History of the Association

Bridges Family Programs Association of Southeastern Alberta was originally established in July 1977 as a non-profit organization named Parents of the Handicappers of Southeastern Alberta and had the primary goal of enhancing the lives of handicapped children and their families. In September 1989, the Association formally changed its name to the Association for Parents of the Handicapped of Southeastern Alberta. At approximately the same time, the Association hired a full time Family Support Coordinator through contracted funds from Alberta Family and Social Services, in partnership with Medicine Hat School District #76, the office for the Family Support Program was established in Herald School. As a result of additional funding received in January 1992, a part-time administrative support position was formed.

The Association has undergone extensive growth since the first Association employee was hired. The Association now operates a triad of programs under the Bridges Family Programs umbrella, and collaborates with Health Connections, Alberta Health Services, the Government of Alberta, Cross-Ministry Committee on FASD via the Southeastern Alberta FASD Network and the Southeastern Alberta Child and Family Services Authority to administer the programs listed below. The Association continues to be a non-profit organization governed by an elected Board of Directors and membership.

In October 2006, Bridges Family Programs received the Children’s Ministries – Minister’s Award of Merit in the Community Service category.

Programs Administered by Bridges Family Programs

The Bridges Family Programs umbrella is comprised of three distinct programs. The Bridges Program provides support, information, family service planning, and advocacy services to families with children from birth to age eighteen in Medicine Hat and surrounding area. Bridges program participants may participate in a clothing exchange program which is in partnership with the Salvation Army, and various other social and educational programs for families. The Bridges Program was established in 1997 when the Association signed a contract with the office of the Commissioner of Services for Children and Families as the host agency for this partnership program, and at present, is maintained through contracted funds from the Southeast Alberta Child and Family Services Authority. Services are provided to families at no cost. The Intensive Family Support program provides intensive family support service planning and family support and parent/teen mediation services.

Bridges Family Programs operates Children's Fetal Alcohol Services (CFAS). CFAS provides support, advocacy and consultative services to families who are raising children with this particular disability. CFAS also facilitates two regional neurodevelopmental clinics which are principally responsible for assessing children and diagnosing FASD within Region 2. The program also engages in prevention and education activities and presentations within the region to raise awareness about FASD and its prevention. The funding for this program is received from the Southeast Alberta Child and Family Services Authority, and the Government of Alberta, Cross-Ministry Committee on FASD via the Southeastern Alberta FASD Network, The program employs 2 full-time Clinic Coordinator/Consultants and a Regional Manager.

Bridges Family Programs administers the Southeast Alberta Home Visitation Programs in partnership with Alberta Health Services. This group of programs is comprised of Best Babies, the regional Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program project; Building Blocks, the regional Canadian Action Program for Children project; and Healthy Start, a regional home visitation project based on the Invest in Kids model. While each of the three programs is unique, all three programs serve the common goal of building upon and strengthening the capacities that participant families already exhibit. The programs focus on family strengths, building supportive relationships, promoting positive parent-child relationships, improving parent knowledge and skills, fostering healthy child development and connecting families to community supports as needed. These programs also offer parenting support and education groups as needed i.e. Making Connections.

Finally, the First Steps program is a Parent – Child Assistance program for women who are pregnant and are using or have used alcohol and/or drugs during pregnancy. This program uses a case management, in-home support approach and concentrates not only on reducing alcohol and drug use, but also reducing other ‘risk’ behaviours and addressing the health and social well-being of mothers and their children.