Brighter Futures Resource Society - Drayton Valley

Brighter Futures(CAPC) 
Nutritious Beginnings (CPNP)

Serves: ​

Who We Are
Our Vision:  Healthy Families Engaged in Community
 
Our Mission: Strengthening Family Relationships & Community Connections (Since 1994)
 
The Society believes:
  • People want to make a difference in the lives of their children.
  • Community members have the skills and knowledge to enhance each other’s lives.
  • Communities can and do create supportive environments where children, youth and families flourish.
  • Community members are willing and able to take on issues that affect the well-being of their communities.
  • Children, youth, families, community groups, government and service providers can work in partnership to develop effective and sustainable programs.
  • Valuable community development encompasses partnerships, capacity building, resiliency, community ownership and sustainability, community based programming, trust building, patience, communication and flexibility.
CORE ACTIVITIES: These goals are the foundation to why we exist, who benefits from our existence and how we are unique.
  1. CHILDREN  will benefit from structured opportunities to enhance emotional, social and physical growth with an emphasis on building self-esteem, increased opportunities for social interactions and skill development through peer interaction, learning through play and parent interaction.
  2. PARENTS are provided with supports and information to improve their connection to community and or positive parenting awareness.
  3. PROMOTION of secure parent-child attachments, positive mental wellness, increased awareness and strategies for child safety, healthy development, sense of community and community connectedness.
  4. PURSUE programming, training and partnerships to provide more avenues to strengthen family relationships improve community connections, assist with providing community resources and positive social networks for parent and caregivers.
  5. IMPROVE the health of pregnant women who are at risk of poor birth outcomes, encourage breast feeding and create partnerships that will ensure a continuum of community support that is flexible, equitable, accessible and culturally sensitive.

Our Programs
Our Programs:

 NUTRITIOUS BEGINNINGS PRENATAL PROGRAM
This Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program is offered through Drayton Valley Health Unit and Wetaskiwin Health Unit in partnership with Alberta Health Services.
The focus of this program is to prenatally support women who are at risk due to age, lifestyle choices, financial barriers and or geographical locations in developing healthy nutritional habits during their pregnancy. The program offers:
  • One to one support
  • Prenatal Vitamins
  • Milk / Vegetable Coupons
Nutritious Beginnings can also help  participants access
- Prenatal classes
- Breastfeeding information and support
- Parenting groups
- Support for counselling on smoking, alcohol, drugs, stress and/or abuse that may be affecting the health of both mom and the unborn baby
 
AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
Brighter Futures works in partnership with Breton FCSS, Wild Rose School Division and Breton Elementary to offer an energized, fun-filled program consisting of team activities, crafts, games and physical activities, at no cost to local families for two six weeks sessions each school year.  With a focus on building self-esteem, promoting positive social skills, and making healthy choices, this program is highly valued for the grade one to three students in the Village of Breton.
 
FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION – SECOND STEP
The Second Step program is a violence prevention/empathy building curriculum, which is facilitated in the Kindergarten and Preschool classrooms in the Drayton Valley area and surrounding communities.

The lessons are divided into three areas:
Empathy Training
Children learn to:
  •   Identify feelings (happy, sad, mad, scared)
  •   Predict how other people feel (by reading, faces and body language)
  •   Show others they care (by responding to others’ feelings)
Impulse Control
Children learn to:
-  Solve problems
-  Perform social skills (sharing, taking turns)
 
Anger Management
Children learn to:
-   Calm down
-   Redirect their feelings in more positive ways
 
PRESCHOOL DROP-IN PROGRAMS (RURAL)
Preschool programming is offered weekly to rural communities to encourage families with limited access to similar services and opportunities to come together and strengthen connections within their community as well as offer their preschool children opportunity to meet new friends, and enjoy facilitated programming.  Programs are created around the following pillars:
1) Citizenship & Identity
2) Personal and Social responsibility
3) Physical Skills and Well-being
4) Environment and Community Awareness
5) Nutrition and Healthy Habits
6) Injury Prevention and Safety Awareness
 
Indoor Playground & Preschool Gym
These programs are interactive as parents help their children learn through play. Children will be encouraged to “burn off” their extra energy while enjoying parachute games, silly songs, and wonderful toys.  Staff will lead interactive songs, nursery rhymes, crafts, and games.  Parent Participation is required. (Indoor Playground-Scouts Hall Drayton Valley, Lodgepole, Violet Grove; Preschool Gym- Alder Flats, Breton)
 
PARENT EDUCATION WORKSHOPS/PROGRAMS
Brighter Futures’ understands the need for family support and facilitates a range of workshops in group settings or one on one format.  We have two facilitators trained in the delivery of the parenting programs.

The “Nobody’s Perfect” program is for parents of children from birth through age five is designed to meet the needs of parents who are young, single, or isolated (no family or friends nearby or because they live in a rural area).  This workshop provides parents with a safe place to meet others with children of the same age and with whom they share interests and concerns.
The "Active Parenting" program is a video-based, interactive learning experience.  The program teaches parents the fundamental attitudes and skills necessary for parents of young children such as, methods of bonding, the value of the child and the job of parenting, and the basic developmental stages from ages one to four.
“Active Parenting Now” is a workshop combined with video, activities, and discussion to help parents raise responsible children who are able to resist negative peer pressure.  The program also demonstrates non-violent discipline techniques and effective encouragement skills. It is designed for parents of children ages 5 to 12.
The “Cooperative Parenting and Divorce” program is designed to shield children from conflict.  This is also a video based  psycho-educational  program designed to assist divorcing or divorced parents in reducing parental conflict and the risk factors that influence the child’s post-divorce adjustment. The program addresses the relationship between separate households, created as a result of divorce and is only offered to participants of either the Nobody's Perfect program or Active Parenting program on a limited basis. 

RESOURCE LIBRARY
Brighter Futures’ library, located at our Drayton Valley office, is available to participants and agencies during regular office hours.  Our lending period is three weeks.  Resources include information on parenting, sibling rivalry, crafts, parenting after separation, behavior management, and more.
 
PACK N PLAY SENSORY BACKPACKS
Brighter Futures offers backpacks filled with age appropriate activities/equipment for parents and children to take home and explore together.  These resources are used to supplement our regular programming if participants are not able to make it to group or if being used as Family Support materials.   Each pack focuses on a different theme and is filled with ideas and materials for play at home! 
 
BABY’S ESSENTIALS
Brighter Futures offers help to families who are in immediate crisis or prolonged difficult times who have infants needing diapers and formula.  We provide a coupon to purchase formula, diapers and or fruits/vegetables and milk (for the breast-feeding mom) once a month.
 
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Brighter Futures is also dedicated to our community and offers staff, volunteers and assistance when necessary or available.
Currently, Brighter Futures
  • assists the Metis Local 888 with Indigenous People’s Day, 
  • provides activities to support Community Family Events, Santa’s Workshop, Family Literacy Day, Family Day in Breton and Drayton Valley, as well as many other events as they occur in and around the county.
  • Partners with facilitators  and community to provide programs or workshops to address specific needs or gaps in services within the communities
  • Board and committee members for Healthy Community Coalition, Drayton Valley Comprehensive Family Violence Institute, Reconciliation Past Present and Future, Community Parenting Coalition, Interagency Drayton Valley, Breton and Wetaskiwin, Nutritious Beginnings Advisory Committee, Alberta CAPC CPNP Coalition, and Metis Local 888.
Contact Information
Drayton Valley
Brighter Futures

Nutritious Beginnings
Brighter Futures Family Resource Society
Drayton Valley Health Unit
4110-50 Avenue, Drayton Valley, AB  T7A 0B3

Angela Doerksen, Coordinator/Facilitator
Phone:  780.514.7231
E-mail:  nbeginnings@brighter-futures.ca
 
Wetaskiwin and Area
Wetaskiwin Health Unit
5610 - 40 Avenue, Wetaskiwin, AB  T9A 3E4
 
Lisa Cottrell, Facilitator
Phone: 780.361.4333
E-mail: lisa.cottrell@camrosepcn.com