WHAT WE DO

The Okotoks Partnership’s funding focus is building a stronger future for families in vulnerable situations by focusing on at risk families, youth and seniors.

A young female student came to St. Luke’s Outreach Centre at age 17 for one course. She came from a horribly abusive background, was couch surfing and presented a very low level of self esteem to the staff when she entered the program. She told staff that she could not feel love, not in either the giving or receiving of it, and had learned to simply go through the motions of life. Staff accompanied her to the urgent care facility after she cut herself badly and she was amazed at the calm and gentle support she received from the staff. The staff person explained to the student that they knew she did not cut herself because she wanted to die; she cut herself because she wanted to feel and St Luke’s was going to help her figure out how to do that. They found emergency funding, a place to live, connected her with Child and Family Services and eventually were successful in getting ongoing funding for the student. The student was supported through counselling, and assisted in finding a supportive family placement where she began to realize her true value and worth. Recently she celebrated a one year anniversary of her cessation of self harming, cutting and burning. She is now 18, in love and completed 15 credits in her most recent school semester with a 70% final grade in English 30 and 85% final grade in Science. She is a bright student and a joy to have in the school.
 - Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division, St. Luke’s Community Outreach Centre

2010 Funded Programs:

Family School Liaison Officer and Behaviour Education Support Team (Foothills School Division); Healthy Moms Healthy Babies; Family Support and Respite Program (Foothills SNAPS - Special Needs Association for Parents and Siblings); Foothills Community Immigrant Services - Okotoks Centre (Calgary Catholic Immigration Society); Family School Liaison Officer and St. Lukes' Outreach Centre (Christ the Redeemer Catholic School Division)

Members of the Okotoks partnership committee include:

Chair: Karla Fitzgerald
Karen Love    
Sharon Rae    
David Fitzgerald   
Lisa Mahar-Wieser
Cheryl Martin
Anna McFadyen
Sharon Hudspeth
Deanna Pound-Whiting
Debbie Posey, Town of Okotoks

For more information, contact the United Way/Okotoks Partnership:

P.O. Box 544
Okotoks, AB T1S 1A7
T. (403) 938-8935
F. (403) 938-8934
E. unitedway@okotoks.ca