Town discussing whether to renew local Social Prescribing Grant program

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Town of Strathmore council resumed discussions regarding the Social Prescribing Grant program, and whether to approve its continuation from October 2025 until September 2028. 

The currently approved and existing program is due to expire in September, and while Healthy Aging Alberta has secured partial funding for the program to continue, it will require a financial commitment from the grantee in order to resume. 

Town administration has partnered with Wheatland Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) to provide additional financial support for the program in order to aid with long-term sustainability. 

The Social Prescribing Grant Program is a holistic approach to health which is to bridge the gap between medical and community social care services. It is based on an understanding that 80 per cent of a person’s health depends on social determinants such as adequate food, housing, income, and relationships with others.  

Health care professionals are able to refer patients to community-based programs to improve their overall health and aim to increase their quality of life through social prescribing. A key component of this is a link worker, who is a non-clinical professional employed by a community organization. 

Beginning in October 2023, the existing Social Prescribing grant program was fully funded through Calgary United Way and Healthy Aging Alberta.

Thus far, only the first year of the three-year program extension has seen funding able to be secured. 

Social Prescribing began in Strathmore in January 2024. Over the past year, the local program has received 60 referrals and supported 42 clients in Strathmore, as well as 12 in Wheatland County. Currently, there are 37 active local clients. 

Specific support provided to clients included, but was not limited to, securing stable and safe housing for 21 clients, reducing isolation for 30 clients, and connection to mental health resources for 32 clients.

Financial participation from the Town of Strathmore is proposed to be $65,450 over the three-year term. Wheatland FCSS has already committed $28,500 to support the program. 

The total yearly average for staffing costs, travel commitments and other related administration is estimated to be $85,000 per year, with a large majority of that coming from Healthy Aging Alberta and the Calgary United Way.

Coun. Melissa Langmaid inquired during the presentation regarding the program, if it were to cease to exist in Strathmore, where there would suddenly be gaps in service for former clients relying on the program. 

“Social isolation supports around physical literacy and resource navigation, and also transportation would be another big one, and just having the ability to view an apartment that might be available for rent, being taken to the food bank picking up supplies for a week, and what we found before this position was started, those gaps have been closed up,” said Budd Brazier, manager with the Town of Strathmore who presented the program renewal before council. “The supports and the outcomes from the position itself supporting local seniors, it has been a big benefit to the 42 folks residing in the Town of Strathmore.”

Coun. Brent Wiley expressed concern regarding the time sensitivity of the grant process, inquiring whether this would be a decision able to be deferred by council to a later date. 

Brazier clarified Calgary United Way would be looking for a decision to be presented to them by Town of Strathmore administration by the end of June.

Administration was directed to gather additional information on the social prescribing grant program, specifically regarding opportunities to advance alternative perspectives for the funding from October 2025 to 2028, and to present this information at the June 4 regular meeting of council.