and help them develop skills and strategies to combat negative messages.

These groups are offered in the Elementary schools in Grade 5 and/or 6 and at the Junior High level. Group usually occurs over lunch and for 6-8 weeks.

Roots of Empathy

Roots of Empathy is a classroom program that has shown dramatic effect in reducing levels of aggression and violence among school children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.

A certified instructor with a parent and their baby provide classroom visits throughout the school year. The program helps children to learn about baby's needs and development and lets children see a loving relationship grow between parent and baby. The program aims to foster the development of empathy and emotional literacy while reducing levels of bullying, aggression and violence.

To learn more about the Roots of Empathy program, please call 780-992-6265 or visit rootsofempathy.org.

Rainbow Alliance

The Rainbow Alliance is a peer support group for youth ages 13 and up. It is a supportive and safe place open to all sexual orientations and gender identities, where youth can be themselves in a safe, affirming, sex-positive, alcohol and drug free environment.

Meetings are fun opportunities to make new friends, partake in fun activities and work on projects together.

To learn more about the Rainbow Alliance, call 780-992-6265.

Peer Support

In partnership with Fort Saskatchewan’s FCSS, the altView Foundation proudly offers free drop-in peer support every Monday and Wednesday from 9am-12pm and is located at City Hall (10005 102 Street, Fort Saskatchewan). Find out more about the FCSS Drop-in Peer Support.

Youth Action Committee

The Youth Action Committee (YAC) is open to all youth ages 13 – 18 and will focus on:

  • Volunteering and fundraising
  • Project orientated activities
  • Youth Wellness
  • Youth driven Initiatives 

Goals:

  1. Engage youth to be involved in the community through volunteering
  2. Plan youth specific events and activities
  3. Collaborate with other groups and agencies
  4. Promote and create initiatives to support the well-being of youth

Location: Lang Room, City Hall
Hours: Every Second Monday from 4:00 – 5:00pm
Dates: September – June

For more information, please email Family and Community Support Services or call 780-992-6267.
Youth Council

Youth Council act in an advisory capacity to Mayor and Council, city departments and community partners on issues relevant to youth.

The goals of Youth Council are:

  1. To learn about city governance, procedure and policy
  2. Advise Mayor and Council
  3. Present youth concerns to City Council a minimum of twice a year
  4. Drive community change

Open to all youth ages 14 – 24 with a maximum of 16 members

For more information, please email Family and Community Support Services or call 780-992-6267.