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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.
 
SECOND STEP - FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION 
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
 
STAY, PLAY, GROW 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

Stay, Play Grow locations: 

1. Breton – Faith Evangelical Covenant Church
2. Drayton Valley – Miss Joanne’s School of Dance
3. Alder Flats – Alder Flats Hall
4. Easyford – Easyford Hall

 
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)
 
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.
 
ACTIVITY KITS
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

• 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.
• Run a baby drop-in group for 0-12 months and their caregivers with a focus on rhymes, songs, craft & snack weekly at the FRN in Drayton Valley.
• 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,  Community Parenting Coalition, Interagency Drayton Valley, Breton and Wetaskiwin, Nutritious Beginnings Advisory Committee, and Alberta CAPC CPNP Coalition.

Website

Contact Information:

Drayton Valley Brighter Futures

Nutritious Beginnings
Brighter Futures Family Resource Society
4743 - 46 Street  P.O. Box 6547
Drayton Valley, AB  T7A 1R9


Angela Doerksen, Coordinator/Facilitator
P:  780.515.2792 
​Email: nbeginnings@brighterfutures.ca

Jen Sinclair, Executive Director
P: 780.514.5070 (Drayton Valley)
 E-mail: director@brighterfutures.ca
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Wetaskiwin and Area
Wetaskiwin Health Unit
5610 - 40 Avenue, Wetaskiwin, AB  T9A 3E4
 
Heather Goldsmith, Facilitator
Phone: 780.360.6668
E-mail: nbeginningswetaskiwin@brighterfutures.ca