The provincial contract for Parent Links comes to an end after March 31 (Photo: Shaun Penner)

By Shaun Penner

Parent Link Changes

Stepping Stones still awaiting fate of future supports as Parent Link contract nears end

Mar 6, 2020 | 12:14 PM

The Stepping Stones Day Care Society remains in the dark about the future of some of their programs.

The provincial government announced back in November that all Parent Link networks across Alberta would be no more after March 31, 2020, opting to have such services fall under the broader Family Resource Network within the government’s Well-Being & Resiliency Framework.

As the Parent Link Provider in Grande Prairie, Stepping Stones Executive Director Gladys James says they have sent in an application to receive funding under the new model to continue providing such services, but are still waiting to learn their fate.

“We were supposed to hear the week of February 17,” said James. “We’re three weeks from there and we don’t know anything yet. We’ve heard it might be a couple more weeks yet before we hear anything.”

Parent Links have operated in the province since 2004, offering programs, resources and services around parenting education, early childhood development, family support and accessing community resources.

Under the new format, such programs would be offered to families with children up to the age of 18. Right now, under Parent Link, the programs and services are more tailored for families with children up to six years of age.

James says Stepping Stones has prepared to make the crossover since sending in their proposal to become a Family Resource Network provider, detailing their next steps to the province.

“We have, in our proposal, how we are going to make that happen and the partnerships that we will be connecting with other organizations to best serve our families and children,” said James. “So, it looks different than Parent Link, but it’s still all about the betterment of our families and community at large.”

James notes that they are waiting as patiently as possible to learn the fate of the program’s future, as there are several staff members who would be affected by this change.

With that said, they simply just need to know sooner rather than later so they can work around any challenges that may arise.

“If we’re successful, then we have a plan to move forward. If not, we have to come up with a different plan to try to continue to support our families and children.”

James notes these changes would only affect those that fall under the Parent Link network and that all other services will still be provided after March 31.