As more Albertans turn to free family and community programs, operators say funding hasn't kept up

A record number of Albertans taking advantage of free family and community programs is puttingstrain on the financially strapped networksthat run them.

Family Resource Networks hubs that offer a variety of programs and services for youth, parents and families launched in 2020 after funding for Parent Link Centres was cancelled. Alberta has 70 FRNs, which are linked to more than 100 different agencies.

According to a recent report, the number of people accessing FRN services increased by 63 per cent last year, rising from 78,700 to 128,300.

Jasmine Hayes, the team lead for the FRN within the ClareviewCommunity Recreation Centre in Edmonton, said the statistic does not surprise her because she and her colleagues have seen more and more parents struggling to pay for rent, bills and groceries.

"We're seeing families when they're in crisis," she said.

More need, more awareness

Operators say record population growth and the rising cost of living have likely contributed to the increase in demand for their services.

Kathryn Way, the community projects co-ordinator for the Parkland & West Family Resource Network, said staff have seen more newcomers arrive and met more parents and young people struggling with their mental health post-pandemic.

The report also said an increase in families self-referring to the networks indicates more community awareness of the programs.

Long waitlists

Increased demand has led to longer waitlists for some FRN programs.

The YMCA of Northern Alberta, which is the hub organization for a family resource network in Edmonton and part of networks in the Grande Prairie areaand Fort McMurray, said in an emailed statement that families have to wait to access their services. The waitlist recently doubled in Fort McMurray.

Shari-Lynne Gidyk, executive director of the Family Futures Resource Network, which has four locations in south Edmonton, said some programs are filling up within one minute online and waitlists can be 80-people long.

The FRN's home visitation program, which supports parents for five years, currently has a six-month waitlist, she said.

"I do have a fear that if they're sitting on the waitlist, and they're not able to get into the program, then they don't come back again," Gidyk said.

Financial pressure

FRNs have also seenoperating costs soar at the same time as demand for services.

In April, the province announced a $6.6 million increase in FRN fundingover two years, with the program's total budgetreaching $66.7 million.

Several FRN leaders told CBC News they appreciate the infusion, but it's not enough to meet rising demand.

"It needs to be increased," said Way.

She said her FRN has tried to rely more on volunteers and apply for grants in the meantime.

"I think that we're all just seeing things that we were able to do with ease before become a little bit harder," said Hayes.

Searle Turton, the minister of children and family services, said the government increased funding in response to gaps identified in the community.

"I've been thankful about the increased investments that we've been able to do up to this point and we're continuing to have conversations about additional ways and gaps that we need to be able to adjust moving forward," he said in an interview.

Turton said the ministry is doing another round of consultations and brainstorming ways to further help families.

Gidyk, who also supports increasing funding,said spending more on FRNs would save the province more in the long run because they help keep children out of the costlier child intervention system.

"My big philosophy is that early intervention, prevention and early support for these families in parenting their children have huge impacts," she said.