The Foothills AIM Society is weeks away from resolving a major space crunch in Okotoks that forced it to stop accepting new clients earlier this year.
The society will move into its operations in town to the Okotoks Business Park early next month, allowing it to lift an intake freeze put in place six months ago.
AIM supports adults with developmental disabilities, helping them to find work in the community, take part in fitness activities and live independently or with respite support. Most of their clients are people who have come out of the school system and require continued support.
Gerry McCallum, AIM Society executive director, said the society has far outgrown its Okotoks office. The new 4,500-square-foot building on Stockton Avenue will be almost three-times the size of the society’s current home on Elma Street.
“We’re jammed in there, this new building will give people a chance to spread out a bit,” said McCallum.
Moving day is Aug. 8. He said they will need some time to settle in, but they should be able to re-open Okotoks intake sometime in September or October.
The building will have offices and general space for clients. He said most of their clients are okay in tight quarters, but some are better with a little more space, so the new home will be better.
McCallum said the AIM has seen a dramatic rise in demand for its services in Okotoks and area. The society opened an office in Okotoks in 2005 and it was slow for the first several years. The Okotoks office serves Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Longview and surrounding rural area, as well as a few clients from south Calgary.
The society currently has 46 clients in Okotoks, almost double what it was five years ago, said Brad Fowler, Okotoks manager.
He said they were getting one referral per month before they had to close intake.
Fowler said they should be able to re-open intake sometime in September or October.
“I think we just need a month to get set up there,” he said.
AIM also helps with work placement for clients and provide social and recreation programs. The society’s job coaches work with clients helping them find jobs, and in some cases, being with them at their work.
It currently has people in 39 work/volunteer positions in Okotoks, up from 18 a year ago.
Fowler said employers have been supportive of their work.
“There’s so much available in Okotoks right now,” he said.
The society also runs a care-provider program with live-in caregivers for people living in Okotoks with family or roommates, as well as outreach workers for people who live on their own.
“That way people can still live independently and that little bit of support we give them makes them more successful and they can maintain that longer,” said Fowler.
McCallum said the society is also looking for people who may want to be live-in caregivers for clients.
“What would be is where an individual or their family would invite someone into their home to live with them and become a family member,” he said.
Caregivers must also pass a criminal record and police record check and it has to be a good fit.
“When it really works, it works fantastic, but there are some people where it takes some time to find the perfect fit,” he said.
Anyone interested can contact the society at faims.org
