​Earlier this year, the Government of Alberta and The Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services launched the FCSS Accountability Framework. This framework is a collaborative guide that provides clarity to local FCSS programs in designing and delivering preventive social services that fit Albertans’ needs now, and into the future. Within this framework, 5 key social issues have been identified as strongly affecting Albertans based on the information gathered by the Government of Alberta. These social issues are as follows:
Homelessness and Housing Insecurity: This issue is complex and multifaceted, stemming from a combination of factors. At Wainwright FCSS, we strive to offer a range of supportive services to address this crisis with compassion and empathy, such as individualized support and referrals, financial literacy workshops, and advocacy efforts aimed at raising awareness about homelessness and housing insecurity.
Mental Health and Addiction: Mental health and addiction affect millions of Canadians, and the stigma surrounding it often prevents people from seeking help. At Wainwright FCSS, we strive to change this narrative by promoting mental health and addiction awareness through advocacy and workshops, solution-focused counseling, providing accessible resources and referrals, and fostering a supportive community.
Employment: At Wainwright FCSS, we recognize that addressing employment challenges requires a coll ective effort. In partnership with local organizations, we have hosted various skill building sessions, while also actively engaging with our community to share knowledge and strengthen our impact on employment in our community.
Family and Sexual Violence: Family and sexual violence can leave deep scars on individuals and communities. Wainwright FCSS is dedicated to ending this cycle of abuse through education, awareness, and support services. We provide educational programs and events on healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, including our Annual November Walk This Way Fashion Show - a locally driven fashion show bringing awareness to Family Violence Prevention.
Aging Well in the Community: Aging is a natural part of life, and Wainwright FCSS celebrates the wisdom and experience that comes with it. We offer various programs and services that enable seniors to age well in our community. From senior yoga classes and social events to our light housekeeping, we aim to promote independence, social engagement, and overall well-being for our older population.
 
Together, with the support of our community, we can create a brighter and healthier future for all, where individuals can thrive mentally, physically, and emotionally, regardless of their circumstances. To stay updated on WDFCSS upcoming events, pop into our office at 902-5th Ave, call 780-842-2555, visit www.WDFCSS.ca or follow us on social media.

Wainwright FCSS is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families in our community, and advocacy is an integral part of this. We firmly believe that every individual deserves equal opportunities and access to resources that can help them thrive. Whether it's addressing socio-economic challenges, educational barriers, or any other pressing issue faced by our community members, our dedicated team at WDFCSS works to create positive change through:
 
Nurturing Community Partnerships:
Wainwright FCSS firmly believes that collaboration is key to creating a lasting impact. We actively seek partnerships with like-minded organizations, local businesses, and government agencies, aligning our efforts to maximize our collective impact. Together, we forge a united front to address pressing issues and work towards a brighter, more inclusive future.
 
Education and Awareness:
Education is a powerful tool for personal growth and community development. Wainwright FCSS is deeply committed to enhancing educational and awareness opportunities for the members of our community. By offering skill-building workshops, presentations, and education through social media, we strive to unlock the potential within each individual and nurture positive change and awareness within our community.
 
Gratitude and Support:
None of our work would be possible without the support and generosity of our amazing community members. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our visitors, volunteers, and supporters who have stood by us on this journey. Your dedication and commitment has been instrumental in bringing hope and positive change to countless lives.
 
As we look to the future, Wainwright FCSS remains steadfast in its commitment to advocating for a stronger, more connected community. We invite each one of you to join us in this mission! Whether through volunteering, spreading awareness, or contributing to our initiatives, your involvement can make a tangible difference in the lives of those we serve.
 
To stay updated on WDFCSS advocacy efforts and upcoming events, pop into our office at 902-5th Ave, call 780-842-2555, visit www.WDFCSS.ca or follow us on social media. Together, let's continue to build a community where everyone thrives, and no one is left behind. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey of impact and change!

​IMPACT encourages you to connect with yourself, your friends, your family, and your community. Each month there is a different way to make a connection, and for April, the focus is on volunteering!
Volunteering is any act of giving your time with the purpose of supporting and strengthening others’ quality of life or the overall community. In addition to the valuable contribution that volunteering makes to the community, it has also been proven to have many benefits for the individuals engaged in volunteering. These benefits include opportunities to learn new skills, expanded social contacts, reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, decreased feelings of isolation, and a sense of belonging to others and your community.
With busy day-to-day lives, finding the time to dedicate to volunteering can be difficult, but volunteering doesn’t always have to include grueling hours or a long-term commitment. Volunteering can be done in a variety of ways that suit your lifestyle, whether that is traditional methods of volunteering or more non-traditional methods. When you think of volunteering, you may not realize the extensive possibilities that can be included in this role. For example, volunteer your time by putting your crafting skills to the test and challenge yourself to create needed items such as winter items (mittens, toques, scarfs), blankets and stuffed animals to donate to local organizations and shelters. This is one way to volunteer in a non-exhaustive way while still greatly helping those in need (plus crafting can be great for improving your overall health and happiness!). If crafting isn’t your thing, perhaps you would want to try getting involved with local sports teams, a retirement home, or at the library.
While all methods of volunteering are beneficial, it’s important to choose the method that suits your lifestyle best. Before you pick what direction of volunteering you want to go, it can be helpful to spend some time discovering what causes matter most to you, what skills and experiences you have that you want to share, and what your level of commitment and availability are. The right volunteer role can help you find friends, connect with the community, learn new skills, and even advance your career. No matter how we choose to connect through volunteering, we can all reap the benefits. This April, we encourage you to go ahead and Make An IMPACT With Connection!

There is a change in the season and there are changes on our grief journey.

Changes and good-byes care painful and times of fear of what the future will be like.  The feeling of life “out of control”  and fears of adjusting to a new and different course in our lives. Acceptance  is not an overnight happening but a gradual change , just as the seasons. It can be a time of an emotional roller- coaster.
   When in this time in our lives we need to look at how we are going to cope. We need some coping tools for our emotional  grief garden.

1.  LOOKING AT LIFE’S ALTERNATIVES: Acceptance of  life as it is now and having the courage and ability to look at choices and changes that will happen for the tomorrows. Life is like a river ever changing and moving.  We cannot stay rooted in the pain of today or a fixed picture of what life “is”, we have to be open to there being an alternative to where we are now.
2. USING OUR MEMORIES:(sum total of what we can remember). Persons and relationships never die but become memories. We can take back some control of our lives and our grief journey when we are in charge of our memories and can recall good ones and shut out bad ones.  Sometimes those memories will cause tears but later on our journey we will be able to laugh and cry too. Embrace the past but hold it gently as you move forward.
3. VERBALIZE  FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS TO A SUPPORT PERSON:  Finding and utilizing that support person or group is a vital tool to healing and moving forward. Sharing without shame or fear, feelings of “crazy”, anger, sadness, joy or relief, all aprt of the grief journey. “No man is an island unto himself” We need people to talk to, to heal and become a new wholeness.  Do not forget the children and other members of the family who are all on their own journey, too. We can share the gift of honesty, with ourselves and the others in our family and have a concern with where they are on their journey.  We can encourage and listen to their feelings and emotions and help them find supportive people .
4. BEGIN THE USE OF PROBLEM SOLVING: a) Look at what problem you are facing and state it. (b) begin to express how you feel about it. (c) Find a trustworthy person to share what you are experiencing. (d) Seek support and insight from others who are in similar situations. (e) Realize you are the only person you can change . Get out those coping tools, take courage, you are in charge of tending your grief garden.

Submitted by Shirley L Scott , Walking Through Grief Society  780-846-2576
Supported by FCSS City of Lloydminster, Towns of Vermilion and Wainwright, Villages of Kitscoty and Marwayne and County of Vermilion River 24