Treatment Resources for NWT Children, Youth and Families

The following is a comprehensive list of all Northwest Territories and Out-Of-Territory Facility Treatment and Care Services for Children, Youth and Families, contracted by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Northwest Territories Child and Youth Treatment Programs

Out-of-Territory (OOT) Child, Youth

Family Treatment Programs

Northwest Territories Child and Youth Treatment Programs

Territorial Treatment Centre (TTC)  Intensive Residential Treatment Group Care Program (Yellowknife)

The TTC program provides services for children/youth between the ages of 8 and 12 years, who struggle with emotional, behavioural, and/or psychiatric difficulties. Programs are family-centered and delivered with the safety and well-being of the child/youth in mind with a high level of supervision.  TTC is managed by Unlimited Potential Community Services (UP Community Services).

The program integrates a multi-modal approach which is culturally sensitive and family-centered, encompassing assessment, intervention, education/training, skills development, relapse prevention. In the last two years the program has taken on a more supportive and inclusive approach to transitioning the child/youth and their families to life after treatment. Families are offered family counseling, parenting support and the ability to work with their child, alongside treatment staff, to provide in the moment skills teaching and support. Parents are also given support in developing plans for after discharge. As part of the transition back into their family and community, TTC staff will provide follow-up through phone conversations and face to face visits with the youth, caregiver and/or their family will occur whenever possible. Families are encouraged to contact the team at TTC, 24/7, to seek support through discussions around child/youth interventions, techniques, or to discuss available community support options.

Out-of-Territory (OOT) Child and Youth

The following guide is intended to provide Child and Family Services staff with a general description of Out-of-Territory Programs offered in the event where community resources are unable to meet the child/youth’s needs within the NWT. 

It is not intended to provide an exhaustive description of all programs, but as a tool to assist with the planning in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Services.  All referrals are vetted through the OOT screening committee at the Department of Health and Social Services and where the needs are ultimately matched with the appropriate OOT resource.  All children/youth accepted into the program must be in compliance with the Provincial/Territorial Protocol on Children, Youth and Families Moving Between Provinces and Territories, 2016.  In addition, each program is required to provide a cultural component within their programming to ensure cultural/spiritual identity and connections are maintained.

Catholic Social Services (Red Deer, AB)  

Residential – Group Care:  Supported living programs for male and female children/youth aged 12-18 years with developmental disabilities, mental health diagnoses and acquired brain injuries.  The primary focus of the program is to increase the capacity of children/youth to effectively manage social relationships, life skills, school participation and community integration.  Needs are typically complex and children/youth present with many challenges and at times, requiring 1:1 supervision and support.  These placements are primarily seen as an option for those whose needs cannot be met within existing resources and require longer term stabilization and permanency planning.

EXCEL Society (Edmonton, AB)

Residential and Support Home Services:  Long term supportive living homes within the context of a caregiver model for male and female children and youth who present with significant emotional or behavioral challenges, learning disabilities, cognitive/physical disabilities and mental health concerns which require specialized residential care.  This program is typically for long term placements where regular foster care services are unable to meet the complexity of care required.  EXCEL has not imposed an age limit on this program, however, it typically is for those between the ages of 12-18.  Children/youth will have access to full wrap around services and community supports such as education, psychology, medicine, dentistry, recreation, cultural connections or spiritual connectedness.

Parkland Community Living and Supports Society (C.L.A.S.S.) (Red Deer, AB) 

Supported Home Placement Program/Children’s Residential Program:   This program allows children and youth with disabilities to live in the home of an individual caregiver, family or within the context of a staffed model where other supportive living programs for children/youth may not be available.  Children in this program typically require out-of-home placement for various reasons including high behavioral needs, school attendance, family breakdown or chronic illness/medical needs secondary to their disability.   Needs are typically complex and present with many challenges and at times, requiring 1:1 supervision and support.  There is no set age limit for this program, although clients are typically within the range of 8-18 years of age and where the expected length of stay may entail several years.

PLEA Community Services (Vancouver, BC)

PLEA U-Turn: A specialized support model within the context of a family or caregiver supported by staff teams.  Services are provided to male and female children and youth, typically between the ages of 10-18 years with mental health issues, brain injuries, and developmental challenges.  This program is typically for long term placements where regular foster care services are unable to meet the complexity of care required.  Overarching goals include safety and stability, the building of effective relationships, the promotion of positive youth development and, where appropriate, strengthening family involvement.  Academic support and moving towards independence or semi-independence is also a focus.

Ranch Ehrlo Society (Regina, SK)  

Short term intensive treatment programs for male and female youth aged 12-16 years old (generally although could vary depending upon admissions committee) presenting with prenatal exposure to alcohol, childhood trauma, substance abuse, sexually intrusive behaviors, complex developmental needs, suicidal/self-harm behaviors, depression, anxiety, inattention/hyperactivity, language/speech/sensory integration issue or significant problems of conduct and behavior.    The length of treatment is typically between 18 months to 24 months and where family reunification is typically the goal following discharge.  The program is located 8kms east of Regina, SK at Pilot Butte, SK.

Woods Homes (Calgary, AB)

Catalyst Program:  This program is intended for males and females age 11-17 years with complex histories of health and trauma/maltreatment.  The goal of the program is to reduce high risk behaviors and increase coping and adaptive functioning in the following areas: emotional regulation, mental health and trauma knowledge, cognitive development, social competency and attachment.

Phoenix Program: This program is intended for males aged 12-17 years who have demonstrated sexually abusive behaviors and are usually identified by the criminal justice system or other social services agencies as posing a risk to their communities.  The program addresses sexual behaviors through enhancing self-esteem, emotional regulation/expression, pro-social sexual attitudes, healthy sexual interests, social relationships, parent-child communication/relationships, awareness of the impact of sexual offenders and increasing accountability for past sexual offending.  The development of sexual offense relapse prevention programs and support networks are key features of this program subsequent to an in-depth sexual behavior risk assessment.

Exceptional Needs Under 12 Program:  This program is designed for male and female children aged 6-12 years who are behaviorally at risk and whose needs cannot be managed in a less intrusive environment.  Presenting concerns are typically anger management, behavioral issues and school problems.  Circumstances/presenting issues may include maltreatment, trauma, domestic violence, mental health concerns and medical conditions.  The program seeks to identify and decrease behavioral difficulties, problematic family relation concerns and increase adaptive functioning.

The Temple Program: This program is intended for males and females aged 8 to 24 years who have complicated, serious, and often chronic mental health and medical issues that sometimes show damaging behaviors, both to themselves and others.  The behaviors and needs nay be so exceptional and complex that the youth may not fit within existing residential treatment models.

Family Treatment Programs

Ranch Ehrlo Society (Regina, SK)

Treatment program for parents and their children with the goal of improving family safety, family functioning and child well -being so families can remain together.  The Family Treatment Program provides services to the whole family to assist families to safely care for their children and prevent out-of-home placement, or to assist families to unite after having a child in care.  Parents and children need to have demonstrated that individual work has been completed prior to acceptance within the Family Treatment Program i.e.: individual counseling, addiction treatment or youth program prior to coming together as a family to receive services through a family treatment program.  The Family Treatment Programs are located in various residential homes within the city of Regina, SK.