Family and Community Support Services in Bonnyville is changing direction in 2026 — and it starts with mental health.

During a recent council meeting, FCSS outlined a new strategic framework developed in response to updated provincial priorities. A local social needs assessment ranked mental health, substance abuse and addiction pressures as the top concern in the community.

Rhonda, presenting to council on behalf of FCSS, said the province has narrowed expectations for how programs must operate and report outcomes.

“There has been quite a shift from a provincial level,” she said. “They are being very clear on the expectations of the programming.”

Under the new rules, each program must align with provincial prevention priorities and be reported under specific categories and subcategories at year-end.

Rhonda noted that early childhood — an area previously emphasized locally — did not appear in the province’s updated priorities.

“That is going to be a major shift in how we do operations,” she told council.

As a result, one program has already been discontinued.

“There’s definitely going to be a shift in programming,” she said.

While priorities have changed, provincial funding levels have not.

“No, there has not been a change in provincial funding,” Rhonda confirmed.

Instead, FCSS plans to reallocate internally — reducing some material and food costs and increasing professional development and staff training to support the new direction.

Council received the presentation as information. FCSS will now work within its existing budget to align programming with the updated framework.