By Charlotte Morritt-Jacobs - (@morrittjacobs on Twitter)

More Money For Two Southern Alberta Child Abuse Prevention Family Programs

Oct 24, 2016 | 5:41 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The Alberta Government is extending funding for two community organizations in southern Alberta that focus on preventing child abuse through parenting and early childhood development.

As part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, on Oct. 24th, Maria Fitzpatrick, MLA for Lethbridge East made a important funding announcement on behalf of Irfan Sabir, Minister of Human Services.

Human Services is providing $120,323 in grant funding for the Family and Community Safety Program to the Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society in Lethbridge for its North Star – Apatski’kaktosi – Building Stronger Urban Aboriginal Families project.

Tanya Pace-Crosschild, executive director at Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society, says the North Star program provides participants with access to community supports and resources, and cultural activities through a holistic family approach.

“We are taking a look at a preventative approach. Currently in Alberta, Indigenous people make up 6.2 per cent of the total population in the province, and yet nearly 60 per cent of Indigenous children are in foster care.”

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Pace-Crosschild says parents in the program have enjoyed tremendously positive results.

“They have provided peer to peer mentoring with other parents. They have developed their own sense of community and this center itself has become a real community hub for those parents.”

This project provides culturally relevant parenting programs for Indigenous families and has benefited more than 80 vulnerable families in 2015.

The Crowsnest Pass Women’s Resource and Crisis Centre, based in Blairmore, is also receiving $35,520 for its Mentoring Moms Program.

This program provides supports to single and low-income mothers by teaching parenting skills and building their connections to the community. It’s delivered through the Crowsnest Pass Parent Link Centre.

Fitzpatrick also commended the funding extension for its role in building confidence in participants and fostering a network of support to advocate for better conditions.

“I can certainly speak from my own experience that when a family is experiencing violence, it’s something that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. You see money that is being really well spent to help keep cohesive healthy, unitive people together.”

For more information on programs offered by Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society and North Star program visit: http://www.opokaasin.org/.

For more information on programs offered at The Crowsnest Pass Women’s Resource and Crisis Centre visit: http://cnpparentlink.com/.