1978

• begin as a fee-for-service program with Social Services and Community Health

1979

• incorporate as a Society on August 10, 1979
• receive Registered Charity tax status

1980

• first Volunteer Recognition Night
• Child Awareness Training for volunteers implemented
• Volunteers Needed column begins September

1981

• Grandparent Program Pilot
• develop Volunteer Handbook
• implement group activities
• Volunteer of the Month

1982

• establish board committees
• develop slide presentation (STEP)
• membership "Friends of SPEC"
• Child Awareness courses discontinued

1983

• begin use of Self Esteem Inventories (SEI'S)
• formal Volunteer Training Program
• group orientations for volunteers
• SPEC Volunteer Recruitment Week
• Volunteer of the Week (biweekly feature Bulletin)
• develop basic policy and procedure manual

1984

• participate in Child Welfare Planning Group
• high of 53 matched in One-to-One Program
• Volunteer Advisory Committee
• Certificate of Appreciation from Social Services & Community Health

1985

• develop Sexual Abuse Prevention pre-match program (SAPP)
• open Bassano Sub-office
• begin talks about CYW services
• partner with Social Services and FCSS in development of Community Christmas

 

HISTORY – continued

1993

• approval for provision of CARE to all grade 1's
• Ready or Not Parenting added for mixed groups
• Challenging Children parenting program added for parents of out of control children

1994

• add provision of CARE to Grade 1 students
• investigate addition of 24 hour In-Home Care to Family Support program
• Bassano sub-office closes

1995

• add provision of refreshers to Grade 2 students
• development of Connections proposal
• add crisis intervention to Family Support
• restructure programs into Family Support and Community Service areas
• Chevron Canada Resources sponsors Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs

1996

• add provision of refreshers to Grade 3 students
• implement Connections in Eastbrook, Griffin Park and Duchess schools
• prepare for AASCF Accreditation Review
• STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) added to parenting programs
• receive 3 year funding commitment for Educational Programs for children – ongoing programming implemented.

1997

• all programs fully accredited by the AASCF on January 30 for a 4 year period.
• begin Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs grades 1-6, at Holy Family Academy.
• award for 10 year involvement with Joint Planning
• accepted as practicum placement for Child & Youth Care Program at Medicine Hat College.

1998

• two full time Family Support Workers added to Family Support Services
• celebration of SPEC’s 20 year anniversary from September 1998 – 1999
• STEP Teen added to parenting programs
• partner in development of Community Kitchens

1986

• full time Caseworker approved
• implement Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs (SAPP) via SEED Project
• develop, pilot Basic Parent Education  (SEED Project)
• policy and procedure manuals reviewed and revised to meet certification standards (SEED Project)

1987

• public requests SAPP in schools
• School Board grants approval

1988

• Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs to grade 4's
• investigate Family Support Worker component

1989

• Fundraising Committee established
• SAPP Refreshers to grades 4, 5 and 6 begin
• Family Support Worker pilot proposed
• participate on steering committee of Brooks Youth Project

1990

• develop Mission and Value Statements
• CARE Kit to kindergarten
• review new programs for parenting
• convert to computer accounting (AccPac Simply)

 

1991

• Brooks Family Network - pilot of Family Support Services begins
• the "Year of the Big Match" One-to-One program
• investigate expansion of SAPP to primary grades
• FCSS Needs Assessment
• investigate and pilot of After School Programs
• Children, Challenges, Choices added to parenting

1992

• Brooks Family Network pilot success - contract
• Wild Rose Foundation funds coordinated local volunteer week activities
• After School Program becomes regular component and is expanded
• Safe & Happy Kit to Brooks Nursery School
• fiscal year end moves from Mar. 31 to June 30
• Service Award in Support of Alberta Families on February 14, 1992 by the Premier's Council.

1999

• funding transfers from Alberta Government to Regional Authorities
• 2.5 FSLW’s added to Connections via Student Health Initiative – access by all area schools
• revise agency vision, mission, values, goals and outcomes
• HOMES training and implementation begins

2000

• change of name to The SPEC Association for Children and Families
• group programs for unmatched children implemented January 2000
• add .5 FSW to Family Support Program
• LINKS Community Information Centre
• Agency LINK Letters
• Family LINK Letters
• One-to-One Matching program renamed Mentors for Youth
• Behavioural Counsellor added to Connections
• Peer review by AASCF November 2000
• HOMES implementation continues.

2001

• Program accreditation status renewed by AASCF to January 2005
• Kindergarten FSLW project January – June returns as Preschool Kindergarten FLW October 2001 – June 2002 end of term
• Behaviour Counsellor revamped to Behavioural Consultant September – June terms.
• add 1.5 FSW
• Kids in Motion/Kids in Play summer day camps.
• Coats for Kids
• Parent & Tot Program – Rolling Hills
• Youth Activity Nights begin at Griffin
• Local LINKS guide developed

2002

• Parent & Tot Program – add Bassano
• Kindergarten FLW to Grasslands in September
• KidLINKS Wednesday nights at Griffin Park gym

2003

• Behaviour Consultant position changes to Family School Liaison position in February
• Teen Kitchens are implemented by LINKS
• Little LINKS Activities added at Central School
• 25th Anniversary celebrations – park benches to commemorate anniversary
• First Community BBQ & Corn Roast
• Decrease FSLW positions by .5
• SPEC accepted as United Way member agency

 2004

• New funding toward staffing for more group programs increases Connection numbers
• Sears Young Futures begins funding support toward all community program areas

2005

• The Parent Link Center is initiated creating three new positions at SPEC
• SPEC officially becomes an Alberta’s Promise “Agency of Promise

2006

• Safe & Free Project kicks off
• Group program: Power to Parent (Dr. Gordon Neufeld) is implemented via Connections
• Double space in Community Cultural Centre 
• Begin “Canada Helps” On Line Donations

2007

• Provisional Membership approved by Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
• Daily After School Programming commences
• First Boys and Girls Club Summer Day Camp
• LINKS expands into Newcomer Services with funding from Citizenship and Immigration = 2.5 new staff
• Community Facility Enhancement Program grant approved for Facility Renovations

2008

• SPEC celebrates 30 Years in September 2008
• BGC After School expands to 30 spots/day

2009

• BGC After School expands to 60 spots/day
• PLC joins Facebook
• Purchased Van #1 when lease expired.
• Van #2 Leased
• $1.6 M over three years approved for new Connections Leadership & Resiliency Program.

2010

• Connections Leadership & Resiliency Program begins!
• Exterior Signage - SPEC visibility increases!
• Website Launch - ongoing construction...
• BGC After School expands to 60 spots/day
• LINKS joins Facebook
• Accreditation of Family Support Services to May 18, 2014
• Connections Family School Liaison Counsellor program moves to Grasslands Public Schools September 2010
  

2011

• Boys & Girls Club After School Programming becomes part of the parentLINKcentre and is renamed Kids Club
• Original SPEC Mentors for Youth program closes