Strong community relations built on trust, understanding, support and respect are critical for any school. In cases where a school has members of the student population who are in a high needs/high risk situation, this is even more critical.

Aspen provides Community Development Workers to various schools in the Calgary area. The worker acts as a liaison between the school, the community, children and their families. The goal is to coordinate and support community activities at the school - and identify where there is a need and opportunity to offer specialized programs and social services within the school.

Blessed Damien Elementary Schools and the Catherine Nichols Gunn Elementary School are two examples where the Community School Liaison program is making a difference.

At Catherine Nichols Gunn Elementary School, the Community School Liaison has coordinated family events, parenting and literacy groups and summer programs for children, just to name a few examples. Programs at both Blessed Damien and Catherine Nichols Gunn support the growth of healthy children, youth, families and communities.

Often, when a family or individual is facing a challenging situation they simply do not know where to turn for help. In such instances, Aspen strives to lend a hand by pointing them in the right direction - through our Community Connections program.

Community Support Workers visit families/individuals in their homes or community. They do an assessment to determine the nature of the situation and then link the family/individuals to the most appropriate resources. Where resources do not exist, Aspen works with community residents and service providers to develop them. In addition, a person who needs to develop certain life skills may be referred to one of Aspen's workshops or groups - addressing subjects such as social skills or parenting.

The primary function of the Community Connections Program is that families/individuals feel supported. As part of the process, opportunities are provided for children, families and individuals to learn new skills, gain knowledge, connect with each other for support and give back to the community in meaningful ways.

When the Calgary and Area Child and Family Services Authority intervenes in a family situation that is detrimental to the children, they engage the professional services of an organization such as Aspen.

Aspen staff work collaboratively with the family to get to the root causes of the problem and identify a course of action that will promote long-term change and healthy behaviors (to develop strengths and build resiliency). It is truly a family-centred approach.

By regularly following up with families, we ensure they do not regress back into unhealthy behaviours that will put the children at risk. Families have direct input into the interventions we employ. Our ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for further involvement of child welfare services.

This program is based out of Calgary and Strathmore. The Strathmore Family Development program handles case referrals in Strathmore and surrounding area (including Chestermere, Langdon, Indus, Carseland, Standard and Gleichen).

The Community Support Home programs provide a community-based home for clients attending AADAC Youth Services Action Program and the Calgary Health Region's Eating Disorder Program.

Community Support Homes provides the highest quality of care for clients with the essential support and understanding necessary at this time of recovery. Clients are also encouraged to participate in positive social and recreational opportunities. The goal is to provide a receptive environment that works hand-in-hand with the unique treatment goals of each individual.

Aspen is responsible for finding, screening and preparing host families who wish to generously open their doors to individuals enrolled in these programs.

Provide referrals to community agencies to increase the awareness of supports and resources.

Building community Capacity around social issues and to develop informal and formal supports with community residents in the six communities.

Community Room is open two days a week to offer support to residents by offering access to telephone, photocopier, fax, job postings and public access computers.

Through various partnerships at the CRC we are able to extend our services to include Counseling, Family Violence Support, Volunteering, diversity needs and support for parents at the Parent Link Centre. The Hand in Hand Parent Link Centre meets the needs of families with children age 0-6 by providing a multitude of supports to parents and early intervention programming.