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Part of Grants and funding for municipalities

Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program

Alberta’s FCSS Grant Program partners with municipalities and Métis Settlements to fund preventive community social services.

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 improve their quality of life and build capacity to prevent and deal with crisis situations should they arise. Services and supports offered through local FCSS programs must focus on primary and secondary prevention.

Prevention is defined as: A proactive process that strengthens the protective factors of individuals, families and communities to promote well-being, reduce vulnerabilities, enhance quality of life and empowers them to meet the challenges of life.

Primary prevention

FCSS primary prevention strategies:

  • address root causes of social issues with focus on the general population or a specific population
  • promote protective factors in the physical and social environment (including social relationships)
  • can include awareness programs, enhancing connections among community organizations and promoting community volunteerism

Secondary prevention

FCSS secondary prevention strategies:

  • address issues at an early stage for specific groups or at-risk populations
  • strengthen the capacity of individuals and communities to prevent or reduce risk factors and build resilience
  • include connecting those in need with appropriate resources and skill development

The FCSS program is an 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta and participating municipalities or Métis Settlements. FCSS operates under the Family and Community Support Services Act and the Family and Community Support Services Regulation. The FCSS Accountability Framework is a guide for both local FCSS programs and the Alberta government team that manages the provincial FCSS grants. It explains how to plan and run preventive social programs that meet the needs of Albertans today and in the future.

FCSS is based on a shared understanding that, within the requirements of the FCSS framework, municipalities and Métis Settlements are in the best position to:

  • set local priorities that align with identified community needs and provincial prevention priorities
  • support individuals, families and communities across the lifespan through preventive social programs and services (primary and secondary prevention)
  • leverage local community capacity in design, delivery and coordination of preventive services

Funding

A municipality or Métis 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 Métis Settlements are responsible for allocating the joint FCSS funding at the local level. They may use it to:

  • deliver eligible preventive social programs and services themselves
  • provide FCSS grants to community agencies to deliver the programs and services

FCSS prevention strategies

  • develop and strengthen skills that build resilience
  • enhance access to social supports
  • promote and encourage active engagement in the community
  • foster a sense of belonging
  • promote social inclusion
  • develop and maintain healthy relationships

FCSS Regulation service requirements

  • help people develop independence, strengthen coping skills and become resistant to crisis
  • help people to develop an awareness of social needs
  • provide supports that help sustain people as active participants in the community
  • help people to develop interpersonal and group skills which enhance constructive relationships
  • help people and communities to assume responsibility for decisions

How to apply

Municipalities seeking to enter an FCSS funding agreement with the Government of Alberta should email the Preventive Community Services Division at [email protected].

Organizations seeking FCSS funding to provide preventive programming in their region should contact their local municipality FCSS office.

Find your FCSS Program

Training and resources

Comprehensive training on the FCSS Accountability Framework, program design and reporting requirements is available for all municipal leaders, FCSS staff and volunteers. To access these training materials, email [email protected]

Additional helpful resources, training modules and latest FCSS news are also available through the Family Community and Support Services (FCSSAA) website.

Processes and reporting

The Ministry uses an outcome-based framework to guide the use of the data collected. This enables better services, supports evidence-informed decisions, creates internal efficiencies and helps the Ministry better understand the real impact of programs and services.

Review the FCSS Accountability Framework and training resources on the FCSSAA website for more details about administrative processes and reporting requirements, including:

  • grant timelines and reporting schedules
  • reporting structures, checklists and report guidance
  • activity categorization
  • counting and surveying
  • reporting outcomes

Grant processes and reporting take place through an online portal using an Alberta.ca verified organization account to log in. Municipalities may log in to view and sign their grant agreements, populate reports and see past agreements and reports at Family and Community Support Services.

For more information on setting up an organization account, visit Creating a New Account - Alberta.ca Account for Organizations YouTube video

Current publications

Historical publications

For historical reference only. Effective 2026, these should not be used to guide FCSS program design or reporting.  

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)
Email: [email protected]

Address:
Civil Society and Community Initiatives Branch
Assisted Living and Social Services
8th Floor, 108 Street Building
99242 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2J5