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Wednesday, March 1, 2017
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Youth treatment centre welcomed by officials BY ERIN FAWCETT Express staff
Local officials say the addition of an eight-bed safe house for children with drug and alcohol addictions in Central Alberta is welcome news to the community. It was recently announced the design phase was beginning for a new $7.3-million, eight-bed safe house for children with drug and alcohol addictions in Central Alberta. “Mostly whenever we see money come into the community that is to help with the addiction issues that are occurring, along with homelessness and mental health, we’re happy to hear that somebody is paying attention to that,” said Kath Hoffman, executive director of the Safe Harbour Society. “I think the government in particular is really paying attention to this crisis that we have. Those youth definitely need those sup-
ports and resources wrapped around them. If that means we are going to increase that in this community, I’m all for it.” Christine Stewart, programs manager with McMan Youth Family and Community Services Association, said the announcement is good news for the community. For the last 10 years Red Deer has had five beds available via the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs program. “Alberta Health Services owns the PChAD program and McMan is subcontracted to provide the 24/7 care and behaviour management and Alberta Health Services provides the addiction counselling piece of it.” Stewart added currently, they have the ability to take five youth for 10 days. However, sometimes extensions to a stay are granted. “Oftentimes there is a wait list. We gets kids from all over the province because Edmonton
SPIKE! - Ty Moorman, centre, of the Red Deer College Kings went up for a spike during ACAC championship quarterfinal action against the NAIT Ooks in the RDC gym. The Kings went on to win their second straight ACAC championship. See our full story on page 18. Zachary Cormier/Red Deer Express
and Calgary stay pretty full with people from their own communities. Sometimes we get a lull but this last (year) has been very, very full.” Stewart said they see youth between the ages of 12-18. The youngest client they have had stay was 11-years-old. She added they used to see youth who were using primarily marijuana, but now they are seeing youth come in who are addicted to meth, Oxycontin and other drugs.
Meanwhile, officials have said counselling and health services at the new facility will support about 170 children and their families annually. The new facility will replace a five-bed facility that treats 100 youth each year. Addictions treatment and counselling is provided to the youth by Alberta Health Services clinical staff. Support programs at the site also include life skills training, behaviour management and re-
lationship building. Counsellors link the children to community services for follow-up care once they are released. “Getting children and teens on the path to recovery can require a broad spectrum of services and in some cases, it is most appropriate to be delivered in a specialized facility. This expansion of services in Red Deer will provide additional supports for children and teens in Central Alberta,” said Dwight Hunks, executive direc-
tor of Addictions and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services Central Zone. A Request for Proposal for a prime consultant for the facility was issued Feb. 24th. The successful candidate will design the new facility and plan for the demolition of the current one. The competition will close March 10th. Construction times and a completion date will be determined through the tender process. efawcett@reddeerexpress.com
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