St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron and city administration have different goals for a budget motion from Heron to cut funding from the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) budget.
Heron said her intention with the motion was to cut $300,000 from the entire FCSS budget, not aim it at one of three funding streams under the program's umbrella.
Out of the program's entire $2.5-million budget, $600,000 goes to outside agencies and community organizations to fund preventative programming, $930,000 goes toward the city-run Individual and Family Supports program, and $1 million goes toward the city's Community Strategies and Community Development program.
This differs from a city backgrounder on the motion. According to the document, administration understood the motion as a reduction to the Individual and Family Support program, which would eliminate a joint support program the city has with St. Albert Public Schools.
"That was not my intention. My intention was an overall cut and then it would be up to the community service advisory committee, (which) divvies that money out, to decide which of the not-for-profits or even city programs deserve the money more than others," Heron told the Gazette. "You'll hear me (on Tuesday) – I wasn't very happy with that backgrounder."
FCSS is funded with an 80-per-cent contribution from the province and a 20-per-cent contribution from municipalities, though cities can give more if they want to.
Instead of future top-ups, Heron's proposed cut would reduce the city's contribution back down to the required 20 per cent. Heron previously told the Gazette this would accomplish two things: recognize a shared responsibility with the province to provide those supports and look for "better ways" to support not-for-profits in St. Albert. The Gazette explored potential impacts funding cuts would have on not-for-profit programming in last week's edition.
The city-run Family and School Liaison (FSL) program provides confidential counselling to families and children in need of support, including those struggling with complex behavioural and emotional issues, concerns at school and family conflict. Eliminating the program would affect about 200 families each year, according to the city's backgrounder. This program is jointly funded by FCSS, the City of St. Albert and St. Albert Public Schools.
Cutting back Individual and Family Support services would also have an impact on the city's Counselling and Supports program. About 75 people would no longer be able to access counselling or get help connecting with other services. It would also increase waitlists beyond the current four-week timeframe.
"With the remaining 80/20 funding, the Individual and Family Supports program will provide services for approximately 300 youth and young adults annually," the document reads.
School district reacts
St. Albert Public student services supervisor Renee Lukie questioned whether the city fully understood what eliminating the FSL program would mean for the community.
"My hope would be that conversations related to the positive impacts of this program on kids, families and schools is truly understood before a decision is made on this, because at the end of the day, it's going to affect the kids and have a long term effect at the municipal level," Lukie said.
St. Albert Public has other mental health supports for students like individual counselling, but the FSL program is unique, she said.
The FSL program allows teachers to work with counsellors to give a bigger picture of what someone is going through, whether it's at home or at school, throughout the year, Lukie said. The family liaison worker can also connect families who need long-term, intensive supports to the right resources.
"It takes the pressure off of the parents from having to try to navigate a system that's challenging to navigate. Sometimes it's easier just to say, 'Forget it, I'm just too tired, or I don't understand this,'" Lukie said.
Typically there are two family school liaison workers under the FSL program, but one of those positions is currently vacant, she said. Whether the second position is filled depends on whether the city decides to cut the funding or not.
"We're committed to continue to support in the way that we can. If the program as a whole were cut, or if a position were cut, we are going to feel it on the front line in our schools," she said.
To do this during a pandemic, when the city is seeing increased rates of domestic violence and worsening mental health, would present a "huge struggle" for families, she said.
"We're trying to prevent people from having to need long term support for significant mental illness. Many of the families they are working with are the families that are between 'doing OK' and on the verge of crisis. We have prevented a significant amount of mental health crises through this program."
Lukie said she can understand the municipality's reasoning for wanting to cut back on a program they feel should be a provincial responsibility. However, more consideration for the long-term consequences needs to happen before a decision is made.
"We as a school district see mental health as one of our number one priorities. So it's disheartening," Lukie said. "(These families) just need somebody on their team to help them walk through a process, which to me, is worth every penny of this $300,000."
