Resources
Join in! Well-Being CoP January 21, 2025
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.
Alberta Set to Change How Social Agencies Serving the Homeless are Funded in 2025
The Alberta Government announced upcoming changes to how services for Alberta's homeless population will be funded and will now provide funding directly to front-line agencies versus distributed through community-based organizations.
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
Well-Being EBlast December 2024 The Village: Supporting Staff in Seeing the Impact
This month we feature Val Crosby, Executive Director of The High Level Toy Lending Library, which currently provides Mackenzie Family Resource Network (MFRN) services
Make Your FSCD/PDD Priorities Known (Inclusion Alberta)
This is an opportunity to make government aware of the critical importance of ensuring sufficient funding for programs that support children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families to enable inclusive lives.
A Call for Meaningful Action in 2025 (Inclusion Canada)
The federal government released its Fall Economic Statement (FES) with new priorities and new spending—but no meaningful progress to lift people with disabilities out of poverty. Inclusion Canada is deeply disappointed that, despite Minister Chrystia Freeland’s resignation and clear signs of an economic pivot, this government continues to neglect the urgent needs of Canadians with disabilities.
Imagine Canada Report - Addressing The Nonprofit Data Deficit: A 25 Year Review
This report provides an overview of a quarter century of reports on the state of data in and about the nonprofit sector, from policy recommendations to sectoral data strategies.
Alberta OHS Code Changes December 2024
The updates received strong support from workers, employers and health and safety professionals. . Starting on March 31, 2025, work site parties will need to comply with the updated provisions.
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.
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.
Winter Safety - Alberta.ca OHS Resource Portal
Free resources on the OHS Resource Portal provide information and guidance on keeping work sites healthy and safe in winter.
"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.
Webinar Recording - A Historical Perspective on the Nonprofit Data Deficit
Results of research into 25 years worth of data strategies, policy asks, position papers, etc. related to data in Canada's nonprofit sector.
Community-driven Collective Empowers Indigenous Caregivers of Children, Youth with Autism (U of A)
U of A researcher receives funding to foster a network of support, resources and advocacy for caregivers of children, youth and adults with autism. November 2024
This December, Be Part of a Provincial Story of Well-Being Impact! (Well-Being Eblast Nov 2024)
This December, we invite you to share your organization’s work of supporting Well-Being and create a Provincial Story of Impact with the ALIGN Well-Being Impact Portal and Dashboard. .
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.
What Trends Will Impact Charities and Nonprofits in the Last Quarter of 2024? (Imagine Canada)
In this blog, Imagine Canada checks in on where the sector is compared with one year ago when it comes to labour issues, finances and demand. This analysis is mainly focused on a comparison of the third quarter results from the Canadian Survey of Business Conditions in 2023 and 2024.
Free Webinar: Preparing Your Nonprofit’s Finances for 2025: A Roadmap to Success (Charity Village)
Learn how to increase your nonprofit’s financial resilience in 2025
Inuit-Specific Child Welfare Data Discussion Paper Nov. 2024
An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families has created national standards, the commitment to resources and the ability to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services by Inuit Treaty Organizations. It has the potential to change outcomes for Inuit children and families across the country.
Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Alberta Provincial Budget
In advance of the 2025 provincial budget, organizations can submit letters or reports outlining their budget priorities. The Nonprofit Chamber’s outlines how essential nonprofits are in making Alberta a great place to live, work, and play. With Alberta’s growing population and rising inflation nonprofits are facing increased demand but resources are not keeping pace.
The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 Report (CMHA)
On November 19, 2024 the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) released The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024, a first-of-its-kind deep dive into the landscape of mental health, addictions, and substance use health care in Canada using data from across the country.
Seeking Youth Engagement on the Second State of Youth Report 2025 (Government of Canada)
Are you a youth between the ages of 16 and 29 living in Canada? The Government of Canada want to hear from you! The second State of Youth Report will be released in 2025.
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!
A Generation at Risk: The State of Youth Mental Health in Canada October 2024
Mental Health Research Canada's (MHRC) report is the first comprehensive and collaborative national report of its kind to be released in at least five years.
Alberta.ca Ensuring Wraparound Services
Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange and Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jason Nixon issued the following update on continuing care and the health refocusing work originally announced in November 2023: “
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.
Report: Futureproofing the Community Service Workforce October Unlocking the Non-profit Sector's Digital Potential to Strengthen Community Services 2024 (F)
Did you know that Tech workers earn 33% less in nonprofit sector! Key takeaways include the need for equitable pay, increasing tech worker diversity, and strategic talent retention.
Establishing Community Pathways to Prevention Services In the Context of the Family First Prevention Services Act Report 2024
Authors Krista Thomas, Olivia Wilks / Chapin Hall 2024. Many families facing difficulties often don’t receive support until their situations become serious, putting them at risk of child welfare involvement.
