Please share and encourage your team to subscribe | | THANK-YOU FOR MAKING THE ALIGN CONFERENCE SUCH A GREAT SUCCESS! | | |
ALIGN extends our sincere appreciation to all the attendees, presenters, staff, board members, sponsors and volunteers who contributed to making the 18th ALIGN Annual Conference such a tremendous success!
Your passion, knowledge, collaboration, and commitment to strengthening services for children, youth, and families created an inspiring and meaningful event. From the engaging presentations and thoughtful discussions to the behind-the-scenes coordination and support, every contribution played an important role in bringing our conference vision to life.
It is through your dedication and shared purpose that we continue to build stronger connections, share innovative ideas, and advance the important work happening across our sector.
We hope to see you back for our 2027 Conference!
| | ALIGN IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP NEWS! | | |
Reminder: It's almost time to renew your membership.
The ALIGN Association of Community Services membership year runs April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027. The 2026/2027 online membership application will be COMING SOON. We'll be sure to keep you informed!
Not already a member, but considering joining us? Visit our website and learn more about membership with the ALIGN Associations.
We’re excited to announce several new and enhanced membership benefits designed to bring even greater value to our ALIGN members.
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NEW!
The ALIGN Association of Community Services is excited to announce a new members-only benefit: MEMBERS can now PROMOTE their WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS on the ALIGN website—FREE of charge!
We know our members offer exceptional training and professional development opportunities, and we’re eager to help you share this valuable learning with the broader community. We will also promote the Member's Training page on ALIGN's social media to further support your registration efforts.
It's quick and easy to add your training event details, including a registration link or pdf upload option for your upcoming workshop or webinars. Visit the ALIGN website and select Training from the menu where you can now access Member's Workshops Listings or Post Your Workshop (Members Only)
Reminder: The 2026–2027 Membership Year runs from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. The new online membership application will be available soon—stay tuned!
Are you hosting a Conference? If your agency has an upcoming conference and it's not yet on our Sector Conference page please email starrd@alignab.ca so it can be included (open to both member and non-member agencies) This is a great opportunity to PROMOTE your Conference and to see upcoming Conferences for your professional development planning.
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Starting April 1, 2026, with the launch of the 2026–2027 membership year, only members of the ALIGN Association of Community Services will receive FREE access to our Human Services Grants & Awards Directory. Access for non-members now requires a paid subscription. Details available April 1st.
ALIGN’s Grant & Award Directory is one of the most comprehensive human services–focused funding resources available, up-dated regularly, and featuring hundreds of grant opportunities each year, including upcoming deadlines, community giving programs, and funding options with ongoing applications. This valuable tool helps organizations plan strategically, stay organized, and maximize their funding potential throughout the year.
Reminder: The 2026–2027 Membership Year runs from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027. The new online membership application will be available soon—stay tuned!
| | ALIGN’S Reconciliation Action Planning Consultation Service | | |
NEW! ALIGN’s Reconciliation Action Planning Consultation Service provides Community Service Providers with tailored resources fostering meaningful engagement and support for reconciliation efforts within your organization and community.
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ALIGN’s OHS Showcase Day March 5, 2026 Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, Tsuut'ina Nation (Calgary)
ALIGN’s OHS Showcase Day is a one-day learning and connection event focused on strengthening Occupational Health & Safety across Alberta’s community-based service sector.
Designed for organizations at all stages of their OHS journey, the day brings together sector leaders, safety partners, and service providers to share practical approaches, real-world examples, and sector-informed perspectives. Through presentations, peer learning, and shared dialogue, participants will explore how leadership commitment, collaboration, and practical systems contribute to safer, healthier workplaces.
| | Share with your employees! Explore FREE online training, including our OHS Leadership Series, Introduction to Child Intervention self-study modules, RFP Essentials and Analyzing an RFP, and the ALIGN and partners Community Services Staff Safety Initiative. Start learning today! | | ALIGN's Well-Being Community of Practice (CoP)
April 8th 10:00am - 11:30am (ZOOM)
The Well-Being Community of Practice (CoP) is intended for service providers who are currently implementing the ALIGN Association’s Well-Being Toolkit.
Please Note: CoP meetings will now be held on the second Wednesday of each month through April 2026. If you are currently implementing the ALIGN Well-Being Toolkit and would like to join this CoP session please email:wellbeing@alignab.ca indicating your intention to attend, and we will send you the ZOOM link. | | |
ALIGN OHS Community of Practice
Next Meeting April 14, 2026 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. (Virtual)
The OHS Community of Practice is designed for ALIGN members and serves as a collaborative space where agency professionals can share knowledge, tools, and practical strategies to strengthen the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of incident investigations
Your input is valuable as we aim to create a supportive environment for learning and sharing best practices.
We look forward to ALIGN Member’s participation and to fostering a community dedicated to advancing Occupational Health and Safety. Please feel free to bring any ideas or topics you would like to discuss.z
Interested in attending?
If you are an ALIGN MEMBER and would like to register, please email mailto:info@alignab.ca indicating you're interest to attend. See you there!
| | This month the Spotlight is "Winter Activities Invented by Indigenous People" Learn more about sleds, snowshoes and snow goggles and check out the fun activities! This edition also includes upcoming traditional family events and caregiver resources and training. Please share! | | | | CONNECTIONS is monthly newsletter designed to support Foster and Kinship Caregivers to ensure First Nations, Metis & Inuit children in their care have access to cultural resources, activities and events that broaden their cultural awareness. This is a great resources for all families, schools, and child serving programs interested in inclusion and broadening cultural awareness. | | |
Balancing Uncertainty and Resilience: New Data on Sector Priorities and Pressures in 2026
Charity Insights Canada Project explore the priorities, outlook, and pressures shaping Canada’s charitable sector in 2026.
Do Homelessness Reporting Systems that Combine AI and Policing Produce Care or Criminalization?
The blog How Reporting Systems Create Tendencies Towards Care or Criminalization from Homeless Hub, examines a new AI-powered homelessness phone line being tested in Sarnia, Ontario, and questions whether a dual-purpose system run through the police can truly prioritize care.
Bridging the distance: feeling connected when apart (Canadian Consortium on Child & Youth Trauma)
Includes strategies that have proven effective in helping to strengthen the parent-child relationship in preparation for and during separation.
Employee Ownership in the Social Services Sector ( Taproot Community Support Services) Free Mar 3 · 11:00 AM MST In this one-hour webinar, leaders from the UK and Canada will share real-world insights into how Employee Ownership Trusts work, what the transition looks like in practice, and how this model can support long-term sustainability.
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ICYMI: Building Data Infrastructure Needed to Prevent Youth Homelessness in Canada: Learnings from BC and Calgary The Prevention Matters! panel explored how collaborative data use across systems can strengthen policy, research, and coordinated approaches to youth homelessness prevention in Canada.
The Nonprofit’s Guide to Using AI Responsibly in the Boardroom (Tech for Good)
AI is poised to reshape how nonprofit leaders prepare, collaborate, and make decisions. This guide from Tech for Good is designed to help nonprofit boards navigate this transformation responsibly.
OY Works Online Toolkit Helps Employers Recruit Young People Ages 18 – 29
This new one-stop online toolkit from OY Works, helps employers recruit, onboard, mentor, and retain Opportunity Youth (OY), young people 18-29 years old not currently in school, training or work and who face barriers to employment.
MHRC Report: Mental Health Pulse Check 2025
As leaders focus on strengthening Canada’s economy, this report created in partnership with GreenShield, highlighting mental health insights from 2025 and identifying critical areas of focus for 2026. reinforceing the direct link between healthy Canadians, a resilient workforce, and long-term prosperity.
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National Social Work Month and Social Work Week 2026 in Alberta, celebrated from March 2 to 8, 2026
ALIGN proudly acknowledges and celebrates the invaluable contributions of social workers across Alberta.
Message from ALIGN
| | Self-harm/Self-Injury Awareness Day March 1st Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD) is an annual global campaign on March 1st dedicated to breaking the stigma around self-harm, fostering understanding, and highlighting that recovery is possible.
See Child/Youth Mental Health Resources | | | | | National Indigenous Languages Day - March 31st National Indigenous Languages Day, celebrated annually on March 31st in Canada, honors the rich linguistic heritage of over 70 distinct Indigenous languages while emphasizing the urgent need for their revitalization and protection. | | ALIGN member agencies get free and unlimited career posting access on the ALIGN Career page! See what positions are available and apply now. | | Stay up-to-date with ALIGN & Sector events, news and resources. | | | | |
