Resources
"Year in Reconciliation: Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead" (ALIGN “Reconciliation Talks” Blog)
As 2024 draws to a close, ALIGN Association of Community Services reflects on an impactful year dedicated to advancing Truth and Reconciliation. Through collaboration, learning, and action, we’ve deepened our relationships with Indigenous communities, expanded our resources, and championed culturally relevant practices in child and family services. Whether you’ve been part of this journey or are just joining us, we warmly invite you to reflect with us and look forward to an exciting 2025.
Well-Being CoP Meeting December 17, 2024 Learn More!
The CoP meets monthly, every third Tuesday and is an informal community of like-minded practitioners and evaluators in the child and family serving sector who are interested in growing their organization's impact on child and youth well-being.
Online Indigenous Advent Calendar
Updated annually, this online advent calendar is great fun for kids and anyone wanting to learn more about First Nations, Metis or Inuit culture
ALIGN Well-Being in Child and Family Services Initiative
The way we define and understand child and youth well-being matters.
ALIGN OHS Leadership Awareness Series Online Training
Learn more about OHS duties, best practices, legislation, prevention plans and more with these seven online modules from ALIGN!
ALIGN's Indigenous Cultural Understanding Framework (ICUF)
A Digital Interactive Journey to increase cultural understanding within Alberta agencies so that all Indigenous children living in Alberta can live in dignity and respect, supported by people with a deeper understanding of Indigenous worldviews, history and current reality.
ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers November 2024
CONNECTIONS is monthly newsletter designed to support Foster and Kinship Caregivers to ensure First Nations, Metis & Inuit children in their care have access to cultural resources, activities and events that broaden their cultural awareness.
Celebrating Success at the "Our Children, Our Way" Conference
We were honored to present at the Our Children, Our Way conference this year, hosted by the incredible Mary Teegee and her team. Mary, a recent presenter at ALIGN’s own Walking the Children Home event, graciously invited us to share our work, and we were thrilled to connect with so many passionate professionals and community members dedicated to Indigenous child and family well-being.
Honoring the Legacy of Senator Murray Sinclair: A Beacon of Truth and Reconciliation
With a heavy heart, we at ALIGN honor and remember the remarkable life and work of Senator Murray Sinclair, who recently passed away. Senator Sinclair has been a guiding light in Canada’s journey towards Truth and Reconciliation, especially in advocating for the well-being of Indigenous children and the essential need for them to reconnect with their communities and culture.
ALIGN’s Ongoing Engagement Executive Director’s Update: Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs Assembly
We are pleased to share that ALIGN recently attended the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Special Chiefs Assembly (SCA) on Long-Term Reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services (FNCFS) Program, held from October 16-18, 2024, on Treaty 7 Territory, in Calgary, Alberta.
Presentation From ALIGN's OHS Showcase
Thanks to attendees and presenters at ALIGN's 2nd Annual Health and Safety Showcase Day October 24, 2024 in Red Deer where we had an engaging safety conversations with experts and colleagues!
Join Us! ALIGN Association Regional Chapter Meetings
We invite all ALIGN Association to participate in Regional Chapter Meetings. ALIGN chapter meetings serve as a vital platform for collaboration, learning, advocacy, and enhancing the effectiveness of non-profit and charitable agencies. We are stronger together!
MCHB: Centering Stories in an Ecological Framework (ALIGN's Well-Being Eblast Oct. 2024)
This month we feature Hannah Goa’s experience of piloting the toolkit at the Multicultural Health Broker Cooperative (MCHB) in Edmonton. Hannah has been supporting the Intercultural FRN work for the past 4 years and is responsible for reporting to funders. She became interested in joining the toolkit pilot group to inspire her work on their Evaluation Framework that uniquely reflects the values and principles of cultural brokering.
ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers October 2024
CONNECTIONS is monthly newsletter designed to support Foster and Kinship Caregivers to ensure First Nations, Metis & Inuit children in their care have access to cultural resources, activities and events that broaden their cultural awareness.
ALIGN Association Annual Report 2023-2024
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our dedicated board of directors, employees, contractors, members, partners, and supporters whose unwavering commitment has been crucial to our success this year. Together, we look forward to building on our achievements and advancing our mission in the coming year.
Listen to Tanya Tourangeau ALIGN's Reconciliation Consultant on CFWE Radio
ALIGN’s Reconciliation Strategist Consultant Tanya Tourangeau, recently did an interview with CFWE and you don’t want to miss this! Learn more about ALIGN’s Empowering Futures: A Gathering for Indigenous Child Welfare Sovereignty
ALIGN WCB Series 2024 Follow-Up: Related Resources & Presentation Materials
Feb 14, 2024 Session Intro to WCB, presented by Erin Eden and Alastair Hopwood from WCB and February 29, 2024 session Psychological Health in the Workplace presented by Amanda Wyatt, supported by Alastair Hopwood from WCB
ALIGN's Alberta Provincial Advocacy Toolkit: Forming a Successful Community Action Network
The objective of this guide will be to provide members of ALIGN with the knowledge and confidence to form a successful Community Action Network.
Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society: Growing Organizational Well-Being (ALIGN’s Well-Being eBlast Sept 2024)
This month we feature Jill Robinson's experiencing of piloting the toolkit with managers using components of the tool-kit to better understand how to promote staff well-being.
ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers September 2024
CONNECTIONS is monthly newsletter designed to support Foster and Kinship Caregivers to ensure First Nations, Metis & Inuit children in their care have access to cultural resources, activities and events that broaden their cultural awareness.
ALIGN Online Training – RFP Essentials & Analyzing an RFP Opportunity
ALIGN Association's RFP online training, is self-directed as a voice-over PowerPoint you can take at your own pace. Developed & delivered by Three E Training Inc.
ALIGN Statement: Nurturing Children’s Needs: Analyzing the Connection of Gender Policy in Alberta
Understanding the Importance of Gender Policy in Alberta: Promoting Children's Rights and Well-Being
ALIGN Introduction to Child Intervention In Alberta Online Self Study Guide
This self-paces online self-study guide is an orientation for those new to the work with children and families in Alberta.
WJS: Using Well-Being Domains to Share Stories & Build Community (ALIGN's Well-Being eBlast August 2024)
This month we feature Aaron Hachkowski’s experience of piloting the toolkit at WJS. Aaron is a Program Director and oversees sites across Alberta and Ontario. He found that gathering stories for each of the toolkit’s seven well-being domains was a way to support learning and community between very diverse sites
Introducing the appointment of Sonja Polz as the new Executive Director of ALIGN
The ALIGN board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Sonja Polz as the new Executive Director of ALIGN Association of Community Services, effective July 22, 2024.
ALIGN & Partners Community Services Staff Safety Initiative (CSSSI) Training and Resources
On behalf of ACDS, ALIGN, and the Government of Alberta Ministries of Children’s Services and Community and Social Services, we are pleased to share these resources that are available through the Community Services Staff Safety Initiative (CSSSI), which aims to increase staff safety and reduce harassment and violence in community services workplaces in Alberta.
ALIGN Association’s Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
ALIGN Association of Community Services is dedicated to upholding the principles of Truth and Reconciliation and are committed to supporting the well-being of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children, youth, families, and communities
ALIGN Journal for Services to Children and Families 2024
The ALIGN Journal for Services to Children and Families (the Journal) is intended to be a forum for significant, critical and serious inquiry related to the work of the agencies – children, youth, families, organizations, leadership and wellness. ALIGN Journals support strengthening member agencies and promoting attitudes, practices and conditions that contribute to quality services for children and families
ALIGN's 20 Great Ways for Children, Youth & Families to Honour National Indigenous History Month
Fun, interactive activities for children, youth and families!
Rainbow Literacy: Stories Sharing Each Client's Journey (ALIGN's Well-Being eBlast July 2024)
This month we feature Barbare Moore Coffey's experience of piloting the toolkit at a small FRN in rural southern Alberta. Barbara is the Executive Director of Rainbow Literacy and found in the toolkit a way to make storytelling fundamental to learning and understanding impact.
PRESENTATIONS From ALIGN Health and Safety Showcase Day:
Presentations on OHS, WCB and our sector, hazard assessments and Investigation & Reporting (Health & Safety Showcase Day “Safety Conversations with Experts & Colleagues” Thursday, October 12th, 2023)
ALIGN Association Report: OHS Sub-Committee Survey Results 2023
Survey Conducted Monday, February 7th, 2022, to Monday, April 25th, 2022
ALIGN's Well-Being eBlast McMan South: Understanding Staff Well-Being and Supervision
This month we feature Brittany Anderson's experience of piloting the tookit at McMan South. Brittany is a Therapeutic Caregiving Specialist, and she started using the toolkit to better understand staff well-being and supervision.
ALIGN’s Government Relations Key Messages and Election Strategy
ALIGN's Key Message and Election Strategy 2023 inclusive of sustainable funding, keeping services in the community and ensuring vulnerable Albertans have access to the services they need
Building Stronger Child Welfare Systems Together (“Reconciliation Talks” Blog)
As non-Indigenous agencies, our role is to support and collaborate with Indigenous communities, acknowledging their expertise and authority in child welfare matters.
ALIGN's Indigenous Online Jigsaw Puzzles For All Ages and Skill Levels
The best thing about jigsaw puzzles is that they require you to slow down and look at all the details as you piece the whole picture together. In a fast moving world filled with photos and graphics this is an opportunity for children, youth and adults to relax and appreciate the details of the traditional regalia, food, animals, teepees, totem poles and more!
