Resources & Updates
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)
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.
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.
Newcomers and Suicide Prevention Toolkit
CMHA Alberta and the Centre for Suicide Prevention are offering a free, downloadable toolkit about newcomers and suicide prevention. The toolkit includes information like stats, warning signs, risk and protective factors, and how to have a conversation with someone you’re worried about.
ALIGN’s Well-Being Toolkit Community of Practice (CoP)
Next meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. 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.
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!
Social Worker Safety: Keeping Safe While Working Alone (SafetyLine)
Encountering a client or entering a situation with others who might feel challenged or protective of the client, human service workers need to be informed and supported by best practices. SafetlyLine offers expert insights into strategies and practices the help ensure the safety of your organizations lone workers.
National & Provincial Nonprofit Fact Sheets from Imagine Canada
Whether you’re preparing a presentation, funding proposal, or advocacy campaign, these fact sheets can help you tell a compelling story to stakeholders about your organization’s impact and the strength of Canada’s nonprofit sector.
New Advocacy Coalition - Fair Funding for Nonprofits
Fair Funding for Nonprofits is a new advocacy coalition calling on the government to modernize how it funds the sector to improve its return on investment, foster accountability and maintain vital services that communities rely on.
A Message From ALIGN's Executive Director & President
In 2024–2025, ALIGN Association of Community Services experienced a year of transition, renewal, and growth. With a change in leadership and staffing shifts, this was a period of ensuring stability while embracing opportunities to strengthen our role as a collective voice for children, families, and communities across Alberta. Guided by our 18-month Strategic Focus Plan, which complemented the 2022–2027 Strategic Directions, ALIGN remained focused on advancing advocacy, system leadership, service excellence, and organizational sustainability.
OCYA My Rights, My Traditions: National Child Day Art Showcase Submission Deadline Nov 7th
This year, OCYS is focusing on Article 30 of the UNCRC, which protects every child’s right to practice their own culture, religion, and language. The art showcase gives young people an opportunity to explore their traditions, share their identities, and connect with others through creativity.
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.
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.
Upcoming Presentations: Showcasing the ALIGN Well-Being Toolkit
ALIGN is proud to announce our participation in two major upcoming conferences where we’ll be presenting our Well-Being Toolkit—a culturally informed framework designed to support psychological health and safety in community service organizations.
ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers October 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.
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.
Improved Access to Family Justice Services in Alberta
With an additional $3.2 million investment from the Alberta Government, the Family Justice Strategy is expanding to communities including Grande Prairie, Stony Plain, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Leduc, and Fort Saskatchewan.
Study Explores Case Managers’ Influence on Mentee-Mentor Match Outcomes
The chronicle of Evidence Based Mentoring -
New CFS Professional Referral Option for Child Abuse/Neglect
Children and Family Services (CFS) has introduced a new way for professionals to submit written referrals when there are concerns about child abuse or neglect.
ALIGN Honours Foster and Kinship Caregivers at Flag-Raising Ceremony
The annual ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth II building marks the start of caregiver appreciation month, which is recognized in October each year in Alberta.
Raising Canada 2025 Report
From rising online harms to increasing food insecurity, the fundamental rights of children—rights to safety, education, health, and a secure future—are being compromised.
Ending Working Poverty Road Map & Toolkit
Tamarack Institute’s Ending Working Poverty Road Map & Toolkit is for anyone working to reduce or end working poverty in their community. You'll find practical tools, examples, and policy recommendations to help communities align efforts with provincial/territorial and federal governments.
Action Plan 2025-2030 Equitable Standards for Transitions to Adulthood (TAP) for Youth in Care
Developed by the Child Welfare League of Canada and the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates,
ACCESS Shared Services
A nonprofit co-operative shared service model designed to ease administrative pressure so you can focus on what matters most.
Youth with Disabilities Transition to Adulthood (16+) Online Workshops
Easter Seals Alberta offers Transition to Adulthood Workshops that are designed to help families and professionals gain a deeper understanding of the transition process.
CCCYT Launching New Podcast Beyond the System: Former Youth in Care Empowered by Experience
Hosted by the CCCYT’s former youth in care advisory committee, this podcast raises awareness about trauma as it relates to (former) youth in care.
The Alberta Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act Policy Manual Revisions September 5, 2025
The enhancement act policy manual contains policies and procedures that direct casework staff when delivering services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act.
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.
ALIGN Annual Report 2024 - 2025
Thank-you to all those who attended our 2025 AGM and to all our 2024 - 2025 members, board of directors, staff/consultants, volunteers and partners who contributed to ALIGN's on-going success over the past year!
Indigenous Games & Activities Directory for Children & Youth (ALIGN)
In honor of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, ALIGN hopes to encourage both Indigenous and non-Indigenous children and youth alike to learn more about Indigenous culture through fun and play.
ALIGN CONNECTIONS For Indigenous Children/Youth & Caregivers Sept. 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.
The Nonprofit Chamber 2025 Provincial Mandate Letter Analysis
This is a nonpartisan review intended to support nonprofits navigating processes and partnerships within the provincial government.
