Family & Community Support Services

FCSS is a joint municipal/provincial funding program established to develop, support and fund preventive social services. The program is governed by the Family and Community Support Services Act, which emphasizes prevention, voluntarism, 80-20 cost sharing between the provincial and municipal partners, and enhanced local autonomy.

Who benefits from the FCSS program?

FCSS makes a difference. Agencies and programs funded by FCSS aim to strengthen neighbourhoods and increase social inclusion in vulnerable populations like immigrants, Aboriginal people, families, children and youth, and seniors. Social inclusion is outlined further in the Social Sustainability Framework. All FCSS-funded agencies and programs are supported to ensure their work reflects evidence-based best practices in prevention.

Focus on prevention

Research shows that an investment of $1 in preventive social services yields a social return on investment of up to $6 - $13 in other costs such as policing, justice, addictions treatment and increases productivity in employment and contributions to society.

FCSS program management

Community and Neighbourhood Services's FCSS Division manages the FCSS funding program. Service planning and distributing funding are two primary roles of the FCSS Division. We collaborate with agencies and the community to align activities with demonstrated best practices that increase protective factors and/or reduce risk factors The FCSS Division reviews funding requests from social agencies and makes recommendations to the Standing Policy Committee on Community & Protective Services, which acts as the FCSS Calgary Board. The committee reviews the funding recommendations and forwards its decisions to city council for approval. Find out more about our funded agencies and how to apply for funding. You can find out what’s new with the program at our FCSS bulletin board.

Types of programs and services FCSS funds

In addition to being consistent with the FCSS Act, programs and services must:

Be consistent with city council's funding priorities: Strengthening neighbourhoods and increasing social inclusion.
Be collaborative and not duplicate existing programs.
Involve volunteers.
Utilize evidence-based best practice.
State objectives in measurable terms.
Demonstrate good governance and administration.

Program logic model of FCSS Calgary

Vision

Calgarians working together to create and sustain a viable, safe and caring community.

Mission

FCSS Calgary partners with community agencies, other City business units and other funders, to fund preventive social services that support and enhance the lives of Calgarians.

The FCSS theory of change

FCSS Calgary prevents or minimizes the impact of social problems by funding community organizations to increase social inclusion and strengthen neighbourhoods using research-based best and promising practices.

Program Logic Model

FCSS Program Logic Model

A Menu for Healthy - and Affordable - Food in our Community