Developing locally driven preventative Initiatives to enhance the social well-being of individuals and families.

How is FCSS Funded?

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is a unique 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta and participating municipalities or Métis Settlements.

What are the Requirements of FCSS?

Services under a program must do one or more of the following:

Help people to develop independence, strengthen coping skills and become more resistant to crisis;
Help people to develop an awareness of social needs;
Help people to develop interpersonal and group skills which enhance constructive relationships among people;
Help people and communities to assume responsibility for decisions and actions which affect them;
Provide support that helps sustain people as active participants in the community.

Eligibility Assessment Tool

The following information is quoted directly from Chapter 5 of the

Family and Community Support Services Program Handbook

The Eligibility Assessment Tool is a four-stage test or guide to assist local FCSS Programs in determining if a project or funding request fits the FCSS eligibility criteria:

1. Is the project or service preventive? Does it enhance the social well-being of families and individuals? Does it have preventive social outcomes?

(The answer should be “yes.”)

2. Does the project or service:

• help people develop independence, strengthen coping skills?

• help people develop an awareness of social needs?

• help people to develop interpersonal and group skills?

• help people and communities to assume responsibility OR

• provide support that helps sustain people as active members of the community?

(The answer should be “yes” to at least one of these questions.)

3. Is the project or service:

• primarily a recreation, leisure, entertainment or sporting activity or event?

• offering direct assistance, including money, food, clothing or shelter, to sustain an individual or family?

• primarily rehabilitative, therapeutic or crisis management?

• a duplication of services provided by any level of government?

• a capital expenditure such as the purchase, construction or renovation of a building or facility?

(The answer must be “no” to all of these questions.)

4. Do the proposed expenditures of the project comply with Sections 3 and 4 of the FCSS Regulation?

(The answer should be “yes.”)

Community Supporting Community