Funded Agencies
FCSS
Program Logic Model of FCSS Calgary
FCSS Board
Advisory Committee
FCSS Sustainability Forum
Family & Community Support Services
FCSS is a joint municipal/provincial funding program established to support and fund preventive social services. The program is governed by the Family and Community Support Services Act, which emphasizes prevention, voluntarism, 80-20 cost sharing between the provincial and municipal partners, and enhanced local autonomy.
Who benefits from the FCSS program?
FCSS makes a difference. Agencies and programs funded by FCSS aim to strengthen neighbourhoods and increase social inclusion in vulnerable populations like immigrants, Aboriginal people, families, children and youth, and seniors. Social inclusion is outlined further in the Social Sustainability Framework.
All FCSS-funded agencies and programs are supported to ensure their work reflects evidence-based best practices in prevention.
Focus on prevention
Research shows that an investment of $1 in preventive social services yields a social return on investment of up to $6 - $13 in other costs such as policing, justice, addictions treatment and increases productivity in employment and contributions to society.
FCSS program management
Community and Neighbourhood Services's FCSS Division manages the FCSS funding program. Service planning and distributing funding are two primary roles of the FCSS Division. We collaborate with agencies and the community to align activities with demonstrated best practices that increase protective factors and/or reduce risk factors.
The FCSS Division reviews funding requests from social agencies and makes recommendations to the Standing Policy Committee on Community & Protective Services, which acts as the FCSS Calgary Board. The committee reviews the funding recommendations and forwards its decisions to city council for approval. Find out more about our funded agencies and how to apply for funding.
Types of programs and services FCSS funds
In addition to being consistent with the FCSS Act, programs and services must:
- Be consistent with city council's funding priorities: Strengthening neighbourhoods and increasing social inclusion.
- Be collaborative and not duplicate existing programs.
- Involve volunteers.
- Utilize evidence-based best practice.
- State objectives in measurable terms.
- Demonstrate good governance and administration.
Program logic model of FCSS Calgary
Vision - Calgarians working together to create and sustain a viable, safe and caring community.
Mission - FCSS Calgary partners with community agencies, other City business units and other funders, to fund preventive social services that support and enhance the lives of Calgarians.
The FCSS theory of change - FCSS Calgary prevents or minimizes the impact of social problems by funding community organizations to increase social inclusion and strengthen neighbourhoods using research-based best and promising practices.
Program Logic Model - 
FCSS Program Logic Model
FCSS Board
In Calgary, the Standing Policy Committee on Community and Protective Services acts as the Family and Community Support Services board and consists of eight elected city council members. The board reviews administration's recommendations for FCSS funding allocation and policy development, and forwards its recommendations to city council for final approval.
2011/2012 committee membership:
- Alderman John Mar – Chair
- Alderman Shane Keating – Vice Chair
- Alderman Gael Macleod
- Alderman Jim Stevenson
- Alderman Andre Chabot
- Alderman Peter Demong
- Alderman Richard Pootmans
- Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Ex Officio
Advisory Committee
The FCSS Advisory Committee, which includes ten representatives from funded agencies and two FCSS staff members, functions as a reference group for FCSS administration. It provides feedback for the FCSS funding process, enhances communication between the administration and funded agencies, and helps profile FCSS programs and agencies.
2012/2013 FCSS Advisory Committee Members
- Christy Morgan – CNS - Calgary Urban Aboriginal Initiative
- Greg Knowler – CNS – Children & Youth Services
- Krista Poole – Canlearn Society for Persons with Learning Difficulties, The
- Laura Istead – Two Wheel View
- Luanne Whitmarsh – Kerby
- Marichu Antonio – Ethno-Cultural Council of Calgary
- Marty Hornstein – Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta - Calgary Chapter
- Nicola Main – Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies
- Robert Perry – Calgary Urban Projects Society
- Sue Tomney – Calgary Young Women's Christian Association
FCSS Sustainability Forum
The FCSS Calgary Sustainability Forum consists primarily of executive directors and other representative of agencies funded by FCSS. Since 2008, they have been meeting with Calgary MLAs to advocate for an increase in the provincial FCSS grants budget to respond to the increasing demand for preventive social services and to keep up with inflation. Teams comprised of an Alderman, an agency executive or board director and an FCSS staff member visit Calgary MLAs and various Ministers to explain the work of FCSS and convey the need for program sustainability and growth. They have emphasized that FCSS’s investment in preventive services can result in lower future spending on policing, justice, health care, addiction treatment and the results of family abuse.
The members of the FCSS Calgary Sustainability Forum are acknowledged for their dedication, perseverance and support of preventive social services through the FCSS Program. The current members are:
- Aditya Banerjee
- Barbara Schleifer
- Bev Sheckter
- Brian Pincott
- Carolyn Frew
- Cathy Downey
- Din Ladak
- Elsbeth Mehrer
- George Ghitan
- Juan Torres Taddeo
- Judy Martin
- LeeAnne Ireland
- Cynthia Lokko
- Marilyn Gunn
- Marty Hornstein
- Pam Krause
- Patricia Jones
- Robbie Wagner
- Sharon Moore
- Sterling Eddy
- Sue Mallon
- Walter Hossli
- Sharlyn White
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Please contact FCSS for more information.
