Our Fearless Leader at Beaumont FCSS: Kim Williston

Kim Williston, has been at the helm of Beaumont FCSS since 2006. Active in a variety of local partnerships and initiatives, Kim is passionate about supporting families within our community. Kim has been integral in developing the 40 Developmental Assets right here in Beaumont and looks forward to the launch of the Search Institute's survey process this October to local schools. J.E. Lapointe School, Coloniale School and Beaumont Secondary High School are slated to be participating in this comprehensive survey in order to assess 40 Developmental Assets in our youth aged 11-17.

An annual FCSS program just recently launched here in Beaumont is the Christmas Elves program. This dedicated group of volunteers is gearing up again to collect food, toys and personal care items to ensure that all families in Beaumont have a very merry Christmas. To volunteer for this program or to find out what items are needed for donations please contact Tina at: 780 929-2515.

To contact Kim phone: 780 929 9143 or email kim.williston@town.beaumont.ab.ca

Introducing: Jenny Cash Town of Beaumont FCSS Liaison

My name is Jenny Kash and I am the new Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) Community Liaison for the Town of Beaumont. I can be reached by phone at (780) 929-9271 Monday thru Friday or at the FCSS office.

I am excited about working in the Beaumont Community and would like to give everyone a bit of information about my background and what I am bringing to your community. Most recently I spent the summer with Leduc Child & Family Services, which provided me a great opportunity to learn about the resources available in Leduc and the surrounding counties. Prior to this summer, I spent the past three years working for Legal Aid Alberta in a support and advocacy role to the families they serviced. A major part of my role was to provide information and referrals to families for community services, ranging from parenting and anger management programs, to addictions and mental health services, to financial supports and benefits. I also spent time working with clients experiencing family violence and the programs and services available in this area.

As the FCSS Community Liaison I will be working on a number of projects and I am excited to say that these projects will help me get to know more about Beaumont and how I can contribute to the community. One of the areas that I will be focusing a lot of time on is the Developmental Asset Approach and bringing more awareness of the 40 Developmental Assets identified by the Search Institute to the Beaumont Community. You may have already been to a workshop FCSS put on earlier in the year or you may have read about this approach on this blog. Watch for more information coming soon about how the Developmental Asset Approach is being implemented in Beaumont and how all community members are able to make a positive impact on our youth with the Developmental Assets Approach. Another area that I am working on with the help of many, is organizing the Parent Workshop Series. If you have any suggestions or interest in a specific topic that you would like to see a workshop organized for, please call or email me. Watch for more information about the topics and presenters that will be offered starting October 21, 2009 at the Beaumont Community Youth Centre.
For more information on any of the above, or for any questions, please call me at (780) 929-9271 or email me at jenny.kash@town.beaumont.ab.ca.

Developmenta Assets: The Community Approach

At the end of last week, I (along with other Beaumont FCSS staff) attended St. Albert's presentation of their Developmental Asset Survey results. Some of the stats were surprising, the speakers were inspiring, and I walked away from the event feeling energized and excited about the Developmental Asset Approach here in Beaumont. I am more than curious how our youth (grades 5-11) rate their level of assets. Do they feel supported, listened to, hopeful about the future and how tolerant and accepting are they of diversity? These are all questions I would really like to know the answers to. Speakers: James Vollbracht and Keith Pattinson, spoke about some ideas to build an asset rich community that would be relatively easy to implement. However, the approach is much more about people and relationships than it is about other programs to help "fix" kids' problems. In fact, the entire approach requires that youth are considered resources and participants in the process and NOT as problems. Keith, spoke about some extremely ambitious projects and work being done in Summerland, B.C. as a part of the Summerland Asset Development Initiative. I am still in awe of the amazing work that was undertaken and managed by the youth of this small but vibrant community.

However, in the wake of tragedies like the one from last weekend, when a 14 year old in Edmonton overdoses and passes away from the use of an illegal drug...it is difficult not to think about fixing the problems of youth. Communities will likely always require a range of services that include preventative, community development initiatives that focus on strength based strategies and those that deal with the issues of drug and alcohol abuse and law enforcement issues. Our hope here at FCSS is that more focus, effort, and resources channelled into those activities that are recognizing the pure potential of our young people will ultimately lessen our need for the more serious and sometimes tragic events like those we tend to hear about on the six o' clock news.

For more information about all FCSS programming here in the Town of Beaumont please contact my self (Linda Mix-Kondratski) at thekbunch@xplorenet.com or Kim Williston at Kim.Williston@town.beaumont.ab.ca and have a great week!