St. Albert Parents' Place celebrated its 30th anniversary Tuesday by unveiling a new name: the St. Albert Family Resource Centre.
The name change won't affect what the community agency offers to parents, their children and their caregivers, explained executive director Sandy Biener. It is only intended to give the public a better understanding that the centre exists to serve families in all of the wondrous complexities and configurations that we see in our modern society.
Biener has been at the head of the organization for almost half of its life. She's seen many changes and the positive impacts that the community agency has had on thousands of families over the years. She's proud of it all.
"A lot of changes, a lot of growth…" she said. "It wasn't a big centre. I think when we look at the number of programs and courses that we used to offer, there was maybe about 40 at that point in time. Now, we run about 400."
Those programs operate under two different streams: Family Life Education and Family Support. Through both, members of the public can access adult and parenting help, outreach, home visitations, parenting coaches and more. People can become members but it isn't necessary to sign up for any program.
"We're able to help families in a lot of different ways, where when I first came on we weren't able to," Biener said. "It's been exciting, the growth that has happened over the years. The centre has come a long way … and hopefully, we'll continue to grow."
She estimated that there were probably 1,200 to 1,300 participants last year alone. Attendees for the in-house programs come in from neighbouring north Edmonton communities like Castledowns while its outreach programs have been offered for several years in various schools and other local settings, even now extending to Morinville and outlying areas.
"We have a real strong philosophy," Biener said. "We believe that we need to go where parents are. We don't have an expectation that parents are going to come and participate in all of our programs here because parents today are very busy people."
Valued resource
Board member Tara De Kneef knows the real value of the resource centre because she's also a client. The stay-at-home mom brings in her two young children for different programs during the week and sees the immediate benefits, not just to them, but to her as well.
She says her two-year-old can't wait for Tuesdays when he gets to go the Discover and Learn program.
"He gets to do crafts. 'I'm gonna play with cars!' That's his favourite thing to do. He actually tells me more about his day than the three-year-old. He'll tell me everything," she said.
Apart from her son's early socialization and structured activities, De Kneef herself benefits from a change of scenery, a change of pace and the all-important mommy break.
"It's a support," she said. "The staff … they know your children, they know you. It gets you out of the house. It gives you something to do."
The St. Albert Family Resource Centre is located at Suite 10A, 215 Carnegie Drive in the Campbell Business Centre. It shares office space with the Community Information and Volunteer Centre, facing Campbell Road.
To learn more about the centre and its many programs and services, give them a call at 780-459-7377 or visit www.stalbertfrc.ca.
