Part of Parenting

Family Resource Networks

Learn about Family Resource Networks services and supports for children and youth up to 24 years old.

Overview

Provincial Family Resource Networks (FRNs) bring together local supports so children, youth and families can access help early, before challenges become crises. Agencies within the FRN program deliver prevention and early intervention services and supports for children and youth aged 0 to 24 and their families. They focus on prevention and early intervention, helping families build strength, confidence and connections close to home.

FRNs also support families to navigate services within their community, ensuring they can access the right support at the right time, wherever they live. These services are available across Alberta, including rural, urban, Indigenous, Francophone and multicultural communities.

Services offered

Services provided through FRNs are available to all Albertans, free of charge, regardless of where they live. Networks provide a range of in-person and virtual services to communities across Alberta, and supports that focus on:

  • strengthening parenting and caregiving knowledge
  • social and emotional support
  • coping and problem-solving skills
  • early development and learning
  • access to community supports and resources
  • improving child and youth development
  • building resiliency
  • fostering well-being
  • Infant and child development supports

    Provides age-appropriate programs and services that help infants and children aged (0 to 11) to grow and develop. These programs give children opportunities to build and practice skills that support their social, physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual well-being. Programs have a strong focus on self-regulation and social and emotional development, as these skills support success in other areas of development.

  • Youth development and resiliency supports

    Provides youth (12 to 24) opportunities to enhance well-being and resilience by building strong, safe relationships with their peers, family, culture and community. Programs and services offer safe experiences and activities that foster social, emotional, cognitive, physical, mental and spiritual development in order to build self-esteem, learn life skills and explore their identity and values, while strengthening their social support networks and developing the skills and confidence to transition to adulthood.

  • Building resilient caregiver supports

    Offers direction and guidance for caregivers to strengthen their parenting knowledge and skills as well as manage adversity and build resilience to create safe, responsive and nurturing environments - essential for the healthy development of infants, children and youth.

  • Strengthening connections to culture supports

    Provides culturally responsive supports that celebrate and strengthen identity and foster deep connections between infants, children, youth, parents, families, caregivers and the broader community. Supports use traditional and community-centered approaches that draw on family strengths, cultural assets and community resources to proactively prevent child maltreatment.

  • Home visitation supports

    Provides in-home parent education and family support services to expectant parents and those with children from newborn to 6 years of age. Services are intended to support families who are facing challenges that may place their children at risk and keep them from developing to their full potential. This may include being new or a young caregiver, lack of support, poverty, mental illness or trauma and other circumstances that may escalate without supports.

Open grant call

The Ministry of Children and Family Services has launched an open grant call as part of a 2 phased approach to awarding FRN grants. In phase one, existing FRN agencies interested in continuing to provide services were invited to apply, assessed against the FRN Grant Funding Guidelines and awarded grants effective July 1, 2026.

Following this process, the ministry identified needs in some FRNs where prevention and early intervention services are limited or not available. For phase 2, the ministry is launching an open grant call to help address these identified needs by inviting eligible organizations to apply for funding to deliver services in targeted network areas. 

Important dates

Application period opens: August 18, 2026, at 10 am (MDT)
Deadline for applicants to submit questions: September 18, 2026, by 4 pm (MDT)
Application deadline: September 29, 2026, by 4 pm (MDT)
Anticipated grant start date: January 1, 2027

Funding

Applicants must refer to Appendix A in the FRN Service Gap Funding Call for Applications document to identify the specific network service gap they are applying for and confirm the maximum available funding for that opportunity.

Eligibility

An eligible organization must meet each of the following eligibility criteria.

Type of organization

An organization must be classified as one of the following:

  • a non-profit organization or society which may include a non-profit organization or society that is an Indigenous-run or Indigenous-led organization
  • municipality
  • sole proprietor
  • for-profit organization
  • Indigenous organization
  • First Nations
  • Métis representative organization and Metis Settlement
  • school board/division

Length of operations

An organization must be operating in Alberta for a minimum of one full calendar year.

Insurance coverage

Applicants must insure:

  • Their operations under a contract of general liability insurance, in accordance with Alberta’s Insurance Act, in an amount not less than $2,000,000 inclusive per occurrence.
  • Against bodily injury, personal injury and property damage, including loss of use thereof.

How to apply

To apply for the FRN Grant Program, follow these steps:

Step 1. Review the guiding documents

Step 2. Confirm the service gap you are applying to address

  • Review the identified service gaps before completing the application.
  •  Applicants may apply only for the network, service area and funding opportunity identified in Appendix A of the FRN Service Gap Funding Call for Applications.

Step 3. Download and complete the application package

There are 5 parts required for each application:

PartDescriptionGeneral notes
Part A: Organization InformationGeneral details about your organization.Part A can be completed once but must be submitted with each application package.
Part B: Statement of Need and Letters of SupportInformation about your service area and collaboration approach.Part B is specific to the network you are applying for. A minimum of 3 letters of support must be included.
Part C: Service Specific FormsSeparate form for each service.Part C forms include Hub Services and the 5 Spoke service types.
Part D: Operational BudgetFinancial breakdown linked to each Part C.A separate Part D must be completed for each corresponding Part C.
Part E: Application ChecklistConfirms all required components are complete and included.One signed checklist is required for each application package.

Every application package must include Parts A, B, D and E, as well as the appropriate Part C form for the Hub or Spoke service area the applicant is applying to serve.

Additional instructions can be found in Section 2, Application Process, of the FRN Service Gap Funding Call for Applications.

Step 4. Submit your application package

Applications must be submitted electronically to [email protected].

Additional instructions for submitting an application can be found in Section 2.3 Submission Instructions of the FRN Service Gap Funding Call for Applications.

After you apply

Applicants will be notified of application status in writing. All decisions on applications are final and no appeals will be considered.

Reporting

Organizations that receive FRN grant funding are required to report on how funding is used and the outcomes achieved. Recipients are required to submit reporting in alignment with the Reporting and Accountability section of the FRN Grant Funding Guidelines.

Contact

Connect with us if you have questions regarding the FRN Grant Program:

Email: [email protected]

NOTE: Applicants should review the FRN Open Grant Call Information Sheet to better understand program requirements and important information needed before submitting an inquiry. Questions asked after 4 pm (MDT) on September 18, 2026, may not be answered by the application deadline.

Find a FRN

Find a Family Resource Network in your area

Seventy FRNs across Alberta provide information and referral services that support families to connect with their FRN as well as other community supports. FRNs also coordinate services and network-based activities in different communities and geographical areas. There are 35 FRNs that serve rural communities, as well as 10 Indigenous and one Francophone FRN that serves both rural and urban communities.

Resources

Previous Childcare