Connections for Families Society

Empowering Parents, Strengthening Families  

Connections is a one-of-a-kind Calgary based agency committed to empowering parents with cognitive disabilities, guided by the belief that every parent has the right to raise their children with confidence and care. For more than 35 years, we’ve worked alongside parents with developmental disabilities, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and acquired brain injuries, offering a continuum of services that meet families where they are and support their journey toward stability, independence, and resilience.

Providing support to keep a family stable and successful costs less than $10,000 per year. In contrast, the cumulative cost of child welfare intervention, court involvement, and foster care can exceed $750,000 per family. A small investment in support makes a profound difference, both for families and for our community. 

$50 provides two hours of hands-on parenting coaching in a family’s home

$75 funds one Cooking Group parenting education session, feeding 20 clients and giving parents access to shared learning and positive relationships

$100 supports a counselling session for one of our parents struggling with mental health concerns and the impacts of trauma

$500 enables Connections to provide important Non-Violent Crisis Intervention training to our committed staff, ensuring they are equipped to support our families in stressful situations

$1000 keeps one of our dedicated staff members on the road in the community for 3 months, meeting a family in their home regularly and connecting them to critical community resources

Keeping families strong, together, and raising their children is always the best outcome. Together, we can strengthen our community and create meaningful change where it’s needed most.

How Your Support Makes a Difference 

Your generosity fuels the delivery and expansion of programs that support parents and children living with cognitive disabilities, helping them access the resources, opportunities and support they need. 
 
Parenting Education: Hands-on programs focus on developing parenting skills and household management strategies to create safe, nurturing homes and meet their children’s needs with confidence.
 
Individualized Family Support: Families receive one-on-one consistent, personalized visits from trained team members who walk alongside them as they learn, grow and navigate challenges.
 
Group-Based Parenting Education and Support: Group programs provide hands-on opportunities to build essential skills and help clients form supportive networks which reduce isolation and strengthen their resilience. 
 
Counseling Services: When emotional or mental health needs arise, counseling is provided based on assessed individual or family needs, strengthening long-term stability and overall well-being. 
 
Financial Coaching Support: Personalized financial coaching provides families with individualized guidance, practical budgeting and money management skills, and support in accessing benefits and community resources. These tools help reduce financial stress, break cycles of financial hardship, and build a stronger, more secure foundation for the future.