For applications, please contact Alexis Forbes at Alexis@caunitedway.ca

The Outreach Centre Announces Organizational Updates to Strengthen Long-Term Community Impact

RED DEER, Alberta – The Outreach Centre is announcing several organizational updates designed to strengthen the organization's long-term sustainability while ensuring uninterrupted support for the individuals and families it serves.

As community needs continue to evolve and funding environments change, The Outreach Centre has taken thoughtful steps to position the organization for continued success. These decisions reflect a commitment to responsible stewardship, operational efficiency, and maintaining consistent, high-quality services for the community.

Among these changes, the Tools for School program will return to United Way beginning this year. Originally established by United Way and delivered in partnership with The Outreach Centre, the program will continue providing essential school supplies to local students and families under United Way's leadership. "This transition creates an opportunity to strengthen and expand the community partnerships that make Tools for School possible," said Chelsea O'Donoghue. CEO of United Way Central Alberta. "By bringing together schools, social service agencies, donors, volunteers, and corporate partners, we'll continue to ensure families have access to the supplies they need and students start the school year with confidence. We thank The Outreach Centre for its years of leadership in delivering the program and look forward to continuing this important work alongside our many community partners."

"Our commitment to this community has never wavered," said Laura Cowell, Executive Director of The Outreach Centre. "These decisions allow us to continue serving individuals and families responsibly while supporting our dedicated staff and ensuring our organization remains strong for the future. Our focus continues to be on delivering the high-quality services our community depends on every day."

As part of its long-term sustainability strategy, The Outreach Centre will also relocate this fall to Youth HQ at the Social Impact Centre, formerly known as the Professional Building, across from City Hall. The move, scheduled for the week of September 14, will create new opportunities for collaboration while reducing operational costs and ensuring resources

remain focused on direct service delivery. The office will be temporarily closed during the move.

“Youth HQ’s Centre for Social Impact (CSI) is thrilled to add The Outreach Centre to our building and to our family of service providers working together in the Centre to more effectively create greater impact of the those who live in Central Alberta”, says Rob Lewis, Executive Director of Youth HQ. “The Outreach Centre does amazing work in our community, and we look forward to supporting each other as Social Impact agencies to collaboratively better serve our citizens.”

"The Board of Directors is committed to ensuring The Outreach Centre remains a stable and sustainable organization for the long term," said Gillian Goheen-Smith, President of the Board of Directors. "These strategic decisions position the organization to continue delivering exceptional service while adapting to the changing needs of our community. We are confident in the direction of the organization and fully support the work of our leadership team and staff."

Aside from the transition of the Tools for School program back to United Way, all other programs and services will continue without interruption. Clients can expect the same dedicated staff, compassionate support, and commitment to excellence that have defined The Outreach Centre for years.

"The work we do is about people," added Cowell. "While our location is changing, our mission is not. Our clients, community partners, staff, volunteers, donors, and supporters can be confident that The Outreach Centre will continue to provide the trusted services and compassionate care they have come to expect."

The organization will celebrate this new chapter by hosting a community Open House at its new location this fall. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Adopt-A-Family supports vulnerable families all year, and especially during the holiday season. The program focuses on single parent families. who require extra help to provide for their family.

Through your donations, The Outreach Centre provides gift cards to families in central Alberta, empowering parents and caregivers to buy what they know they need for their families.

Each year, the Adopt-a-Family program is met with great need, and we do not expect this year to be any different.

If you require assistance from our Adopt a Family program, please fill out and send in the application form below.

How can you help?

1. Become a Sponsor or Donate Online.
2. Donate any amount by mail or phone.
3. Sponsor a small, medium, large or extra large family (see Sponsorship Application package below).
4. Purchase gift cards for the families we support. Gift cards can be dropped off at The Outreach Centre.

We work closely with the Christmas Bureau, Red Deer Food Bank and the Salvation Army to ensure that families in need are supported and that there is no duplication of services.

To apply for Adopt a Family, please fill out the 2025 application form below.

To donate by mail, please send a cheque or money order payable to Outreach Society to:

The Outreach Centre

4101 – 54 Avenue

Red Deer, Alberta

T4N 7G3

To donate over the phone, please call 403.347.2480.

Thank you for your support!

Intimate Partner Violence Support

The Domestic Violence Outreach program offers support to individuals leaving or experiencing domestic abuse. This program can be a source of short-term support as individuals seek information and make healthy choices. The focus is safety, connection to resources, information, and education related to domestic abuse and breaking the cycle of violence.

The outreach team provides case management services to individuals who have experienced domestic abuse or family violence, either in the community or transitioning from a shelter. While everyone’s experiences are unique, services may include:

1. case management
2. risk assessment
3. safety planning
4. addressing basic needs
5. advocacy and referrals
6. education and prevention
7. individual support
8. provide info on housing resources
9. provide info on legal resources/options in the community
10. supporting individuals to connect with appropriate resources

Our goal is to ensure anyone living in or leaving an abusive relationships has access to someone who can respond to their crisis and support them.

If you would like more information regarding IPV support and/or be connected to an Outreach Worker please call 403-347-2480.

Domestic Abuse Response Team

The Domestic Abuse Response Team is intended to focus not only on immediate crisis needs of families, but provide early intervention and ongoing support to help individuals and families avoid reaching further crisis.

A partnership between Red Deer Regional Hospital Emergency Department and The Outreach Centre that focuses on the prevention of further victimization, decreases utilization of healthcare services, and encourages survivors of violence to seek supports needed to make positive changes in their lives and the lives of their children.

Referrals to DART are ONLY through the Emergency Department of Red Deer Regional Hospital.

DART staff will:

1. provide patient with crisis intervention
2. provide patient with domestic violence information
3. assess further immediate risk of domestic violence
4. develop a 24 hour safety plan (including accommodations)
5. discuss patient safety upon discharge from the Emergency Department
6. upon consent follow up with patient the following business day

If you would like more information regarding the DART team, domestic violence support and/or be connected to an Outreach Worker please call 403-347-2480.

For more information:

Call The Outreach Centre at 403.347.2480

Scattered Site Housing Team

The scattered site housing team will assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness to secure and maintain long-term housing. They can provide tools to remove barriers causing homelessness and assist people with gaining a sense of hope and safety while maintaining permanent housing. The program will provide case management to individuals and families.

If you are experiencing homelessness and your name is not on a lease and you need case management please call Coordinated Entry to complete an intake. Once an assessment is completed you will be matched with an appropriate housing program based on your needs including the Outreach Centre housing team.

Coordinated Entry:

Safe Harbour 403-347-0181

Red Deer Native Friendship Centre: 403-340-0020

Housing Outreach

Intake process

Walk in Clients at the Outreach Centre complete a pre-intake form allowing us to identify their immediate needs. Once we have assessed the concerns, they would be referred with the appropriate outreach worker.

Housing

If housing is a concern for you we will evaluate your situation and if you meet the criteria for the Red Deer Housing Team you will do a housing assessment by our partner agency (Safe Harbour Society). If you qualify you will meet with one of the Housing Team to start working on finding suitable housing. If the criteria is not met we will supply a Housing package and some support may be available.

Rural Outreach

Rural Outreach brings the programs that we have available to the individual communities within Central Alberta. The Outreach Centre works with the individual communities providing access to information, advocacy, education and referrals. Our aim is to provide rural residents one to one support that helps individuals identify internal strengths and coping skills as well as external resources if needed.

Personal care program

Our personal care program consists of basic products for our existing clients, our staff will assess their needs on an individual basis and help with supplying products for them.

Homeless Prevention Program

Homeless Prevention Program serves those individuals and families who are at risk of losing their home or have been homeless for a short time. This program is a rapid response intervention providing support to stop an eviction or disconnection notice. It is a one-time assistance program to be used as a last resort once all other options have been explored. The program may help secure new housing if the current housing cannot be saved.

Please find the application on the Outreach Centre website under housing. Supporting documents will be reviewed to determine eligibility. If the program is full or backed up the city has two other prevention programs that can be accessed including Shinning Mountains or Native Friendship Centre.

To apply for this program, fill out the application form below. Completed forms can be submitted to: tamara@caoutreach.ca. You will be contacted by our Prevention Support Worker.

Please note that this process is dependent on your unique circumstance, with priority given to supporting people with imminent evictions or disconnections.

The Safe Visitation Program

The Outreach Centre offers on-site Supervised Visitation Services for Central Alberta

families who have experienced family violence.

Who is eligible?

1. children and their non-custodial biological parent
2. children impacted by family violence
3. children living in central Alberta
4. children who have a pre-existing relationship with their non-custodial parent

What to expect:

1. Each family is eligible for one 1.5-hour visit per week or bi-weekly
2. Scheduled visits are held on Friday evenings or Sundays.
3. Only children currently residing in the same household and their biological parent will be permitted to enter the visitation environment.

Program Hours

Wednesday 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Friday 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Sunday 10:30 AM – 5:30PM

Please be aware:

1. This service is for the sole purpose of maintaining a relationship between non-custodial parents and their children.
2. This service does not include parenting assessments, clinical treatment, mediation or monthly reporting.

For more information or to apply for the Safe Visitation Program, call the Program Coordinator directly at 403-347-2480 ext. 120

The Monitored Exchange Program

The Outreach Centre offers on-site safe, secure and contact-free transfers of children between separated parents where direct contact between parents is prohibited, or no contact is requested by the parents.

Who is eligible?

1. children living in central Alberta
2. children impacted by family violence or domestic disharmony
3. children who have been exposed to violent or threatening interactions between caregivers
4. children whose parents have no contact conditions or protection orders between them

Program Hours

Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Wednesday 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Friday 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Sunday 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Please be aware

1. This service does not include parenting assessments, clinical treatment, mediation or monthly reporting.

For more information or to apply for the Monitored Exchange Program, call the Program Coordinator directly at 403-347-2480 ext. 120

Julietta’s Place is an 18th month Second Stage Transitional housing for women and Children who are fleeing from Domestic Violence. It is a sober living facility.

Case Management

Women and children are required to Connect with the Domestic Violence Case worker and Youth Case Worker to participate in one to one support along with group programming. Case Managers will provide referrals and resources within the community for wrap around supports as well to best support the individual and families.

Groups

The team at Julietta’s place facilitate a number of groups that women are required to participate in, focusing on Parenting, Budgeting, Women’s Empowerment, Safety Planning and wellness.

Group Child Care and Respite Care

Child care is available during schedule group times to provide child care to children while women participate in group programming. Respite Child care is also available for community appointments and time for self-care.

In Memory of Julietta Sorensen

Julietta Sorensen was a long time resident of Red Deer, Together with her husband Gordon, they operated what is now Prairie Bus Lines and were pioneers in the early delivery of a transit system to the City of Red Deer. Julietta was respected and well known for her kind and compassionate heart, as she generously gave of herself to help others. This often meant, especially during wartime, opening her home to strangers seeking shelter and a hot meal. Julietta Sorensen passed away in April 2004, at 96 years of age.

Shoestring Furniture Depot & Moving Services

403.391.8675

shoestring@caoutreach.ca

WHO WE ARE

The Shoestring Furniture Depot & Moving Services is a program that is proudly run through The Outreach Centre. This program offers household furniture to those in need, who are connected with an agency for support. The program is available to anyone in need who requires support getting back on their feet.

WHAT WE DO

1. MOVES (home or office) – Leave the heavy lifting to us!
2. FURNITURE DELIVERIES – Need a piece of furniture or something else picked up or delivered to you? No problem!
3. FURNITURE DONATION PICK-UPS – Looking at changing your style? We will happily take your old stuff! Don’t forget to ask us about a charitable donation receipt.
4. DUMP RUNS – Get that unwanted stuff out of your way!

WE HAVE FURNITURE TOO!

1. Couches
2. Tables
3. Beds
4. Home decor
5. Living room must haves
6. Linens Dishes & utensils
7. Kitchen essentials
8. Dressers, stands, end tables
9. New & gently used mattresses
10. Bed frames Electronics

CONTACT US

SHOESTRING WAREHOUSE

500, 6143 – 48 Avenue

Red Deer, AB T4N 5Z9

403.391.8675

shoestring@caoutreach.ca

Community Helpers Program

The Community Helpers Program is designed for adults who naturally provide support for people. CHP is excellent for parents, caregivers, coaches, teachers and more. This program offers mental health awareness and suicide prevention training – equipping participants with essential skills to effectively support peers, loved ones, and themselves.

Why Attend?

1. Comprehensive Training: Gain practical skills to help others navigate mental health challenges, including knowing when and how to connect with professional resources.
2. Flexible Format: Complete the 6-hour training in a format that suits you—one full day, two half-days or three 2-hour sessions. Available both in-person and online. We also offer in-school learning where we deliver the modules over a semester.
3. Interactive Learning: Engage in 9 core modules with interactive discussions, activities and real-world scenarios on topics like understanding suicide, ethical helping, self-care, setting boundaries and learning about community resources.
4. Certificate: Earn an official AHS certificate upon completion for your resume & professional development records.
5. Tailored Support: We can customize the program to address specific needs with our additional 9 modules which cover topics such as Stress and Coping, Grief and Loss and Healthy Relationships.

“In every community, there are people to whom others naturally turn when they need help. People of all walks of life and ages; they demonstrate compassion, care and empathy.”

If you are interested in expanding your natural helping abilities outside of any posted training dates, please contact Dawne at 403.347.2480 or dawne@caoutreach.ca