HOW IT STARTED
In 2017, two Calgary-based funders (Burns Memorial Fund and Max Bell Foundation) came together to jointly fund a senior policy fellowship.
Dr. Suzanne Tough and Nancy Reynolds, two experienced and community-oriented public policy experts, were appointed as the fellows for the project. Together with their team, the fellows researched and identified policy opportunities to enhance natural supports for potentially vulnerable Albertan children 6-16 years of age and their families, with the goal of optimizing positive lifelong development. The work of the policy fellowship resulted in finding policies and practical options to help improve the lives of children throughout their middle years.
Why the name Connections First? Because people tend to turn to those in their community first when they need support. From family and friends to colleagues or acquaintances, connections are our foundations when it comes to forming meaningful relationships that optimize positive growth and development in all of us.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Dr. Suzanne Tough and Nancy Reynolds have completed their terms as policy fellows. This website was initially created to support the project and share evidence and documents developed by the fellows. Burns Memorial Fund will now be keeping the website updated with work from across the natural supports spectrum.
We envision Connections First as an ongoing central hub for all major natural supports work in Alberta.
Our aim is to create an online space where individuals and organizations can learn more about natural supports, access resources and guides for promoting natural supports in their community/organizations, and amplify the importance of this work through their own connections and networks.
By sharing this collection of common sources, information and resources, we hope Connections First both unifies and strengthens the natural supports work in the province and beyond.
Have any natural supports resources or projects you’d like to share?
Feel free to contact Kendall Quantz at kendall.quantz@burnsfund.com.
We invite organizations to share or feature their own natural supports projects.
Disclaimer Note: The content on this website is created, compiled and sourced from many individuals or organizations. One entity is not responsible for the content or quality of the work being shared on this platform.
