The Calder Centre Youth
Program is a 12-bed inpatient treatment program that provides stabilization
services to adolescents and families with chemical dependency
issues. Calder Centre is a safe, inviting facility that affords
youth and families an opportunity to evaluate the impact chemical
dependency has had on their lives, identify their strengths
and begin implementing changes that will contribute to a positive
recovery lifestyle in the community. As chemical dependency
is known to impact negatively on many aspects of the individuals
life, a multi-disciplinary approach is used to address family,
school, employment, medical, emotional, behavioral, leisure/recreational,
spiritual, and inter-personal relationship issues. Program
objectives include:
The program is based on a four-week stay, but offers flexibility
to abbreviate, or extend the length of stay depending on the
individual’s needs. Comprehensive screening and ongoing
assessment is conducted to ensure individualized treatment
plans are developed to meet the specific needs of each youth.
An extensive amount of information is covered to target multiple
facets of the adolescents’ lives. This includes education
and discussions about core addiction, the effects of alcohol
and other drug abuse; vocational and/or educational needs;
recreational and leisure activities; life skills; emotion management;
coping strategies; information about medical issues, such as
HIV, other Blood Born Pathogens, STD, FAS/FAE and birth control;
cultural and spiritual resources; impact of addiction on the
family; direct feedback that address unhealthy behaviors; and
exploration of appropriate self help programs.
A variety of therapeutic approaches and philosophies are implemented
into service delivery which include: Competency Based; Brief
Solution Focused; Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-behavioral,
Aboriginal Healing Practices, Transtheoretical Model of Change;
Reality Therapy; Recreation Therapy; Art Therapy; Drama Therapy
and Outward Bound Activities. Expression of spiritual and cultural
beliefs and participating in activities associated with these
is strongly encouraged. The 12 step programs are strongly endorsed
and available to all clients. Youth are orientated to these
programs and educated on benefits they have to offer. There
is a significant emphasis placed on family involvement and
developing a community recovery plan that identifies a variety
community based-based programs and activities to support their
recovery in the community.
The other youth program offered at Calder is the 6 bed voluntary detox/stabilization program. The program length is approximately 7-10 days in duration and assists youth age 12-17 to stabilize from the physical, emotional, social and spiritual consequences of substance abuse. The hope is that the youth will begin to gain insight and awareness into their substance use and related behaviors. One of the most critical goals is to help youth make supportive community contacts while they are in the program. Some of the youth that seek out this service have no formal contact with community supports and we will work with the youth to establish a plan to continue services when they transfer from our program.
Much like the treatment program we use a multidisciplinary approach to address the complex needs of the youth. We have a Social Worker, Licensed Practical Nurses and Addiction Counsellors involved with youth developing therapeutic alliances and delivering programming. These disciplines provide individual counseling, medical assessments, and psycho-educational workshops to assist with craving management and stress management. Psychological and Psychiatric servcies are also involved when concurrent issues are indentified and youth require additional support and/or assessment.
