FASD Support and Resources in Alberta

Woods Homes [Calgary, Parkdale, Lethbridge, Bow Valley, Wheatland County +]

Description:
"What began as an orphanage, in 1914, has grown into a thriving, multi-service charity serving the most troubled young people in our community.

Based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, core residential programs are located at two centres; the original Bowness Campus where George Wood Learning Centre is located, and the administrative and program cottages in the Parkdale Community. We also operate regional and rural programs in Lethbridge, the Bow Valley Corridor and Wheatland County. In June 2008, we began offering services in Fort Smith, N.W.T." (from website)

Services:
"Wood's Homes provides 21 programs and services to our clients which are divided into five resource areas that serve youth between the ages of 6 and 24 and their familes.

Our Crisis and Outreach Programs provide community-based services, either by their presence in the community, their outreach capacity or their crisis-oriented service approach to families and children in need.

Our Intensive Residential Programs are services offered to groups including adolescent sex offenders, Aboriginal youth with substance abuse challenges and youth with complex mental health and behavioural challenges. Our foster home/caregiver settings and group living arrangements offer 24/7 care to youth, as well as providing therapeutic services to aid in the journey to becoming valuable members of our community.

Our Regional and Rural Programs are those which exist outside the Calgary area including Lethbridge, Canmore (Bow Valley) and Wheatland County.

Our Specialized Learning Centres are a variety of therapeutic/educations offered both within the agency and in the community in partnership with the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic School District."

Please see their website for more details about these services, or contact your worker if you have one.

Contact Info:
Referral and Crisis Line - Community Resource Team:
(403) 299-9699
1-800-563-6106

Wood's Homes
Parkdale Campus
805 - 37 St. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N8
Tel. 403-270-4102
Toll Free 1-866-742-6751 or 1-866-742-6741

Website: http://www.woodshomes.com
Email: [email protected]

Persons with Developmental Disabilities: Service Providers [Alberta]

Description:
"The PDD program, which is part of the Ministry of Seniors and Community Supports, provides supports to adults who have a developmental disability. Six community boards deliver local programs and work with adults with developmental disabilities, their families and guardians to identify needs. The boards also work with local agencies to provide services." (from PDD website)

The PDD website has links to the 6 community boards, each of which then has listings of service providers in that area. For example, there are about 40 agencies listed as providing PDD-related services in the Calgary area, offering a variety of services ranging from Supported Independent Living and Overnight Staffed Residences, to Respite and Employment Preparation.

We have lengthier listings of some of these agencies and their services on this fasd.typepad.com site. However, there are other agencies which we have not researched at all. It is up to you to determine whether the services offered apply to your situation, and whether or not you find any agency's staff, philosophy, and so on compatible with you.

Note also that to be eligible for PDD services, the individual with FASD must meet all three key criteria of developmental disability, namely: Sigificantly below average intellectual ability, onset prior to age 18, and related limitations in adaptive skill functioning (life skills).

Access Info:
List of Community Boards for all areas of Alberta. This page provides links to the websites of the various community boards, as well as a map if you are unsure as to what board your town falls under. On those pages, you will find links to listings of service providers. For your convenience, we have included the following direct links:
Calgary Service Providers  (PDF format)
Edmonton Service Providers

McMan FASD Services [Edmonton / Northern Alberta]

Description:
McMan Youth, Family & Community Services runs numerous programs which serve those affected by FASD in Edmonton and Northern Alberta communities.

These include the following:
* supported independent living program for youth ages 16-20 (Edmonton)
* caring and professional family support (Edmonton and 4 outlying communities)
* family supports for children with disabilities ages 2-18, including developmental supports, respite and community supports (Fort McMurray)
* group care program for youth ages 8-18 who are unable to live with their family or with a foster family (Edmonton and Fort McMurray)
* Shared Living program provides 24-hour care and services within a community-based home (Edmonton and Edson)
* Independent Living with Supports program for adults with disabilities (Edmonton and Edson)

Contact Info:
McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association -Southwest Region
11016-127 St., Edmonton, Alberta  T5M 0T2
Tel. 403 482-4461     Fax: 403 409-9419
There are various workers depending on the program and the centre; see the webpage below for names and contact information.

Note also that if you are looking for a place for your child to live and you receive FSCD funding for this child, your FSCD worker can assist you in finding the right placement.

Website: McMan's Edmonton and Northern Alberta Region page

Other Info:
Please check McMan's webpage for the most current information about their programs. McMan also provides services in other regions of Alberta.

Rehoboth Christian Ministries [Alberta]

Description:

'Rehoboth offers services to "developmentally disabled" adults and children....'  These services include:

* residential services ('24-hour residential supports in both urban and rural communities'),

* vocational services ('providing flexible and realistic working environments in which clients may discover and develop their individual interests and aptitudes'),

* respite options (in-home support or with a host family),

* outreach services ('in-home services to adult individuals residing in the community in an effort to ensure continued growth and development for the individual')

* summer camps for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Contact Info:

Rehoboth has offices in Stony Plain (780) 963-4044, Calgary (403) 250-7333, Coaldale (403) 345-5199, Three Hills (403) 443-2239 and Grande Prairie (780) 532-5611.

Full addresses and fax numbers are available on their contact page: Rehoboth Contact Us by Region

Website: Rehoboth Christian Ministries

Excel Society [Edmonton & Area]

Description:
Excel Society provides a number of services intended to assist adults with FASD in accessing community services and living in the community.

Community Access Services
1.  Education programs:
  *  General topics (i.e., anger management, cooking, etc.)
  *  Employment-related training (Basic Work Skills Development, Employment Preparation Training, Support job search development).
2.  Community Work:
  *  Volunteering and work experience (independently or in groups);
  *  Competitive employment;
  *  'Group work-partnerships with employers in the community with guidance from a business coach'
3.  Community Supports:
  *  Outreach Supports 'refers to supports required for individuals with a disability who require 1:1 support to access the community or to live independently in the community.  Typically, this support is provided outside of regular business hours, and is available weekends and evenings.'
  *  Supported Independent Living 'allows a client to maintain or achieve a sense of independence while still having access to adequate supports for his/her needs.  In a Supportive Roommate placement the principal residence is shared by the support person and the client.  The client learns to share residence facilities, budgeting (rent and food), and household chores.'
  *  Community Access Supports 'provides skill development in areas such as banking, grocery shopping and accessing community resources such as the library, city of Edmonton recreational programs, etc.' (from brochure)

Community Living Support Services
The Personal Care Home Program and Persons with Developmental Disabilities Program provide community living options.  Please inquire to see if these services are suited to your particular situation.

Contact Info:
Excel Society
Service Coordinator, Gerard Raymond Centre
11831 - 123 Street, Edmonton Alberta T5L 0G7
Tel.  780 424-4366 ext. 26   Fax 780 482-7964
Email:  [email protected]
Website: www.excelsociety.org

Robin Hood Association for the Handicapped [Strathcona County & Leduc County]

Description:

'The Robin Hood Association for the Handicapped is a non-profit society that provides services to people with disabilities.

Services include:
Early Intervention Program for ages birth - 3 1/2 years.  Provides home-based programming, playgroups, support networks, and consultation to families. Referrals to the program can be made by families and/or guardians or with consent through a variety of professional resources such as doctors, public health nurses, or hospitals. Service area includes Strathcona County, including Sherwood Park, and Leduc County, including Beaumont, New Sarepta, Thorsby, Calmar and Leduc.

Family Support Services: This Program offers short-term relief and support to families of children with special needs, services are provided in Strathcona County, including Sherwood Park and the City of Fort Saskatchewan. Qualified support workers provide a wide variety of relief services, including:

in-home relief

aid assistance with community outings

aid assistance in daycares and recreational programs

teen support through social evenings and friendships

specialized daytime summer recreation program

specialized daytime Christmas break camp

host families

parent network support group

Adaptive equipment lending library

Specialized recreation-based day camp located within Sherwood Park, in July and August.

Home Visitation

The Robin Hood Adult Day Program currently serves over 200 individuals.  Programs are based at the Robin Hood Learning Centre located at 141 Broadway Boulevard, Sherwood Park as well as a location in Fort Saskatchewan.  The Adult Day Program offers support and training for adults with disabilities in the following areas:
Employment Preparation and Placement
Community Access and Alternatives to Work'   (all descriptions from their website)

Residential Homes, Supported Independent Living, Support Homes, Overnight Respite, etc.

Contact Info:
Robin Hood Association for the Handicapped
141 Broadway Boulevard, Sherwood Park, Alberta T8H 2A4
Tel.  780 467-7140   Fax 780 449-2028
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.robinhoodassoc.com

Other Info:
More information on these services is listed on their website.

Asota FASD [Edmonton]

Description:

'Children diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder face many challenges in life. At Bosco Homes, we have designed specialized environments and tailored programming specifically to meet the needs of children with FASD. On-site Occupational Therapy is available for consultation.

Program Descriptions:

Residential Care

• Low ratio: 4 children (maximum) and 2 staff on at all times
• High level of structure and routine
• Sensory playroom attached to living suite
• Life skills groups run three times weekly
• Picture support for written rules and routines
• Low stimulation environment
• Play is encouraged and incorporated into daily routines
• This is not a long-term program, but runs approximately 6-9 months.

Academic Program

• Low ratio: 6 students and 3 staff on at all times
• 20 minute work periods
• Physical education twice daily
• Instruction focusing on basic academic skills, life and social skill development, leisure and recreation, vocational skills
• Individual Program Plans (IPP) developed for each student
• Participation in a work experience program
• Environmental modifications to reduce stimulation and improve productivity
• Sensory room attached to the classroom'  (entire description provided by Bosco)

Contact Info:

Bosco Homes
Calvin Wood, Intake Coordinator
Tel. 780 440-0708 ext. 259
Website: BoscoHomes.ca FASD page

Other Info:

In Edmonton, Bosco Homes provides academic programs at Thomas More Academy and at Phoenix Academy.  Bosco Homes also provides FASD assessment and screening, community education and training, and other related services.

Note: Bosco's academic program is a placement option sometimes used by public schools when they are not able to provide the right educational environment for a student, in which case they make the referral and the cost is covered between Alberta Education and other parties.  It seems that Bosco is open to children with FASD being directly referred by their parents/caregivers; however, due to a difference between the actual cost per year at Bosco and public funding (the base education grant and the severe disability grant), there may be a cost associated with attending. Please contact Bosco Homes directly for the specific details as they apply to your situation.

SKILLS Society [Edmonton]

Description:
'SKILLS maintains the following programs:

• Residential - provides residential support for persons with developmental disabilities
• Outreach - provides independent living skills training and support to adults (18 years and older)
• Woodcroft Relief Home - provides out-of-home respite to families with children under the age of 18 who have a disability
• Family Support Services - provides in-home respite to families with children under the age of 18 who have a disability
• Host Family - provides relief to familes with ... children and adults who exhibit challenging behaviours and have a developmental disability
• Associate Family - fosters a shared care model between the natural and associate family for children who are deemed ... severely developmentally delayed
• Adult Respite Services - provides in home and out of home respite to adults with developmental disability.' (from CCSA)

Contact Info:
SKILL Society
203 Parkington Plaza, 10408 - 124 Street NW, Edmonton Alberta T5N 1R5
Tel. 780 496-9686  Fax  780 482-6395
Email:  [email protected]
Website:  http://www.skillsedm.com

Other Info:

While the Skills Edmonton website doesn't have programs designed specifically for those with FASD, the range and type of services provided by them suggests that their programs may be quite useful  to those affected by FASD.