On November 8, 2010, the Northwest Central Alberta FASD Network became incorporated as a registered Society in Alberta was assigned a Federal CRA number. Becoming an incorporated not-for-profit entity is one way that the Network demonstrates its commitment to community transparency and accountability.
- Why did the agency form?
- The agency formed in response to the Alberta Government’s call for FASD supports and services across the province, a call that was housed under a grant by the Ministry of Seniors, Community, and Social Services and advised by a Cross Ministry Team as part of a 10-year Strategic Plan on FASD.
- Why change the name?
- The agency felt the original name (Northwest Central Alberta FASD Network) was too geographic specific, as they have programs outside the network region, predominately Edmonton. There was also a lot of confusion with other FASD networks with similar names. The agency inherited the name and did not feel it was their own.
- After a beloved team member passed away in 2023, staff wanted to do something to honour him and keep him with the network. Rod Freeman’s spirit animal is the bear which we use on our new logo. We chose the willow to represent the resiliency of our clients and it is a traditional Indigenous healing medicine. We chose the wind to represent the multidirectional, wrap around supports our services provide our clients, hence Willow Winds Support Network was born.
- How has the network expanded coverage?
- We provide services in our network region which spans from Jasper to Waskatenau, and up to the Slave Lake area and includes seven first nation’s communities. We provide the WRaP program in the schools in Edmonton and the In Reach program to provincial and federal corrections facilities in Edmonton and to Grande Cache Institution.
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