BARRHEAD - Barrhead and District Family Community Support Services (FCSS) incoming executive director Savahnna Belyk plans to make a few changes in how some of the programs will run when she takes over in less than two weeks.
That is what she told Town of Barrhead councillors at the May 27 council meeting when she presented the organization's quarterly report focussing on 2024 user statistics.
Belyk joined FCSS over two years ago as a practicum student and has progressed through the organization, serving in several roles, including food bank coordinator and community services program coordinator.
She takes over the role from Karen Pronishen, who will be retiring from the role on June 15.
"Going forward, I want to explore, expanding into the world of social enterprise," Belyk said. "For decades, FCSS has played a vital role in enhancing the social well-being of individuals, families, seniors and children across the province."
However, she said, like many organizations that provide social programs, FCSSes are being challenged to do more with less.
The question, Belke said, is how can the Barrhead FCSS expand its impact without compromising its mission.
"The answer I am proposing is social enterprises," she said.
Social enterprise is a concept where organizations adopt commercial strategies to address social problems.
"The revenue it creates will be reinvested to support people and our communities," Belyk said. "Imagine catering companies that fund meal programs for housing-insecure individuals or a home cleaning company that helps our older seniors age in place."
Belyk said these initiatives wouldn't replace FCSS' core services but would reinforce them.
"Social enterprise offers a way to blend the heart and the muscle by providing financial tools that will help us thrive in a changing world," she said, adding she realizes the changes will take time and there would be growing pains.
FCSS 2024 statistics - community-funded programs
Belyk said the Barrhead FCSS is one of a handful in the province that does not function as an umbrella of a municipality. As such, it is funded differently than most, which is funded through a combination of a provincial grant and monies from the municipalities it serves. FCSS can only use this money for specific preventative-type programming.
However, the Barrhead FCSS, as a not-for-profit society, offers additional programming not provided by traditional FCSS organizations through funds it self-fundraises.
Some of the FCSS community-funded programs include the food bank, the Christmas hamper, Santa's Toy Box, and its more recent transportation program.
"We've seen an uptick in a lot of our community programs," Belyk said, adding the increase in food bank usage is one of the most prevalent.
Last year, she stated that the food bank served 2,468 clients.
Although she did not provide a specific number, she said they are well on their way to exceeding that total in 2025.
In addition to the food bank, Belyk said, FCSS saw more people who enroled in its Christmas programs, including 151 households with hampers.
"Unquestionably, we are seeing more and more people who are being impacted by economic pressures looking for our services," she said.
For the transportation program in 2024.
served 34 clients.
However, she noted that the program began with a soft launch in June, with the official start launch in September.
The program, for a fee, allows Barrhead town and county residents aged 55 and above, as well as those with disabilities, to attend medical appointments, go shopping in and out of the community, and attend special events, depending on the day.
Belyk also touched on FCSS' insecure housing program, which meets with clients in unstable housing situations monthly, helping them find safe accommodations. This, she said, may involve securing a motel or campsite rental, providing income support, or arranging transportation.
Currently, she said 23 people are taking advantage of the program.
Family Connections Centre
Although FCSS' FRN program receives provincial funding, Belyk said the FCSS does supplement it with
FRNs replaced the former Parent Link, which provided programming to parents of young children, expanding its scope to include children from infants to 17 years old.
The Barrhead FRN serves as a spoke of the Westlock FCSS FRN hub.
"We offer a variety of services for families about childhood development," she said.
In 2024, the FRN served over 900 individuals.
Traditional FCSS-funded programming
Currently, Belyk said they have three students enroled in the mentorship program at Barrhead Elementary School.
The program pairs elementary school children from Grades 1 to 6 who could benefit from extra support with caring adults who encourage the students to reach their full potential.
She also noted that in 2024, 34 seniors signed up for FCSS' senior support program, which helps seniors stay in their homes longer by offering light housekeeping services at a subsidized rate.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
