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.

Out-of-Territory (OOT) Child, 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.

Parkland Community Living and Supports Society

Location: Red Deer, Alberta

Phone: 403-347-3333

Parkland Community Living and Supports Society provides a home-like atmosphere for children who require permanent out-of-home placement for a variety of reasons including lack of school attendance, family breakdown or chronic illness and high needs. This specialized service provides housing and accommodation, combined with personal support staff. Children have the opportunity to grow and experience success in a safe and healthy environment conducive to learning.

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 8-10 years of age.

PLEA Community Services

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Phone: 604-871-0450

PLEA Community Services offers a specialized support model within the context of a family or caregiver model supported by staff. Services are provided to youth typically between the ages of 10-18 years who are facing significant behavioral and developmental challenges. U-Turn is designed especially for those who have had limited success in other residential settings.

This program’s 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.

U-Turn tailors the services provided according to each youth’s individual strengths, needs, circumstances and goals, while providing each youth with a safe, nurturing, staff-supported family home coupled with the 1:1 support of a youth worker.

Catholic Social Services

Location: Red Deer, Alberta

Phone: 780-352-5535

Catholic Social Services offers supported living programs for children and 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 and youth to effectively manage social relationships, life skills, school participation and community integration.

Catholic Social Services offers support in private homes or community-based settings that recognize the importance of family; be it biological, adopted, foster, or extended Families (unless clearly contraindicated) are included in every aspect of the child’s care from admission through all stages of life.

This specialized service supports needs that are typically complex for children and youth who present many challenges and may require 1:1 supervision and support due to unique needs with the goal of developing long-term stabilization.

EXCEL Society

Location: Edmonton, Alberta

Excel Society supports, houses, and enriches the lives of people with complex mental health needs and disabilities. Supportive living homes are provided within the context of a caregiver model for children and youth under the age of 19 who present with significant emotional or behavioural challenges, learning disabilities, cognitive/physical disabilities and mental health concerns which require specialized residential care.

Excel provides support and guidance to children, some with developmental disabilities and/or complex needs including challenging behaviours and significant mental health needs.

Youth are provided with support 24 hours a day and receive support based on their unique needs such as: learning functional communication skills, life skills, addressing behavioural issues, and enhancing reading and writing skills. Children/youth will have access to full wrap around services and community supports including education, psychology, medicine, dentistry, recreation, cultural connections or spiritual connectedness and support, healthy living routines, community inclusion, positive behaviour support, communication development, life skills and personal living skills.

Woods Homes

Location: Calgary, Alberta

Phone: 403-270-4102

Phoenix 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.

Ranch Ehrlo Society (Family Treatment Program)

Location: Regina, Fort Qu’Appelle and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Phone: 306-781-1800

Ranch Ehrlo Society provides specialized service 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 serves the whole family to assist families to safely care for their children and prevent out-of-home placements, or to assist families to reunify after having a child in a protection placement. Parents and children need to have demonstrated that individual work has been completed prior to acceptance within the family specialized service i.e.: individual counselling or addiction treatment prior to coming together as a family to receive services through a family treatment program. Families reside in individual units located throughout the cities of Regina, Fort Qu’Appelle, and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and the children are integrated into local community schools.

Ranch Ehrlo Society (Family Centred Addiction Program)

Location: MooseJaw, Saskatchewan

Phone: 306-781-1800

The Family Centred Addiction Program, based out of Moose Jaw, is an innovative addictions treatment program that supports not only the individual struggling with substance misuse but also their immediate family.

Families in the program have their own apartment, within a secure facility, which offers 24/7 on-site staff support. Individuals entering recovery attend daily structured programming that combines a holistic treatment approach, not only achieving sobriety and relapse prevention, but also supporting these individuals in understanding areas such as trauma, mental health, and co-dependency.

Programming will also be offered to the children and youth that are being impacted by parental substance abuse on a weekly basis. Highly trained staff will provide daily support in the family homes to assist in relationship building, parenting skills, and overall positive family functioning.

Ranch Ehrlo Society: Youth Group Living Programs

Location: Pilot Butte, Regina, Saskatoon, and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

Website: https://ehrlo.com/residential-programs/residential-youth-care

Phone: 306-781-1800

This service is for youth aged 10-18 years old presenting with prenatal exposure to alcohol, sexually intrusive behaviours, childhood trauma, substance abuse, language/speech/sensory, depression, anxiety, inattention/hyperactivity, integration issue or significant problems of conduct and behaviour.

This specialized service incorporates residential services, clinical treatment, education, daily life skills, community/family connectedness, community involvement, vocational/education skills, and recreation. Youth are supervised 24 hours a day and every activity are focused on achieving the best outcome for youth. The length of this specialized service is usually between 8-12 months. Family and community reunification is typically the goal following discharge.