With the Cochrane Cares Community review taking place, another component is coming.

Focus groups will be meeting to engage community members in a dialogue leading to a richer understanding of social, recreational, and health needs in Cochrane.

Kim Krawec, Western Rocky View Parent Link Centre, Coordinator, and Cindy Adekat, Family Community Support Services, Coordinator, says it is just another tool to access information from the community.

"To gather their thoughts around what is working well and what challenges there are for individuals residing in Cochrane and for those individuals living rurally that are also accessing our programming."

The four focus groups will cover seniors, housing, community at large, and youth needs. The ladies are hoping people open up to discuss the positives and deficiencies in services the Cochrane community provides.

"The purpose of the focus group is to dive a little deeper and to generate some perhaps more rich conversation, around specific issues or concerns, or even what is working well to get that richer feedback from the community."

The focus groups will be run by a facilitator and supported by FCSS staff to help guide the conversation and discussion. These reviews are extremely important, the last one was done in 2009 and needs have changed greatly with Cochrane's population surge.

"It is an opportunity to have your perspective heard, to share your story, as well as to contribute to the direction of the community over the next several years."

The process will take a couple hours for each focus group, you can find details of dates and locations here, and FCSS is hoping people call 403-851-2250 to RSVP.