Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is an 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta and participating municipalities or Metis Settlements. FCSS receives its mandate from the Family and Community Support Services Act and the Family and Community Suppport Services Regulation.
FCSS is based on a shared understanding that municipalities and Metis Settlements are in the best position to:
- assess community needs and set priorities
- support individuals, families and communities through preventative social programs and services
Joint FCSS funding must be used for programs and services that are preventative and do one or more of the following:
- help people develop independence, strengthen coping skills and become more resistant to crisis
- build awareness of social needs
- support people in developing skills to have healthy relationships with others
- help individuals and communities assume responsibility for decisions and actions that affect them
- provide supports that help people participate in the community
FUNDING
Participating municipalities and Metis Settlements are responsible for allocating the joint FCSS funding at the local level. They may use it to:
- deliver eligible preventative social programs and services themselves, and/or
- provide FCSS grants to community agencies to deliver the programs and services
ELIGIBILITY
Services provided under FCSS must be preventative and may include initiatives and programs that:
- help communities identify their social needs and develop responses
- promote, encourage and support volunteer work in the community
- inform the public about services
- support children and their families’ social development
- help families enrich and strengthen family life and function more effectively in their own environment
- enhance retired and semi-retired people’s quality of life
FCSS funding cannot be used for programs and services that:
- are only focused on an individual’s leisure or recreational needs
- provide an individual or family with basic living supports such as money, food, clothing or shelter
- are only focused on rehabilitation
- duplicate services provided by government or a government agency
APPLICATIONS & REPORTING
Applications for 2025 FCSS funding are now available. The deadline to submit your application is September 30th, 2024. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for funding so please ensure to get your forms in on time. You may click below to download the required form.
2025 FCSS Funding Application - PDF Fillable Form
2025 FCSS Application - Word Document