What would help Alberta’s vulnerable children and families the most?
Sustainable Funding for Community Services
The Situation: In Alberta, most child and family services are contracted out by the Government of Alberta and are provided by community agencies (most of whom are ALIGN members). This system saves the Government money because agencies are able to provide services with lower overhead costs than services provided directly by the government. Using qualified local community agencies to deliver family support services also helps keep more children in their homes and communities in a safe and effective way. For those that cannot be at home, agencies also offer kinship, foster and group care.
The Problem: Increasing funding for vulnerable children and families is often not attractive to governments working in four-year election cycles because tangible results take longer to manifest themselves. In Alberta, this has meant an insufficient increase in funding for agencies carrying out this vital work. Standards of care are increasing regularly (as they should) and so are general operating costs for the agencies. Without an increase in funding from the government, many agencies are left with uncertain futures.
The Solution: The Government of Alberta needs to fix the way it determines the amount of funding it provides to community agencies who deliver vital services to Alberta’s most vulnerable children and families. Funding should be indexed and grow as standards increase and operational costs rise.
Keep Services in Communities
The Situation: Vulnerable children and families need access to support services in the communities where they live. This can be best achieved by commitment to a service delivery model that utilizes contracts with qualified local community agencies.
Over the last 50 years in Alberta, child and family service agencies have been established in local communities to fill gaps in service not otherwise provided by government, or when government could not meet the demand. These agencies have demonstrated that service delivery is most effective and efficient when delivered in communities by contracted agencies. Currently, contracted agencies provide 50% of foster care, 60% of kinship care, 80% of group care, and 90% of all family support services in the province of Alberta.
Through research, partnerships and continuous learning, these agencies have the expertise to provide world-class services consistent with all best practice standards. Additionally, they are both strategic and nimble enough to meet unique needs that arise in their community. Contract agencies have succeeded through economic highs and lows by having strong business models, a focus on efficiency, professionalism and a passion for their work. Communities look to these agencies as resources during good times and bad.
The Problem: A lack of flexible funding and cost of living (COLA) increases. These areas are two of the primary issues in terms of sustainability and keeping our services in our local communities. Even though our service providers are operating more efficiently than government-run services, unfortunately the lack of adequate funding is making it difficult to continue to provide care to those in need.
The Solution: A commitment by the Government of Alberta to focus on community-based service delivery with families, keeping children safe and in their homes and communities. Community-based service delivery also means that more families are receiving support and treatment for mental health and addiction issues. Contracted service agencies are prepared to provide all services in kinship, foster, and group care to ensure positive outcomes for children and their families. Some of our agencies also provide services to families who have children with disabilities. These agencies and their employees are experts in their fields and are prepared to increase their role, including case work responsibilities, in order to more effectively serve their clients, and would also result in cost savings to the government. However, the current funding model is unsustainable which will result in service agencies unable to continue providing excellent family support services. We are experts in our field and are able to provide these services more cost effectively than government programs; it is in the province’s best interest to have contracted service agencies remain sustainable and continue to provide the highest level of support and care for Alberta’s most vulnerable children and families.
