Resources & Updates
Caring for Foster Kids During the Holidays: Bringing Joy and Stability to Their Lives
As a caregiver, fostering a sense of joy, comfort, and security during the holidays can make a world of difference.
ALIGN is a Proud Partner in Strengthening Safety Across Alberta’s Child Intervention Sector
Alberta’s government is partnering with ALIGN Association of Community Services and the Continuing Care Safety Association to establish occupational health and safety programs for child intervention agencies providing facility-based care, enhanced workplace safety through trauma-informed and responsive safety practices, regulatory compliance education and other critical safety measures.
Who Are You Sending to the ALIGN Conference ? Check Out These Fun, Creative Ways to Choose!
We know every organization is different — some can send a few team members, others can bring a whole crew. However you decide, we thought we’d share some fun ways to choose who gets to go (and spark a little excitement in the process)
Build Canada Homes and the Outlook for Housing Programs under Budget 2025
The The Parliamentary Budget Officer report’s purpose is to equip sector leaders, funders, policymakers, and community partners with reliable data and insights that can guide decision-making, strengthen advocacy efforts, and support long-term planning.
Online Tools to Improve Your WCB Premiums
The best way to impact the premiums you pay is by implementing health and safety programs that prevent your workers from getting injured and disability management programs to help your injured workers return to work. Explore WCB resources that assist you to improve your WCB premiums.
National Volunteer Action Strategy
Volunteer Canada is developing a National Volunteer Action Strategy which will aim to revitalize volunteerism in the face of urgent challenges such as Canada’s aging population, the climate crisis and the cost-of-living crisis. They have published a number of update reports about what they’re hearing as they engage the sector, conduct research and share knowledge.
Podcast: Futureproofing the Nonprofit Workforce: Building Digital Skills for Resilience
In this special episode of Let's Imagine Podcast EPISODE 36: guest host Wilfreda Edward, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience (CCNDR), explores how nonprofits across Canada are working to close the digital skills gap.
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!
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
“thrive” Magazine Highlights the Benefits of Organizational Partnerships
From sparking new partnerships to creating inclusive spaces for kids and families — this issue of Thrive is all about the power of working together.
Alberta Budget 2026 Survey
It’s time to have your say: budget consultations have started and it’s your chance to tell the government of Alberta what you want to see in the 2026 budget.
Just Like You Caregiver Recruitment Campaign
The Government of Alberta campaign celebrates the incredible impact of foster and kinship caregivers and encourages more Albertans to open their homes and hearts to children and youth in need.
Rethinking Justice for Survivors of Sexual Violence: A systemic investigation. (OFOVC)
This report amplifies the voices of survivors and victims of sexual violence. It is organized thematically across 10 chapters, with recommendations and main findings woven throughout. Its executive summary, along with each chapter's infographic, provide a condensed overview of the report.
ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers November 2025
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.
New Report from MHRC Highlights A Generation Under Pressure
Young people across Canada are facing unprecedented pressures, from economic uncertainty and job insecurity to social isolation and the climate crisis. MHRC’s latest report, in partnership with GreenShield, reveals that 83% of young Canadians feel stressed about their career prospects
AASAS Training - Courses For Those Working with Survivors of Sexual Violence and the Violence Prevention Sector
Designed for counselors, therapists, and other mental health practitioners who are new to working with survivors of sexual violence, or who may be already working with survivors and would like to more deeply inform their counselling practice.
Alberta Living Wage Network Releases 2025 Living Wage Rates
The Alberta Living Wage Network (ALWN or “The Network”) has released updated living wages for 21 municipalities across the province.
Showcasing the ALIGN Well-Being Toolkit Fall 2025
ALIGN Association of Community Services recently presented at two major national conferences this fall allowing us the opportunity to connect with leaders, practitioners, and partners from across Canada as we continue to share the impact of ALIGN's Well-Being Toolkit.
Top Ten Considerations for Selecting Nonprofit Board Members (ALIGN)
Attracting and recruiting the right board members is vital to the success and sustainability of a human service agency. The right mix of skills, experience, and perspectives strengthens governance, enhances strategic decision-making, and ensures the organization stays mission-focused while adapting to changing community needs.
The 'Four Stories' Approach: A Conceptual Clinical Model for Moving Families and Caregivers Beyond Trauma
Little Warriors, in collaboration with the Scientific and Clinical Council, has successfully published a new article: "The 'Four Stories' Approach: A Conceptual Clinical Model for Moving Families and Caregivers Beyond Trauma," in the Clinical Social Work Journal!
ALIGN's Well-Being in Child and Family Services Toolkit
The way we define and understand child and youth well-being matters.
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.
Network & Know: Member Spotlight Application Details
At ALIGN, we believe every member brings unique strengths, insights, and resources to our sector.
Budget 2025: Progress for Some, but No Plan for the Nonprofit Sector that Holds Canada Together
Imagine Canada’s statement on Budget 2025 reveals the budget delivers welcome investments in programs that support Canadians but falls short of offering a coordinated plan for the nonprofit sector that sustains them.
Budget 2025 Risks Reconciliation: Friendship Centres Concerned About Impacts to Urban Indigenous Communities
The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) expresses deep concern with the release of the 2025 Federal Budget and the government’s missed opportunity to address the realities of urban Indigenous people.
Understanding the 2025 Federal Budget: Implications for Canadian Charities and Non-profits
The 2025 federal budget introduces several measures affecting charities and nonprofits, alongside continued investments in key community priorities. Miller Thompson explores these new measures from a legal perspective in a new blog post "Understanding the 2025 Federal Budget: Implications for Canadian charities and non-profits"
ALIGN’s Well-Being Toolkit Community of Practice (CoP)
Next meeting is January 14. 2026. The Well-Being Community of Practice (CoP) is intended for service providers who are currently implementing ALIGN Association's Well-Being Toolkit. A Community of Practice (CoP) is an informal learning space where like-minded practitioners come together to share experiences, challenges, tools, and promising practices. The Well-Being Community of Practice focuses on strengthening the impact of child- and family-serving organizations on child and youth well-being.
AI Equity Project 2025 Report
The AI Equity Project 2025 Report found that while most nonprofits are using AI, a significant gap exists between their awareness of potential bias and their implementation of safeguards. The report highlights a widespread lack of training, resources, and governance to use AI equitably.
Available Now! ALIGN's OCOW Presentation: Parallel Process: Leadership & Practice as Ceremony
On May 16, 2025, Our Children Our Way proudly hosted ALIGN Community Services of Alberta and Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society for a powerful webinar titled “Parallel Process: Leadership & Practice as Ceremony.” This session explored how leadership and service delivery can be deeply rooted in Indigenous worldviews and ceremonial practice.
Mattering in Early Childhood: Building a Strong Foundation for Life
This working paper from CDC Harvard University, co-authored with Jennifer B. Wallace, best-selling author and founder of the Mattering Institute, explores how mattering affects children's lifelong health and well-being.
CSA Seeking Feedback on Draft of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Standards
The new edition of the CSA/ASC Z1003 standard, "Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace - Prevention, promotion, and guidance," is expected to be released on December 16, 2025. This voluntary standard provides a framework for organizations to create a psychologically healthy and safe workplace by outlining requirements for prevention, promotion, and guidance. It aims to help businesses develop and maintain a systematic approach to mental health in the workplace.
Advocate for Persons with Disabilities 2025–2027 Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan outlines the Advocate’s priorities for strengthening inclusion, access, and well-being for Albertans with disabilities over the next three years. As ALIGN continues to act as an advocate for service providers across Alberta, we will use this plan to help inform our ongoing sector advocacy, policy engagement, and collaboration with government and community partners.
Using Spheres of Influence to Avoid Burnout And Create Change (Charity Village)
Charity Village know that in nonprofit work, it’s easy to feel pulled in every direction by funders, community needs, policy shifts, and team dynamics. The Spheres of Influence model can help you figure out where to focus energy, attention, and action, while avoiding the urge to give up.
Blumbergs Canadian Charity Law Firm Online Courses for Nonprofits & Charities
Blumbergs is a Canadian law firm that assists non‑profits and charities in trying to be transparent, legal, ethical and effective.
Transparency in advocacy: Understanding your obligations under the Lobbying Act
Learn how federal lobbying rules apply to non-profit organizations in Canada in this recording from The Canadian Charity Law Association (CCLA) webinar with Commissioner Nancy Bélanger, Canada’s Commissioner of Lobbying.
YOUR GUIDE TO De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations (CTRI)
This guide offers practical, trauma-informed strategies to respond safely and confidently when situations escalate.
