Skip to content

Notifications

Government mail service may be affected by the Canada Post labour disruption. See how to send and receive government mail during this time. 

AI search tool

Try our new Search AI tool as an alternative to the search below to improve your experience on Alberta.ca using artificial intelligence. See the AISearch fact sheet for more information.

Popular topics:

Part of Grants and funding for municipalities

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program

Municipalities and Metis Settlements can apply for a funding partnership to support preventive social service programs in communities.

Find FCSS services and programs in your area.

For Alberta Supports programs, call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in Edmonton. Find out more at Alberta Supports and apply online.

Download the Alberta Supports poster 11x17.

FCSS program overview

The Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program promotes and enhances the well-being of Albertans, families and communities. FCSS programs are intended to help individuals adopt healthy lifestyles, improve their quality of life and build capacity to prevent and deal with crisis situations should they arise.

Some examples of local FCSS programming are:

  • providing information and supporting access to available social supports in the local community.
  • promoting, encouraging and supporting volunteer work in the community;
  • developing the skills of individuals and families for greater resiliency, such as mentoring programs;
  • supporting the social development of children and their families;
  • supporting seniors to remain connected to their communities and providing home supports; and,
  • support people in developing skills to have healthy relationships with others
  • help individuals and communities assume responsibility for decisions and actions that affect them

The FCSS program 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 Support 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

Funding

A municipality or Metis Settlement chooses whether to sign an annual agreement with the Government of Alberta to jointly fund eligible services. They must provide at least 20% of the joint funding each year and the Alberta government will provide up to 80%.

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
  • provide FCSS grants to community agencies to deliver the programs and services

Eligibility

Eligible programs and services

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

Ineligible programs and services

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

Municipalities and Metis Settlements may use the Family and Community Support Services: Program Advice Inventory Listing to assess program and service eligibility.

How to apply

Step 1. Review the handbook

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Program Handbook

Step 2. Write a letter

New FCSS funding requests are accepted year-round. Review the municipalities timeline and the Metis Settlements timeline to see how the grant process works.

To make first-time requests or requests following a hiatus, write a letter to Family and Community Services that:

  • requests participation in the FCSS funding partnership
  • includes a copy of the local resolution to join the program

Step 3. Submit the letter

Send your letter and local resolution by email to the Civil Society and Community Initiatives Branch.

Step 4. After you apply

You will get a letter confirming your participation in the FCSS Program. Then a funding agreement will be set up on the FCSS online system.

How to renew funding

Provincial FCSS funding allocation, distribution and reporting requirements follow separate timelines for municipalities and Metis Settlements as outlined below. Most transactions happen through the FCSS online system.

Municipalities timeline

  • April
    • The Alberta government sets the FCSS budget for the next fiscal year (April to March).
  • August
    • Funding requests for the coming year's grant allocation are set up in the FCSS online system for confirmation.
    • Municipalities decide whether to request the entire grant or partial funding based on their budget to match it by at least 20%.
  • October
    • Participating municipalities’ FCSS Funding Agreements are set up in the online system.
    • Participating municipalities review and electronically sign and return their agreement to Family and Community Services.
    • Family and Community Services electronically signs the agreements.
  • December
    • The Annual FCSS Program Report for financial reporting on previous year’s FCSS funding is set up in the online system.
  • January
    • The Alberta government provides the first quarter grant payment to participating municipalities.
    • Annual Provincial Progress and Outcome Reports are set up in the online system.
    • Participating municipalities start compiling their annual reports.
  • April
    • Participating municipalities electronically submit their annual reports by April 30.
    • The Alberta government sets the FCSS budget for the next fiscal year (April to March), amending FCSS funding agreements, if needed.
    • The Alberta government provides the second quarter grant payment.
  • July
    • The Alberta government provides the third quarter grant payment.
  • October
    • The Alberta government provides the fourth quarter grant payment.

Metis Settlements timeline

  • February
    • The Annual FCSS Program Report for financial reporting on previous year’s FCSS funding is set up in the online system for Metis Settlements.
    • The Annual Provincial Progress and Outcome Reports are also set up on the online system.
  • April
    • Participating Metis Settlements’ FCSS Funding Agreements are set up in the online system.
    • Participating Metis Settlements review and electronically sign and return their agreement to Family and Community Services.
    • Family and Community Services electronically signs the agreements.
    • Participating Metis Settlements start compiling their annual reports.
  • May
    • The Alberta government provides the first quarter grant payment to participating Metis Settlements.
  • July
    • Participating Metis Settlements electronically submit their annual reports by July 29.
    • The Alberta government provides the second quarter grant payment.
  • October
    • The Alberta government provides the third quarter grant payment.
  • January
    • The Alberta government provides the fourth quarter grant payment.

Processes and reporting

Review the Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Program Handbook for more details about administrative processes and reporting requirements, including:

Performance measurements

Local FCSS projects, programs and services must implement performance measures and report on outcomes. This will help determine:

  • how effectively they are meeting preventative social service needs
  • gaps in existing services
  • opportunities to learn and improve

Use these publications for guidance:

Family and Community Support Services Outcomes Model: How we are making a difference

Family and Community Support Services: Basic Guide to Outcome Measurement

Family and Community Support Services: Provincial Priority Measures with Instructions

Family and Community Support Services: Measures Bank with Provincial Priority Measures and Instructions

Publications

Family and Community Support Services Accountability Framework 

2013 FCSS Progress and Outcomes Report

Family and Community Support Services: Annual Overview (2001 to 2013)

Family and Community Support Services surplus policy

FCSS Program Review Report

FCSS Program Review Report: Government Response

What is FCSS?

Working together in FCSS: gifts and challenges

Working together within municipalities and Metis settlements

Working together between municipalities

Working together with community organizations

Working together with Child and Family Services Authorities

Working together with health authorities

Working together with the justice system

Contact

Connect with the Civil Society and Community Initiatives Branch:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-415-8150
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
 

Address:
Civil Society and Community Initiatives Branch
Seniors, Community and Social Services
4th Floor, Forestry Building
9920 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5K 2M4