Niitsitapi - Blackfoot Family Resource Network

08/31/2026

Young Birds Learning Youth Group in Town of Coaldale, a program for youth to enjoy cultural arts and activities, while developing skills in leadership, communication and teamwork. Register online: https://fcss.ca/event/young-birds-learning-youth-group-coaldale-rsvp-4/.

08/28/2026

Young Birds Learning Youth Group in the Town of Raymond, a program for youth to enjoy cultural arts and activities, while developing skills in leadership, communication and teamwork. Register online: https://fcss.ca/event/young-birds-learning-youth-group-raymond-rsvp-2/.

08/27/2026

Young Birds Learning Youth Group in the Town of Taber, a program for youth to enjoy cultural arts and activities, while developing skills in leadership, communication and teamwork.
Contact Jessica to register.

08/26/2026

Charitable organizations and non-profits help Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta capture data to help better understand the quality of life, strengths, opportunities, and potential challenges facing communities throughout Southwestern Alberta.

The Community Foundation is compiling data to publish a report, the Quality of Life Report, that captures local data to help better understand the quality of life, strengths, opportunities, and potential challenges facing communities throughout Southwestern Alberta.

Part of the process includes the collection of data from charitable organizations and non-profits across the region. The information collected through this survey will be combined with data collected from Statistics Canada, municipalities, government agencies, and other publicly available data sources to develop a comprehensive understanding of quality of life across Southwestern Alberta.

If you would like to fill out the survey on behalf of your organization, please click the link below. The survey will close on Friday, August 28th.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CFQL2026

08/12/2026

Being a parent right now is a lot.

We live in a culture that rushes parents toward correction:

“Fix the behavior.”
“Stop the meltdown.”
“Get them to listen.”

But children are wired for connection before compliance.

Especially in hard moments, they absorb our tone, tension, pace, and presence long before they absorb our words.

That’s why I’m sharing this quote from THE WAY OF PLAY:

“The oldest evolutionary pathways in the brain are nonverbal. Your actions always speak louder than words when it comes to your child’s mind.”

Because children can’t learn well when they’re in survival mode. When emotions escalate, the brain shifts away from regulation and reasoning toward protection and reaction.

And what helps bring them back isn’t punishment or pressure — it’s connection. Play, closeness, and felt safety help regulate the nervous system so learning can happen again. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply pull them close and let our calm become theirs.

08/10/2026

Frustration is part of being human. Our children feel it deeply—long before they understand it. When they can’t have what they want, when things don’t go their way, and life won't bend to their will

The tears, the tantrums, the outbursts— are expressions of frustration when they are up against the things they can't change, or that need to change, or when they need to adapt.

In our rush to stop the behaviour, we can miss the emotion that is driving it. But how can we make room for the feelings—especially the sadness— and help them grow?

Frustration must move to sadness or change, or it will move to aggression.
This is the work of caring for kids, guiding them through the big emotions that are part of life.

To read more about frustration see Rest Play Grow chapter 7.

08/06/2026

07/29/2026

Why should we focus on prevention?
Healthy, resilient families and communities make Alberta stronger. That’s why programs like FCSS work with the YourAlberta (Government of Alberta) to support people early, and long before challenges become crises. Prevention means creating the conditions where everyone can thrive.

A recent Alberta study looked at how small, community‑led changes can make a big difference. When neighbourhoods improved walkability, added healthy eating supports, promoted UV safety and reduced to***co exposure, communities saw real benefits:

🤝 supportive built environments
😊 stronger wellness culture
🫶 increased community capacity

These early changes help reduce long‑term health risks and build the kind of connected, supportive communities FCSS programs champion every day.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4c3L9zh

07/27/2026

For more information on Triple P contact your local FCSS or visit https://fcss.ca/triple-p-positive-parenting-program/.

By changing how we think about boredom, we can take the pressure off solving our kids' problems. And focus on what matters most: helping them grow up confident and capable.

Here’s 3 ideas to get you started:

🏁 Help kids create a realistic list of short and longer activities (like doing a puzzle or building a cubby) and plan how long they are expected to play by themselves. Younger kids may only be able to do things for a short time before they need your support.
😍 Notice when they use their plan and encourage them with praise: “I’m so proud of you for doing that all by yourself!”
⭐️ Set aside one-on-one time with your child when you can be 100% available. Feeling seen, loved and valued supports their mental health and strengthens your relationship.

Link in the comments for the full article by Triple P parenting expert Associate Professor Trevor Mazzucchelli.

06/29/2026

Young Birds Learning Group in the Town of Taber, for youth ages 11-17 years. A group to enjoy cultural arts and activities, and develop skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork.
Contact Madison or Jessica to register.