ALIGN'S SECTOR NEWS
MAY 31, 2021
Thanks to all of our ALIGN Members who have renewed or joined us for the 2021/22 year! We look forward to continuing working 'Together for Children & Families'

We'd like to start out with a special congratulation to Cheryl Whiskeyjack from Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society who has recently been honored with an Honorary Doctorate at the University of Alberta! Congratulations Cheryl from all of us at ALIGN Association.

Space Available - Terra Centre for Teen Parents has recently purchased a building at 10320 146 st Street in a mature community with possession in January 2021. The agency is relocating to this site and has 2,200 sq. ft. of space available for lease. Depending on needs, other features in the building could be available for access i.e. large group space for programing, cooking facilities, meeting rooms. To inquiry about this opportunity please call Colleen Wenger at Terra at 780 428 3772
COVID-19
ALIGN WORKSHOP – The Strength in the Middle: COVID and Beyond June 8, 2021
We invite Middle Management to an all day session where we will explore your role as leaders during this unprecedented time. Using a perspective of the Brain and its response to Stress, this session will focus on maintaining your wellness and the wellness of your teams during a time of pandemic and beyond.
NEW FUNDING TO SUPPORT AGENCIES WITH COVID IMPACTS/RECOVERY

The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant spring application round has been extended from May 31 to June 30, 2021.

The Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI) is a $31 million investment from Infrastructure Canada to support communities as they adapt spaces and services to respond to ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 to support communities in planning for recovery, and becoming more pandemic resilient.

The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses with job supports to get thousands of Albertans back to work. Employers can apply for funding to offset the cost of hiring and training unemployed or underemployed Albertans in new or vacant positions.
LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE
How to Write a Great Policy Brief Emma Kaplan / Canadian Observatory on Homelessness summarizes best practices for writing a successful policy brief. Learn how a well-written policy brief is an effective tool to encourage decision-makers to take up new knowledge
Youth @ the Table is a province-wide initiative seeking to engage youth ages 18-30 at the governance level of nonprofit organizations. Participants will spend at least six months collaborating with nonprofit organizations in their communities to address social issues they care about.
Board organization application deadline: June 18, 2021
Youth application deadline: June 27, 2021


WORKPLACE WELLNESS
Sara Jordan (Executive Director, CMHA Calgary), Curtis Stange (President and CEO, ATB Financial), and Shannon Doram (President and CEO, YMCA Calgary) shared their learnings from the past year, while discussing mental, physical, and workplace wellness and how mental health services are key to society’s recovery.
SUPPORTING NEWCOMERS
AMP Resources for Mentoring Refugee, Immigrant & Newcomer Children and Youth Resources intended to support community-based groups and organizations that are striving to develop and deliver quality mentoring programs to children and youth who are new to Canada.

Welcome to Alberta App is a Settlement Calgary mobile app designed to help immigrants and refugees to achieve a smooth and successful transition into their life in Canada

MENTAL HEALTH
10 Therapist (and Child)-Approved Activities to Support Kids with Anxiety (Family Therapy Basics) Ten therapists (and child!)-approved, fun activities that address anxiety-based disorders and promote relaxation and stress reduction in children…
Alberta’s government is hosting a virtual Mental Wellness Day for Schools across Alberta on June 3, 2021 to support and recognize the resilience of students, parents, teachers and staff.

Kickstand is a province-wide collaboration to transform how young people in Alberta access health and social services. They suggest a number of free apps that focus on mindfulness, stress reduction and everyday mental health support and tips

CAMH Video - The Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS) assesses for both anxiety and depression in children and youth 8-18 years old.
HOMELESSNESS
Watch Webinar - The Shift to Prevention in Canada: How Did We Get Here and Where Are We Going? National Network for Youth Prevention is one key to ending homelessness in the long term. This webinar provides an overview of the movement for youth homelessness prevention in Canada and what's in store for the future. 

Report - Youth-focused Coordinated Access Systems: Considerations from the Field A Way Home Canada, COH and the National Learning Community on Youth Homelessness released a new report outlining what a youth-focused Coordinated Access Systems (CASs) could look like and how it differs from the system designed for adults.

Report - The State of Systems Approaches to Preventing and Ending Homelessness in Canada explores the next steps for preventing and ending homelessness through an equitable, just and accountable framework of systems transformation.

One in nine Canadians lives in poverty—or 11% of the overall population...
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
MISSED IT?
ALIGN CONNECTION for Indigenous, Metis and Inuit children, youth and their caregivers. The May 2021 addition includes lots of fun cultural awareness activities to help prepare for National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21, 2021