Minister of Community and Social Services Rajan Sawhney says the province is granting $1.5 million to increase access to family resource centres across Alberta (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By Shaun Penner

Family Resource Centre

Inclusion Alberta awarded grant towards establishment of Family Resource Centre in Grande Prairie

May 10, 2021 | 1:21 PM

The Alberta government announced a $1.5 million investment Friday into developing more family resource centres for families and people living with developmental disabilities, which includes a grant going towards the establishment of a centre in Grande Prairie.

The grant of just over $25,000 was awarded to Inclusion Alberta, which will work alongside Inclusion Grande Prairie to establish such a centre here in the Swan City.

The aim of the centre is to provide tools, resources, and information to help families and individuals navigate the disability services available to them.

“As president/past-president of Inclusion Grande Prairie, the establishment of this new family resource centre in our community will enable families to more readily pursue and achieve an inclusive life for their sons and daughters with developmental disabilities,” said Keith Moore, who also serves as the vice president of Inclusion Alberta.

Inclusion Alberta says the goal for the centre in Grande Prairie is to be like the Darrell Cook Family Managed Supports Resource Centre in Calgary.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

The centre is aimed at helping families utilizing Family Managed Supports (FMS) funding, which is a funding option for families who take a primary role in organizing the supports and services for their adult family member with developmental disabilities. Families utilizing FMS funding are typically funded directly to hire and manage their staff and supports for their family member.

“As the developer of the Darrell Cook Family Managed Supports Resource Centre in Calgary over 12 years ago, we are excited to see the expansion of this proven and valuable resource in the Grande Prairie region,” added the president of Inclusion Alberta, Monica Braat.

Along with Grande Prairie, grants were also given to organizations to establish similar centres in St. Paul, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Fort McMurray, Lethbridge, and the Crowsnest Pass.

Grants will also go to expand existing services in Edmonton and Calgary.

Minister of Community and Social Services, Rajan Sawhney, is excited to see these services help family members of all ages now and in the future.

“We’re opening new centres and also focusing on innovation like providing more virtual services,” says Sawhney. “This means Albertans across the province will be able to get the help they need regardless of where they live.”

Inclusion Alberta is a family-based non-profit federation that advocates on behalf of children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.