Resources & Updates
ALIGN’s Well-Being Toolkit Community of Practice (CoP)
October 10, 2025 ZOOM. 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.
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.
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.
OCYA Invites Young Albertans to Share their Creativity! My Rights, My Traditions: National Child Day Art Showcase
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.
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.
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.
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.
The F-Words Foundations Course Focused On A Strengths-Based Approach to NDD Care Online Course
The F-Words Foundations Course (Five one-hour online modules) is for families and professionals that are focused on a strengths-based approach to to Neurodevelopmental Disabilities/Disorder (NDD) care.
The Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry and Early Detection Toolkit (EDIT-CP)
The EDIT-CP toolkit includes early attributes that can be detected by primary care providers and by caregivers The EDIT-CP toolkit includes evidence on more than 20 early interventions, for clinicians and for families.
National FASD Database
The Database provides an integrated and coordinated approach to collecting information and characterizing the FASD population in Canada. Key information is collected on the challenges, strengths, and needs of Canadians who are assessed for FASD across the lifespan.
2025 Women's Mental Health Report, A New Era for Women's Mental Health.
Grounded in MHRC’s national data collection and enriched by insights from community collaborators, this report takes a gendered lens to mental health and highlights where gaps persist.
VA Report Pension Planning in the Non-profit Sector: Current Gaps and Future Dreams
This report (Sept 2025) unpacks the financial realities facing non-profits and offers actionable strategies for sustainable retirement planning.
A Risk and Resilience Checklist for Purpose-Driven Boards (BoardSource)
A checklist tool for nonprofit boards seeking to govern with clarity, confidence, and purpose in an uncertain environment.
Evaluating Your Mentoring Program (AMP)
AMP has partnered with the Evaluation Capacity Network from the University of Alberta to offer your organization the opportunity to build your capacity to conduct and use meaningful evaluations.
ALIGN's OHS Community of Practice (CoP)
Next meeting Sept. 23 on ZOOM. Communities of Practice often focus on sharing best practices and creating new knowledge to advance a domain of professional practice. Interaction on an ongoing basis is an important part of this.
Ages & Stages: A Caregiver’s Guide to Supporting Children’s Racial Learning
Children are noticing, asking, and learning about race every day. The Ages & Stages Guide from EmbraceRace shows you how to meet them where they are— at every age!
KBHN’s 2009–2025 Networks of Centres of Excellence Impact Report
KBHN puts the child and family at the center of everything it does and is focused on finding solutions to the critical challenges identified by families, front-line service providers and communities.
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!
Self-Advocacy Toolkit for Youth (OCYA)
Learn how to speak up, get support and understand your rights with OCYA's video series on YouTube.
Proposed Changes to AISH and How to Respond to ADAP Survey by Sept 12th (Inclusion Alberta)
On August 13, 2025, the Alberta Government released the ADAP Discussion Guide, proposing that all current AISH recipients be moved to the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) effective July 1, 2026, with a benefit that will be $200 per month lower
Why Attending Membership Meetings Matters. (ALIGN)
Membership organizations flourish when their members are actively engaged and involved. Participation and staying informed not only strengthen the organization, but also make it more responsive and effective in achieving its mission. Here are some key benefits of attending membership meetings:
The Legal and Ethical Risks of Using AI in Nonprofit Grant Reporting
This article from Nonprofit Pro includes key areas of risk for nonprofits to consider when using AI for grant reporting and program analysis.
2025 Edition Canadian Nonprofit Sector Salary & Benefits Report (Charity Village)
Exclusive compensation data for charities and nonprofits in Canada (For Purchase)
Disaster Recovery: Toolkit Supports Mental Health and Wellness
Community organizations and local leaders can use this toolkit to plan and prioritize mental health responses, activate culturally appropriate wellness supports, and foster community healing through inclusive events and resources.
Alberta.ca Increasing Funding for Child Advocacy Centres
Alberta’s government is increasing funding by 10% for child advocacy centres to better support children and youth experiencing abuse.
Seeds of Transformation: Achieve your Equity Goals (Tamarack)
A five-phase process that will help your team, board, and broader network of members and learners to achieve their Equity, Anti-Racism, and Reconciliation goals in a sustainable and values-focused way.
