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“There may be changes within the system, but I can’t continue to do the same thing that we’ve always done because we’ve always done it that way,” Schulz said.

The government currently spends about $77 million annually on these prevention services, which she hopes to reduce to about $65 million with the changes.

On Thursday, the ministry will open up a call for “expressions of interest” for organizations to bid on offering the services for a three-year span as part of a new provincial network that takes effect April 1, 2020.

Uncertainty for parent link programs

Adine Shuchuk is executive director of the Jasper Place Family Resource Centre in Edmonton, which runs the West Edmonton Parent Link Centre. In addition to parent education, the centre runs playgroups to aid child development and build social networks for parents, she said. They gather clothes and other supplies to help meet families’ basic needs, and refer parents to other agencies for additional help.

“Everyone’s feeling a little nervous and threatened right now,” Shuchuk said on Tuesday.

The centre has run a parent link program for 13 years, and plans to apply to continue offering the service, she said. But the change means time spent preparing applications, and questions whether they’ll be expected to offer similar services for less money.

It could be problematic if the government switches organizations in a region, she said.

“I think you would lose a lot of families. It takes a lot of time to build that trust and consistency.”