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Happiness Basics

Feeling "stuck"? We want you to have the best life you can.  Take our free, virtual Happiness Basics  workshop to learn new skills and create habits to boost your overall happiness.  Course runs Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:30 p.m. January 11 - February 22.  Register for this class.

Anxiety to Calm

Anxious? Take our free, Virtual Anxiety to Calm workshop.  Challenge your thoughts, behaviours and emotions while practicing proven and effective skills to manage anxiety and promote a sense of calm.  Course runs Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:30p.m. March 1 -April 19.  Register for this class.

BILY - Because I Love You

We are a group of parents and youth who have been through crisis situations and now are helping those through similar situations.  We understand. We support one another by giving, sharing, listening, creating a safe environment, and providing practical resources. Our desire is to see you and your family succeed.

For more information contact 587-588-8633 

Caring Hearts Connection

Caring Hearts Connections is a safety net for residents of Stony Plain and Parkland County to connect to supports during times of crisis.

Services will include: fielding calls from residents in need, providing registration of residents at risk of needing support, follow up on isolated residents, general inquiries about local resources. Interested residents can be matched with a volunteer for a friendly phone check in on a regular basis.

Register as a Caring Heart Connection - Volunteer to provide a friendly visitor phone call to a resident on a regular basis.

Caring Friends Grief  

Caring Friends is a confidential and informal bereavement support group led by trained bereavement volunteers. Participants have an opportunity to share their feelings and understand the emotions associated with grief in a safe, supportive environment.

Our grief support group is meeting in person again. Please register for your spot - limited seating is available. Group meets the second Thursday of each month.

To register, please call: 780-963-8583

Dementia Connections 

Dementia Connections Project's goal is to ensure all residents in the Tri Region living with dementia are supported. Our Community Based Innovation for dementia care project aims to create a community champion volunteer program that will be able to connect people living with dementia to resources and community. All involved will work together to codesign recreational and social programs that they want to see offered in the community. This program will include 3 components, engaging volunteers, including people living with dementia and offering dementia friendly social opportunities.

Areas of focus include:

  • Offering individual support
  • Building connections
  • Shifting perspectives and increasing awareness

These areas of focus are guiding us as we work to build a resilient and safe community for all.

Dementia Connections Project continues to  Connect, Support and Share as we work to create and maintain an inclusive and welcoming community. We are building a team of volunteer community connectors to continue this work!

If you have a caring heart, a passion for connecting with others and an interest in dementia - Register to be a Dementia Connector!

Living with Loss to Suicide

Date: Last Monday of every month

Time: 6:30 PM

Facilitator: Meryl Murray, RSW, 780-342-1340 

Register for meetings in 2021 in advance for this meeting. 

Register for the 2022 season of meetings.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

Peer-led support group for survivors of a suicide loss. Contact facilitator or join the Facebook page for location updates.

Memory Cafe

Memory Cafe is for People living with dementia and their care partners

Memory Cafe will meet the first and third Tuesday every month at the Stony Plain United Church with the first one on September 21  at 10:30 AM. Participants are asked to attend with their care partner as our volunteers lead the group through facilitated memory cafe activities, singing and care partner support group. The support group will be facilitated by the Alzheimer’s Society of AB & NWT. Care partners can attend the support group while their loved ones participate in a facilitated singing program.  

Mental Health Training

The Town of Stony Plain offers community training to increase the capacity of our residents to support their own mental health and that of those they are in direct contact with, that is evidence-based training.   There are also specialized workshops that can be found throughout the year on special topics.  Check our calendar for current activities. 

 Community Helpers Program - AHS

In every community there are people whom others naturally turn to for support. They are from all walks of life and are considered by others to be helpers. Helpers possess characteristics like empathy, care, and compassion. The Community Helpers Program identifies these helpers and offers training to strengthen their natural abilities. Helpers learn a variety of topics and skills including effective communication, self-care, coping with stress, knowing when to refer people to professional services, handling crisis situations, and suicide awareness. In addition to developing skills and increasing knowledge, Helpers are introduced to community services and professional support. This connection bridges informal and formal support in the community, enabling helpers to refer peers and family to expert support when needed. Ages 12+ (program modifies the age group). 

FREE
 Mental Health First Aid 

Basic 

Mental Health First Aid is offered to someone with an emerging mental health problem or in a mental health crisis until appropriate treatment is found or the situation is resolved.

2 day interactive Includes 12 hours of training. Program runs each May.

Cost $150/participant

Mental Health First Aid Youth

(alternate year to Mental Health First Aid Senior) - November

MHFA Adults who Interact with Youth is intended for an adult audience whose primary focus is youth (aged 14-25). In addition to the four most common disorders discussed in MHFA BASIC, this course includes instruction about eating disorders and deliberate self-injury. Participants who take this course are well prepared to interact confidently about mental health with the young people in their lives, including at schools, extra-curricular activities, social services, family, friends, and communities.  2 day interactive - 14 hours of training.  Cost $150/participant + tax

Mental Health First Aid Seniors

(alternate year to Mental Health First Aid Youth) - November

MHFA Seniors is an adaptation of the MHFA Basic course that is intended to increase the capacity of seniors, families (informal caregivers), friends, staff in care settings and communities to promote mental health in seniors, prevent mental illness and suicide wherever possible in seniors and intervene early when problems first emerge.

2 day interactive - 14 hours of training Cost $150/participant + tax
 Psychological First Aid - Red Cross
 

Psychological First Aid is for all community members.  This course equips learners in developing a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief on others, with emphasis on self-care and personal protection. Learners will be introduced to the Red Cross Look, Listen, Link, Live model - a resiliency-building approach to emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing that teaches learners how to support themselves and others to cope with the effects of various types of stress. The course uses primarily case-based learning and includes the latest evidence from the international community.

12 hours or a blended 7 hours in class and 5 hours online. 

Cost $150/participant + tax
SafeTALK

SafeTALK is for all community members.    This 3.5 hour workshop alerts one to warning signs indicating risk of suicide.  The workshop emphasizes the importance of recognizing the signs, communicating with the person at risk and getting help or resources for the person at risk.  

Cost $50/person + tax

Neighbourhood Connect

Neighbourhood Connect is all about neighbours helping neighbours.

Everyone is valuable and has something to offer neighbourhood life. The discovery of your neighbours skills, abilities and needs will lead to a stronger, more engaged, and supportive neighbourhood. We are building a network of neighborhood connectors and looking for you to register and then share community news or/host community events in your neighbourhood. 

Register to be a Neighbourhood Connector in your neighbourhood. Build community, strengthen Stony Plain community spirit, and ensure all your neighbours are connected. Hosting a neighbourhood event is a fun and easy way to get to know your neighbours! As friendships grow, so do safe and caring communities.For assistance with your neighbourhood event planning, check out the neighbours meeting neighbours community events guide or reach out to our office for assistance with your planning. You can start by filling out the community event application link below.

Note: Remember the importance of maintaining physical distancing in these times of COVID-19. Be innovative with your neighbouring and connecting.

Resources:

Together we can ensure our neighbourhoods are strong, healthy and connected where neighbours care about neighbour and celebrate Stony Plain as a great place to call home.

SeniorConnect

SeniorConnect Tri-Region is a free, online training program that teaches residents how to recognize and respond to seniors in need. The program is open to all residents in the Tri-Municipal Region and is an excellent way for us to work together to help seniors in our community find local information, resources and support.

SeniorConnect Tri-Region is a partnership involving Stony Plain FCSS and Spruce Grove FCSS, and is made up of six training modules focused on:

  • Why connecting with seniors is important
  • Caregiver burnout
  • Mental illness: dementia, delirium and depression
  • Elder abuse
  • Addictions
  • Diversity

To register for the training and become a Senior Connector:

  • Create an account with SeniorConnect Tri-Region.
  • Complete the online training modules.
  • Start connecting with seniors.
What is a Senior Connector?
Senior Connectors are people of all ages who have completed the online training program and who live or work in the community. They are caring, concerned residents who are trained to connect seniors with the supports they need to remain independent, healthy and safe. 
Why should I become a Senior Connector? 

Senior Connectors play an important role in our community by recognizing seniors in need of support and responding with the information and resources they need. As people age, they can become isolated and disconnected, which may affect their social, mental and physical well-being.

Meet Tom, for example. Tom is a widowed senior living on his own. His family has moved away and he doesn’t get out much anymore. A neighbour who has completed the training and is a Senior Connector notices that Tom’s car is no longer parked in front of his home and decides to call him to see how he is doing. The neighbour learns Tom is no longer able to drive and needs groceries. So, she picks up some supplies for Tom and provides information about the Accessible Transportation Service for him to use in the future.

 
What kind of local resources does the online training program focus on?
The training program teaches participants about a variety of local resources. 2-1-1 Alberta, for example, is a 24-hour information and referral line that helps connect people to a full range of essential social, health and government services in the community.
How long will it take to complete the program?
Each module will take between 15 and 40 minutes to complete. You should expect the entire program to take two hours. 
How can I support seniors safely amid COVID-19? 

During these challenging times it is important to find ways to be good neighbours to one another. Look for opportunities to provide assistance and support to seniors where you can and when it is safe to do so. You may consider the following services, or acts of kindness, that don't involve physical contact:

• Delivering groceries or medical supplies;
• Mowing the lawn or helping in the garden;
• A friendly phone call to touch in.

Trail Explorers Dementia Friendly Walking Group

The walking group will meet every second Thursday at 10:15 AM for a 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM walk starting May 6. Participants are asked to register in advance to ensure adherence to COVID-19 guidelines and location of walking group. Participants are asked to attend with their care partner as our volunteer leads the group through the trail system on an engaging walk and talk. 

Residents of Stony Plain, Parkland County and Spruce Grove who are living with dementia and looking for positive connections in a dementia-friendly setting are asking to call Stony Plain FCSS at 780-963-8583 to register.  

Community Partners

Critical Connections

First Five Forever

Tri-Municipal Drug Strategy Council (DSC)

Violence/Threat Risk Assessment Committee (VTRA)

Salvation Army

NeighbourLink Parkland

Spruce Grove FCSS

Parkland Area Volunteer Action Committee (PAVAC)

Community Compass - Helping You Find Your Way

TREA CCR (Tri-Region Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Group)