Alberta organization that supports families navigating divorce faces funding shortfall

The Next Chapter Society has helped thousands of Albertans work through separation for almost 30 years.

But now the organization says it needs $250,000 to continue functioning.

The organization offers group support in dealing with trauma and parenting through divorce and separation.

Executive director Wil Kunyk said that as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased, more families pursued separation, leading to Next Chapter's quadrupling waitlist. Kunyk said at least 50 people will be left waiting as support is paused in light of the funding challenges. 

"We're seeing a lot of families who really stuck it through during the pandemic because they didn't know what was going to happen," Kunyk told CBC on Wednesday. 

The organization runs different programs, including eight-week group sessions that can only accommodate 10 people at a time due to the often heavy subject matter that is discussed by participants.  

Kunyk said they have encountered difficulties obtaining grants.

"A lot of companies who offer community grants don't want their company tied with anything that relates to divorce or separation because it has such a negative stigma around it," they said.   

"We have been applying for any open funding that we can find and have been unsuccessful in securing it. So that is why we're turning to the community to try and find support to keep our doors open."

Katherine Topolniski completed the eight-week program in early April. She said it helped her escape her isolation by being in the company of other people going through separation. 

"My experience of the program was that I didn't feel alone, I didn't feel so alienated ... I could see other women and people that were going through the same experience, which was enormously helpful for my sense of hope and motivation to keep going and not giving up," Topolniski said. 

"It really honoured the messiness and the challenge and the complexity of going through separation, especially with children." 

Kunyk said if adequate funding is not secured in time, the organization will have to end operations by the end of June. The society will be pursuing all potential sources of funding, including private donors and government grants.

The organization operates in more than 65 communities across the province.