PARENT & CAREGIVER SUPPORTS

Parenting isn't easy. We're here to help.

Raising children is an important job. Looking after yourself will help you do the job well. An essential part of looking after yourself is getting support for parenting and raising children. If you need support, we are here! Send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

If this is an emergency, please call 911.

If you are in crisis, please call:

1 (877) 303-2642 (Alberta Mental Health Help Line)

or 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline)

REGISTER FOR PARENT AND CAREGIVER SUPPORTS

See descriptions of our parent and caregiver supports below.

Triple P is a flexible parenting and family support program that helps caregivers learn practical strategies to handle difficult situations. Whether it’s toddler tantrums, bedtime struggles, conflicts between parents and children or children with additional needs, like mental health challenges.

Though it’s a parenting program, it doesn’t tell you how to parent. Think of it as a toolbox filled with ideas—you pick the strategies that work best for your family. The Triple P program is approximately four sessions and offered free to parents and caregivers in Fort McMurray and the surrounding rural areas.

TRIPLE P POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM

The next Circle of Security starts on January 14, 2025!

Circle of Security is an eight-week program designed to assist parents in providing their children with the emotional support needed to develop secure attachment, resilience and enhance school readiness.

Learn ways to help your child organize their feelings, enhance their self-esteem, support their exploration in the world, and help you read and respond to your child’s cues and build a secure relationship with your child.

CIRCLE OF SECURITY (AGES 0-18)

The next Kids Have Stress Too starts on January 13, 2025!

Kids Have Stress Too gives parents and caregivers tools to better understand stress and to help their child(ren) respond to it in a healthy way. If children can learn to respond to stress in a healthy and constructive way early on, they will be more resilient and better able to cope with whatever life sends their way.

KIDS HAVE STRESS TOO! (AGES 4-18)

Are you a new or soon-to-be parent, navigating the beautiful, exhausting, and sometimes overwhelming world of early parenthood? It’s easy to become completely absorbed in your new baby’s needs — the late-night feedings, endless diaper changes, and adorable milestones. But while you’re busy caring for your little one, there’s another relationship that deserves attention: the one between you and your partner.

Research has shown that a strong, healthy relationship between parents provides an essential foundation for a child’s development. When couples stay emotionally connected, they create a nurturing, harmonious home where children can thrive. It’s not just about raising a happy, healthy baby; it’s about nurturing your family as a whole.

Topics include:

  • Staying connected with your partner

  • Building an emotional bank account

  • The four steps of constructive problem solving

  • The importance of fathers; creating shared meaning

BRINGING BABY HOME

This program, facilitated by Taproot Community Support Services, provides targeted and intensive supports for families with children 7-18 years of age. The in-home family support is to increase the family’s skills and abilities to manage day-to-day parental stressors and to enhance each family’s ability to care for their children. The program focuses on various areas but is not limited to: communication skills, sibling rivalry, conflict resolution, parental styles, child behavioral issues, co-parenting, parent-teen mediation, positive strategies with difficult behaviors and more.

Part of the Family Resource Network.

FAMILY RESILIENCE (Ages 7-18)

YMCA Home Visitation offers parents one on one parenting strategies and skills for parents to strengthen family functioning and provides support to parents-to-be and families with children under 6 years of age. Once eligible for the program, services can be provided until a child reaches six years of age. Services can be provided a few times per week depending on the needs of the family.

Part of the Family Resource Network.

FAMILY CONNECT (Prenatal-6 Years)

CROSS CULTURAL PARENTING

For many newcomer/immigrant parents, cross-cultural parenting can present unique challenges. This program is designed to promote healthy family life, encourage active participation in community and connect cultural values with Canadian expectations for a positive cross-cultural parenting experience. Caregivers will learn practical skills to support their child’s development and build resilience in a multicultural environment, while also providing opportunity to connect with other caregivers in a safe and supportive environment.

This five-session program is free and available to all newcomer parents, grandparents, and live-in caregivers with language and cultural barriers. Language supports and childcare are provided upon request.

The CEDA Sensory Room is designed for any child who would benefit from a sensory environment, including neurodiverse children. The room can be booked by one family at a time (for 30 minute bookings) and parents/ caregivers must remain in the room with their children at all times.

CEDA SENSORY ROOM

AGES & STAGES DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING

ASQ Developmental Screening is a snapshot of your child’s development focusing on key areas of early development like communication, social skills, motor skills, and problem-solving. It can help identify your child’s strengths, uncover new milestones to celebrate, and reveal any areas where your child may need support. It also helps you understand how your child is developing and provides tools to help encourage their child to continue building new skills. ASQ is also a useful tool for you to share with doctors and educators to plan next steps when it makes the most difference—your child’s critical first years of life.

The Hub offers this screening FREE of charge in a convenient, fast, and easy-to-use online tool that calls for your unique perspective on how your child behaves and performs skills in natural settings like your home. The ASQ screeners are sets of valid, reliable, and age-appropriate questionnaires that are filled out by the true expert on your child—you!

The Hub’s Nanny Network supports live in/out caregivers in Fort McMurray, including newcomers. Caregivers have the opportunity to meet others for quarterly networking and mentorship in a safe environment, and learn skills in topics such as health & wellbeing, community resources, immigration information and child development.

THE NANNY NETWORK

MONTHLY MULTICULTURAL POTLUCK

Each month, we celebrate a different culture, aligning with significant events like National Indigenous History Month, Eid or Lunar New Year. Our goal is to enhance intercultural understanding and appreciation, while creating a more connected and inclusive community. Through engaging programs featuring traditional foods, education, cultural activities, and opportunities for social connections, we aspire to create a rich tapestry of experiences for families. By participating in these events, Alberta families will not only experience the richness of diverse traditions but also develop lasting connections with individuals from an array of cultural backgrounds. The program aims to cultivate a more accepting and culturally aware society where residents value the diversity that makes Alberta unique.

Not Sure What Program Is Right For You?

Our Systems Navigator will help connect your children and family to appropriate supports and ensure access to opportunities and resources for improved health, wellness and connection.