New funding creates more possibilities for Family Resource Centre
New funding will make it possible for the Family Resource Centre in Swift Current to expand and enhance the programs and services in support of families with children aged 0-6.
The governments of Canada and Saskatchewan made a funding announcement on March 31 in support of creating early years family resource centres in Swift Current, Lloydminster and Weyburn.
The funding for the three centres is provided through the CanadaSaskatchewan Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. Each of the centres will receive start-up funding of $215,000. This is part of an investment of approximately $68.5 million over four years by the federal government to support access to quality, inclusive, affordable and flexible child care in Saskatchewan.
The creation of the Swift Current Early Years Family Resource Centre will be done through a partnership between Family Resource Centre Swift Current and the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division.
Family Resource Centre Swift Current Executive Director Laura Beddome said she is really excited for the future and grateful for the contribution of everyone who helped to make this possible.
“It has been a number of efforts over a number of years to communicate with our provincial government and to work with [Swift Current MLA] Everett Hindley,” she noted. “I’m so grateful for his willingness to continue to learn about us, take an interest in the wellbeing of Family Resource Centre and overall, I think we were just able to demonstrate time and time again the importance of the services that we offer for families here in our community and region.”
The Holy Trinity Catholic School Division will be the accountable partner for the funding allocated towards this shared community service in Swift Current.
“It’s really exciting to get the provincial funding,” Holy Trinity Director of Education Ward Strueby told the Prairie Post. “When we were asked to be the accountable partner, we took a look at the community and we found that the current Family Resource Centre, who receives federal funding, would just be an excellent partner to work with. This is going to allow them to expand their services and I think it’s just going to be a wonderful additional piece to support families with zero- to five-year-olds in the community.”
He felt the funding will make a significant difference to augment the really good programs already provided by Family Resource Centre Swift Current.
“The $215,000 in funding is for start-up funds in terms of getting this up and going, but there is ongoing funding each year provincially,” he said. “Our first task is looking at the correct location and if not, looking for better space to help service more families.”
The Holy Trinity Catholic School Division has previous experience in the role of accountable partner for projects. “Holy Trinity believes that putting the time in and having the families get extra supports to have opportunities is very crucial to help out with students when they enter our doors,” he said. “So it’s just a win-win for both the community and our school division and Chinook [School Division] as well.”
The role of accountable partner means the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division will hold the project funds and it will also be leading a community planning team that will be created for this initiative. The intention is to have the Swift Current Early Years Family Resource Centre in place in fall 2022.
“It helps provide direction and it helps to identify the needs within the community,” he said about the community planning team. “As the accountable partner we will be sitting at that table and we’ll look at wanting to expand that as well too and taking a look at other people that should be at that table, because they really advise the work of the Family Resource Centre and that group knows the needs of the community.”
The details with regard to the members of the community planning team still needs to be worked out, but he expected the Chinook School Division will also be involved.
“We have a very good partnership with Chinook and we anticipate that they’ll have somebody at the table as well too, because we’re good partners in providing education to students in Swift Current,” he said.
According to Strueby it is important to provide early years support and education programs to families with young children.
“I think it’s crucial, because we’re starting those building blocks at a young age,” he said. “And if we are identifying any needs, that early intervention can take place. At the end of the day, we want to have nice, strong communities and providing early intervention does that for us. It also gives a chance for drop-in and play for all families, because Family Resource Centre is not income based. It’s based upon being accessible to all families, no matter where you come from or the supports that are needed. So that’s really important for all communities.”
Beddome felt the long history of the Family Resource Centre in Swift Current will be a significant advantage in the creation of the Swift Current Early Years Family Resource Centre.
“We’ve been operation here in the Swift Current area for almost 20 years,” she said. “We have continued to adapt and evolve our programs and services based on the privilege that we have of working with local families to provide genuine supportive services and so we are going to continue to do that. We will be able to work with Holy Trinity School Division to chart a plan for this funding and determine the best ways to expand and enhance the quality programs and services that we are currently offering and just be able to imagine new and bigger possibilities.”
The start-up funding will make it possible to look at new possibilities, and to consider the expansion and enhancement of existing programs and services.
“We are at this time looking at changing our location to better meet the needs of our services,” she said. “We are looking at expanding our fleet of vehicles, because providing transportation is such an essential component of our service offerings and will continue to be, and we are looking at where we can grow and enhance and offer a variety of things for our community.”
The four pillars for the early years family resources centres in the province are early learning, parenting education, family wellness and support, and information and referrals.
“The goals of the Ministry of Education for early years family resource centres already align really, really closely with our local Family Resource Centre in many of the services that we offer for families,” she noted. “This funding is going to just be an opportunity to augment and enhance what we are currently offering and be able to continue to move forward together, having a real positive impact on families.”
She felt there will be new opportunities as a result of this funding to build partnerships with other early years family resources centres in Saskatchewan.
“That’s indicative of support and connection through the Ministry of Education as well,” she said. “So through this partnership we will have the opportunity to work even more closely with other family resource centres in the province and all have sort of a shared model and goals.”
Beddome expressed her gratitude to all the individuals who have contributed to the Family Resource Centre in Swift Current over the years.
“This is really an incredible organization that I’m honoured to have joined and now have the opportunity to contribute to,” she said. “We have such incredible community partners who it’s been a pleasure to work with and we look forward to continuing to work together. So I wanted to just express gratitude to everyone who has made Family Resource Centre what it is and my excitement as we grow and expand.”