Youth detox move OK’d
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Red Deer’s municipal planning commission has given its approval for a youth detox centre to operate temporarily in the Michener Centre.
McMan Youth, Family and Community Services has been running a three-bed program for drug-addicted youths in Oriole Park since August 2006. But because the city’s land-use bylaw does not allow social care operations in existing residential areas, McMan must relocate the facility by Dec. 31.
On Monday, the commission voted to allow the centre to move to a 4,000-square-foot area in a former residence at the Michener Centre.
“This is an incredible program and I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to know that we have this program continuing on in our own communities,” said Bonnie Taks, program manager with McMan.
Taks said the Michener Centre space is ideally suited for the program, which will continue to operate three beds and have at least two staff on site 24 hours a day to provide care and supervision. There is more room for programming and for residents to exercise using equipment that will be on the premises.
“It’s a pretty small site that we’re in now.”
Some minor renovations are necessary but Taks hopes the move can occur before Christmas.
Developed under the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act, the detox program allows parents of addicted youths 13 to 18 to apply to court for an order directing that their children be taken to the centre for up to five days. Once there, the young residents obtain drug and alcohol education, participate in heathy living activities and meet with addictions counsellors.
The program is the responsibility of the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission, with McMan operating it on a contract basis.
Similar centres exist in Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Calgary and Picture Butte.
Taks said the Red Deer beds are “regularly full,” although demand does wane in the summer months.
The commission placed no timelines on McMan’s use of the Michener Centre facilities, which it will lease from Alberta Infrastructure. However, the youth detox program is expected to eventually move to the new Timberstone Park subdivision, where it will be part of a proposed social care facility.
The city is assisting in the search for a developer and investor to work with AADAC and McMan to develop that project.
“A developer hasn’t stepped forward at this point but there are some people that are interested.”
