Please join us for this engaging presentation on the important role natural supports play in Ethnocultural Communities in Alberta.
Natural Supports Webinar
Please join us on March 19th for a webinar on the power of natural supports in strengthening social connection and wellbeing. In partnership with the Canadian Alliance on Social Connection and Health, the webinar will include a panel discussion on the importance of natural supports and the value of the Natural Supports Framework in helping practitioners learn the skills to foster natural supports networks. Please register here: What are Natural Supports? Webinar and Panel Discussion — Canadian Alliance for Social Connection and Health
New resource for supporting youth in their natural supports journey
Guidelines for Social Connection
Did you know social connection is the key to living a happier, healthier, and longer life? Check out the recently released public health guidelines for social connection!
Natural Supports Buzz Video
Our friends at Hull Services released this video talking about the importance of natural supports. Check it out!
Survey Alert!
We need your help to understand the natural supports work going on in Alberta. Please check out this short survey to learn about the natural supports work happening at an individual, group, and community level in different areas of the province, but also to better understand what types of resources/connections folks doing this work might be interested in. This survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. Click here for the survey.
Have natural support work you want to share through this hub? We’d love to hear from you!
Have natural supports work you want to share through this hub? We’d love to hear from you!
Please email Larasha Farrington at larasha.farrington@burnsfund.com with:
The title of your work
The website text copy, as you would like it posted
Any attached images, documents, or videos that complement your work
The location on the website where it should be posted (i.e. Training, Training Resources tab)
Contact information or source information
All submissions will be reviewed for alignment with the intent of the Connections First hub prior to being added to the website and may be edited for length.
Social Snacking in the News
Jeff Gray, the Executive Director of Antyx Community Arts, on CTV News Calgary to share the social snacking campaign and toolkit. Click here to access the full toolkit and to see more social snacking Tik Tok’s like the one shared in the clip, visit our Tik Tok page @socialsnackers!
Connections First: New Directions
Hello! As you may know, Burns Memorial Fund has assumed the management of the Connections First website. 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? Please contact Kendall Quantz at kendall.quantz@burnsfund.com.
Currently on this page you will find informative blog posts about natural supports, mentorship, out of school time, and more from the Max Bell Foundation/Burns Memorial Fund policy fellowship. Stay tuned for natural supports project updates, resources, and opportunities!
Out of school time: What should it look like?
Here’s a great resource to help parents and caregivers consider the important characteristics of out of school time. The report includes key things to consider, recommendations on the types of programs to implement, and importantly, key programmatic considerations like evaluation, frequency and intensity.
Click on the images below to download a copy of the full report or the executive summary with recommendations.
Full report
