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Thrive program might have a reprieve

It seems Barrhead and District FCSS’ Thrive program might not be on its deathbed after all. On Nov.
Barrhead Rotary Club president Mark Oberg asked town councillors to consider a partnership proposal between the service club and the county in an effort to save FCSS ‘
Barrhead Rotary Club president Mark Oberg asked town councillors to consider a partnership proposal between the service club and the county in an effort to save FCSS ‘ Thrive family violence prevention program.

It seems Barrhead and District FCSS’ Thrive program might not be on its deathbed after all.

On Nov. 14, Barrhead Rotary Club president Mark Oberg asked council to consider a three-way partnership between themselves and the County of Barrhead that would see them share the estimated annual $45,000 operational costs of the Barrhead portion of the program. Oberg noted that he will be making the same request to the County of Barrhead at their Nov. 21 council meeting.

In September, FCSS executive director Shelley Dewsnap told County of Barrhead council that its family violence prevention program, nicknamed Thrive because that is what the program aims its clients will do, would cease to exist by March 2018 unless an alternative source of funding is found.

In addition to Barrhead, the Thrive program is run in Westlock and Athabasca as part of the Community Action for Healthy Relationships Network (CAHR).

CAHR is a community partnership of individuals, agencies and organizations including police and social services that focuses on providing outreach services to women, men and children affected by abuse.

Later in the meeting, councillors voted unanimously to defer a decision citing they needed more information about the program, noting many of council’s questions might be answered at the Nov. 30 town-county joint budget meeting where a FCSS delegation is scheduled to speak. Coun. Rod Klumph excused himself from the discussion citing a possible conflict on interest as a FCSS employee. For the last three years, Oberg said, the majority of the community’s focus was on helping the Agrena Society achieve its $1.5 million target that was put towards the construction costs of the aquatic centre. “It had to be that way, but now that it’s over, we as a club needed to decide where to refocus our efforts because there are many worthwhile projects that were sidelined because of the swimming pool,” he said. As a result, Oberg said the club has been meeting over a period of months with many community leaders to determine what needs there are and how the club can help meet them.

“That [Thrive] is a program that really struck us as one that is valuable to our community and one that is in danger of ending and that, in the opinion of the Rotary Club, cannot happen,” he said. “It’s just too important. Not only would losing it impact families, but seniors also through its elders abuse program.”

Mayor Dave McKenzie, as a former RCMP member, said he is familiar with the program and agreed that Thrive fills an important purpose in the community.

“It touches on a topic that is sensitive in any community and while the issues of family violence may not be rampant in Barrhead, they are certainly here, and that is why programs like this are put in place to keep them from becoming rampant,” he said, adding Thrive is more than an awareness campaign. “It also has hands on applications. Family violence is an issue that lies beneath the surface, but when it does surface people want and need to know what they can do and what their resources are.”

McKenzie added because the topics of family violence and elder abuse carry a stigma it is important to have programs such as Thrive, which gives people an advocate that helps victims of abuse find the appropriate resources.

Coun. Shelley Oswald said as it is a monetary request council needed to debate it as part of its upcoming budget deliberations.

Coun. Ty Assaf agreed, saying while it is a worthwhile program, council needed to have a larger discussion because of potential ramifications beyond the program.

“If we give this to Thrive, what about the Food Bank or the countless other services provided by FCSS. Plus every year we see our funding [provincial portion] for FCSS diminishing. This is something we are going to need to have a lot of discussion on,” he said, asking Oberg when the decision had to be made.

Oberg said from his understanding, the decision would have to be made sometime before March as that is when the current funding runs out, adding he agreed deciding which FCSS programs to support is difficult.

“Shelly Dewsnap came to us and she had a list as long as her arm, but we got her to say what the most important thing was for them, and this was it,” he said.

Coun. Don Smith said it is important to know where Thrive’s funding originated.

“Was it grant funding FCSS got and then decided to put it towards the Thrive program or was it a program specific grant?” he asked.

Coun. Leslie Penny said the funding came from a joint Athabasca, Westlock, Barrhead grant application that was made specifically for the program.

“It’s not FCSS money, the 80-20 or community money, it is a special grant,” she said, adding the grant was originally for two years, but was extended for an additional year. “That is what makes this so frustrating, because these grants come in and you get all excited about a program and then they go away and all of a sudden its yours.”

FCSS funding comes from a combination of provincial and municipal funding split 80-20 with the province taking the larger portion. The 20 per cent municipal portion is split equally between the town and county. It should be noted that because the Barrhead and District FCSS also runs programs outside the venue of a typical FCSS it also seeks additional grants and donations.


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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