Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)

The Pincher Creek and District Family and Community Support Services facilitates preventative social services and community initiatives which contribute to quality of life and family wellness in the communities of the Town of Pincher Creek, the Municipal District of Pincher Creek #9 and the Village of Cowley.

FCSS Grant Funding Applications

2025 Funding Applications are closed

The Pincher Creek & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program provides financial support for the delivery of preventative social programs designed to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

To be eligible, programs must:

Be of a preventive nature that enhances the social well-being of individuals and families through promotion or intervention strategies provided at the earliest opportunity, and
Do one or more of the following
- help people to develop independence, strengthen coping skills and become more resistant to crisis;
- help people to develop an awareness of social needs;
- help people to develop interpersonal and group skills;
- help people and communities to assume responsibility for decisions and actions which affect them;
- provide supports that help sustain people as active participants in the community.

Programs and Services not eligible under the program include those that:

provide primarily for the recreational needs or leisure time pursuits of individuals;
are intended to sustain an individual or family (ie. Providing food, clothing or shelter);
are primarily rehabilitative in nature; or
duplicate services that are ordinarily provided by a government or government agency.

For questions, please contact Lindsey Johnson, FCSS and Special Projects Coordinator at 403-627-4406 or fcss@pinchercreek.ca

What is FCSS?

Family & Community Support Services (FCSS) is a joint municipal/provincial funding program established to develop, support, and fund preventive social services.

FCSS is an 80/20 funding partnership between the Government of Alberta, municipalities and Metis Settlements. Provincially, the FCSS Program receives its mandate from the Family and Community Support Services Act and Regulation.

Under FCSS, communities design and deliver social programs that are preventive in nature to promote and enhance well-being among individuals, families, and communities. The programs depend on community resources, often involving volunteers in management and delivery.

The FCSS philosophy is based on a belief that self-help contributes to a sense of integrity, self-worth and independence. The developed programs are intended to help individuals in their community to adopt healthy lifestyles, thereby improving the quality of life and building the capacity to prevent and/or deal with crisis situations should they arise.

One of the key principles of the FCSS Program is local responsibility in priority-setting and resource allocation. FCSS emphasizes local decision-making for programming, based on the belief that communities have the desire, energy and resources to build community capacity. Each municipality or Metis Settlement, therefore, determines how the dollars they receive should be allocated to best meet local needs.

Who benefits from FCSS?

Programs funded by FCSS provide preventive services to all age groups and people from all walks of life, such as family counselling for persons in distress, care for isolated seniors, and support for children and youth.

Why focus on prevention?

Research shows that an investment of $1 in preventive services yields a $7 return in avoided costs such as police, justice, additional treatment and increased productivity in employment and contribution to society.

Who manages FCSS programs?

The Town of Pincher Creek FCSS manages the FCSS funding programs for the Town, the Municipal District of Pincher Creek #9, and the Village of Cowley. The Town also collaborates with agencies and the community to better understand the magnitude of social issues and how best to respond to them.

The FCSS Board of Directors, with representation from the Town of Pincher Creek, Municipal District of Pincher Creek, Cowley, and four members at large from the community, reviews funding requests from social agencies and selects projects for funding.

What types of programs and services will FCSS fund?

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

Be consistent with the funding priorities of the Town and Municipal District of Pincher Creek and the Village of Cowley
Be collaborative and not duplicate existing programs
Involve volunteers
Leverage additional funds to assist with program costs
State objectives in measurable terms
Demonstrate the capacity to achieve stated outcomes
Demonstrate good governance and administration

Additional Information

Needs Assessments

Provincial Websites

Contact Information

The Pincher Creek and District FCSS office is located at the Multi-Purpose Facility | 895 Main Street

FCSS Coordinator: Lindsey Johnson

Mailing Address:		Box 2841 Pincher Creek, Alberta T0K 1W0
Phone:		(403) 627-3156
Email:		fcss@pinchercreek.ca