Child and Adolescent Community Services, Addiction & Mental Health

Addiction and Mental Health services include:

• assessment
• treatment

referral for clients with:

• alcohol
• tobacco
• other drug or gambling concerns.

Crisis Services are available through the local emergency department or by calling 911.

This service is provided by Alberta Health Services and Alberta Health Services contracted service providers.

Community Health Centres

Provide people with information to make healthy choices, and opportunities to learn from and support each other to improve their quality of life. Community - based health programs can be accessed through any Community Health Centre (public health site).

Community based health programs work in the community to protect, promote, prevent, rehabilitate, support, and treat. The following services are available directly or through referral by contacting any Community Health Centre in the Central Zone:

• clinics and Immunization
• environmental public health
• immunization clinics including influenza and international travel
• ostomy clinics
• mobility clinics such as walkers
• education, consultation & counselling
• genetics counselling
• seniors' support and counselling
• mental health counselling
• nutrition consultation
• breastfeeding counselling
• oral health consultation
• school programs for health promotion
• sexual health consultation
• food safe, water analysis
• asthma education
• tobacco reduction
• injury prevention
• addiction services - information, prevention and treatment
• oral health services
• early intervention program services

Support and Allied Health services include:

• public health inspections
• public health nursing and home care services
• pediatric rehabilitation and outreach services (e.g. occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology, audiology services)
• palliative care
• follow up and support for moms and early discharged newborns
• continuing care placement coordination
• home IV therapy
• communicable disease control
• Alberta Aids to Daily Living
• respiratory services
• hospital discharge planning
• healthy communities facilitation

Continuing Care Counselling

Helps people in all areas of health care, their families, and caregivers by providing:

• short-term counselling to help manage change
• grief counselling
• in home visits
• referrals to other specialized services or resources
• support groups for caregivers (in some areas)
• information on housing options, advance care planning, and end-of-life planning
• referrals to other healthcare providers and agencies, as needed
• cognitive assessments

Service is offered in people's homes, at lodges, hospitals, continuing care centres and supportive living residences.

Early Childhood Intervention Program

The program offers:

• information about development, behavior, play and parenting
• connections to community resources and services
• support to your family setting goals and planning for the future
• collaboration with your child’s health team
• services that are provided in various ways; in your home, in the community, virtual appointments or phone consultations

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program

Alberta's Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Program is a provincial screening program that identifies permanent hearing loss as early as possible in a baby's life. This ensures that babies and families receive timely follow-up and support sooner to optimize developmental outcomes.

Services include:

• Screening babies for hearing loss by 1 month of age
• Diagnosing permanent hearing loss by 3 months of age
• Ensuring access to intervention by 6 months of age

For more information, visit our website

Environmental Public Health - Disease: Communicable, Rabies, Food Borne Illness

This service:

• investigates cases and outbreaks of illness, which are caused by germs like E. coli, salmonella, and Giardia (beaver fever) to find out the cause and prevent other people from getting sick
• investigates people with vomiting and diarrhea who don’t know how they got sick
• provides follow-up for animal bites (dogs, cats, bats, and other animals) to make sure people don’t get rabies
• investigates single cases and/or outbreaks of many diseases including botulism, hantavirus, norovirus, shigella, and Q fever

For more information visit Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Drinking Water

Inspects public water supplies, reviews water sample results, and issues water advisories if needed. You can get water testing supplies (sample bottles) and shipping information from your local Community Health Centre. Testing for municipalities and private home owners is done through the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health and Alberta Centre for Toxicology. If there is E. coli or total coliform bacteria in your sample, you will be contacted right away in most parts of the province.

May advise private homeowners about how safe their well, cistern, or dugout water is and talk about treatment options if needed.

Does drinking water testing for bacteria through the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health, Environmental Microbiology Services, which checks for:

• E. coli bacteria (shows if water is contaminated with sewage or fecal matter)
• total coliform bacteria (helps determine the integrity of the water source)

Chemical water testing of untreated ground water for private households is done by The Alberta Centre for Toxicology which checks for many different things including bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, and magnesium.

Your water sample requisition may be reviewed before your sample is sent to the right place for testing. This is to make sure your water supply is eligible for testing.

Sample Bottle Pick-up and Drop-off locations in Alberta.

• North Zone
• Edmonton Zone
• Central Zone
• Calgary
• Rural Calgary
• South Zone

For more information visit the Environment Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Education

Answers general environmental public health questions about topics like safe cooking, pest problems, and mould.

Offers classes, courses, presentations, and displays on many environmental public health topics. They are suited to the audience’s needs. Information can be in-person, online, or in home study, and may be available in other languages. Some services offered are:

• bed bugs presentations
• courses for childcare facility staff
• courses to operate temporary food concessions at fairs, festivals, exhibitions, carnivals, or other special events
• displays at trade shows and expos
• food sanitation and hygiene courses (the AHS Food Safety Course is required by Alberta’s Food Regulation)
• hand washing and personal hygiene presentations
• home study on food safety (a certificate in basic food safety may be issued)
• swimming pool operators course
• 3-hour courses on food safety (a certificate in basic food safety may be issued)

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Housing and Illegal Drug Operations

Requires that owners / operators / landlords / property managers keep public housing healthy and safe for tenants. The service follows up on complaints from tenants or other agencies about housing conditions which may include no heat, water problems, structure problems, or pest problems (mice or other rodents, bed bugs or other insects). If conditions could be dangerous to tenants, they may need to move out. The service works with landlords to fix or remove problems. The service can also order dangerous conditions to be fixed like houses used for illegal drug operations (e.g., marijuana grow ops, meth labs).

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - New Business and Plan Approval

Reviews and approves plans for building or renovating restaurants or other food establishments, swimming pools, social care facilities (e.g., daycares and nursing homes), and personal service facilities (e.g., tattoo studios, spas).

Reviews plans for special events (e.g., fairs, exhibitions, or carnivals) to make sure the right services are available (including washrooms and hand wash stations).

Issues permits and licenses needed for some facilities to operate like:

• a Food Handling Permit for food establishments open to the public
• a Public Swimming Pools Regulation License for swimming pools open to the public

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Orders, Disclosure and Legal Activity

This service inspects public places. When needed, is granted the power by The Public Health Act to order dangerous conditions to be fixed, removed, destroyed, or declared unfit.

Public health inspectors are designated as executive officers under the Public Health Act (RSA Chapter P-37) and enforce these regulations and standards:

• Artificial Tanning Regulation
• Bodies of Deceased Persons Regulation (AR 135/2008)
• Communicable Diseases Regulation (AR 238/1985)
• Food Regulation (AR 31/2006)
• Food Retail and Foodservices Code
• Housing Regulation (AR 173/1999)
• Institutions Regulation (AR 143/1981)
• Minimum Housing and Health Standards
• Nuisance and General Sanitation Regulation (AR 243/2003)
• Personal Services Regulation (AR 1/2020)
• Personal Services Standards
• Recreation Area Regulation (AR 198/2004)
• Pool Standards
• Public Swimming Pools Regulation (204/2014)
• Standards for Artificial Tanning Facility Signage
• Waiver Regulation (AR 298/2003)
• Work Camps Regulation (AR 218/2002)

For more information visit Health Enforcement Orders

Environmental Public Health - Personal Services

Prevents illness and infection from spreading by:

• reviewing plans for new businesses
• approving facilities before they open
• doing inspections to make sure practices followed are safe and facilities are maintained as regulation requires
• investigating any complaints from clients.

The requirements of the Personal Services Regulation and its related Health Standards and Guidelines apply to services which offer:

• barbering
• body and ear piercing (using guns or needles)
• body wraps
• branding
• chemical hair colouring, straightening and curling
• chemical peels
• cosmetic cryotherapy
• cryolipolysis (cool sculpting)
• dermal jewelry anchoring
• dermal filler injection
• dermal rolling
• earlobe stretching
• electrolysis
• esthetic cupping
• eyebrow threading
• face and body painting
• facial and body waxing
• facials
• hair extension
• haircutting and hairstyling
• henna
• lash and brow tinting
• lash extension
• laser and cosmetic tattoo removal
• laser hair re-growth and restoration
• laser hair removal
• manicure
• microblading
• microderm abrasion
• mud treatments
• neuromodulator injection (botox)
• pedicure
• permanent make-up
• scarification
• shaving
• skin exfoliation
• spray tanning
• tattooing
• teeth whitening
• tooth decoration
• ultraviolet (UV) tanning (tanning beds)
• vaginal rejuvenation

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Recreational Water

Keeps the public from getting sick when using recreational water by:

• approving pool plans
• inspecting pools and other water facilities to ensure water is safe and sanitary
• teaching operators about proper pool maintenance
• reviewing water sample results (local community health centres may accept water samples for testing for E. coli, total coliforms, and Pseudomonas)

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health page.

Environmental Public Health - Risks: Indoor Air, Outdoor Air, Contaminated Sites

Responds to and investigates health risks from activities like sour gas wells, forest fires, and accidental releases of gasoline, pesticides, or other chemicals.

Reviews and makes recommendations to approving authorities regarding proposed land use developments (e.g., intensive livestock operations, industrial plants, or developments on contaminated sites).

Responds to complaints and investigates indoor air in residences, schools, malls, swimming pools, or other public places. Will also respond to and investigate complaints about outdoor air.

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Safe Food

Inspects public food facilities (e.g., restaurants, mobile food trucks, grocery stores, kitchens in daycares and nursing homes) to make sure food is prepared safely.

Applies Food Regulation requirements in public food facilities or operations to areas like:

• bed and breakfast facilities
• commercial caterers
• community organization functions (when food is prepared for the public by volunteers)
• convenience stores and fast food restaurants
• restaurants, delis, and mobile food vendors
• farmers’ markets (licensed by Alberta Agriculture) and their stallholders
• food banks
• food facilities in halls and churches that may be rented to the public
• daycares, nursing homes, group homes, and other care facilities with over 10 clients that offer food service
• grocery stores
• private homes from which low risk home-prepared foods are sold
• temporary food facilities at special events (e.g., fairs, festivals, exhibitions, carnivals, rodeos)
• work-camp food facilities

This program offers guidance but will not apply Food Regulation requirements at private functions like:

• bake sales when low risk foods are sold for charity
• food prepared in a private home for family and guests
• potlucks and other functions not open to the public

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Social Care

Reviews plans for new businesses and approves facilities as requested by Children's Services, Inspects many adult and childcare facilities routinely and follows up on complaints from clients or their families. May also provide education for staff in social care facilities.

Applies the requirements of various regulations under the Public Health Act and the CSA Standards in social care facilities including:

• daycares and foster homes
• drop-in centres and shelters
• group family day homes and group homes
• long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and seniors’ lodges
• preschools and out-of-school care
• playgrounds

For more information visit our website

Environmental Public Health - Work Camps

Inspects work camps of all sizes, including camps that move around Alberta or stay in one place. This includes camps used for any type of business (e.g., oil exploration and development, logging, tree planting). Inspections check that food is safely prepared, water is safe to drink, sewage is properly treated and disposed of, and housing conditions are safe.

Teaches companies about requirements for work camps.

Investigates complaints from people living at work camps.

For more information the Environmental Public Health website

Environmental Public Health Program

Work to keep public places (e.g., restaurants, daycares, pools, rental properties, tattoo studios) safe. Tell people about health risks (e.g., unsafe water or housing). Make sure that the Public Health Act is being followed.

Our services include:

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Fluoride Protection for Toddlers

Children only need to have a few teeth to start getting fluoride. Applications are given 4 times, once every 6 months. For eligibility information visit our website.

At the appointment:

• The child sits on their parent's lap while staff apply fluoride on the child's teeth using a brush, which takes less than a minute.
• The child can eat and drink right after the treatment.
• The fluoride sticks to the teeth and protects them. It slowly wears off when the teeth are brushed.

If the child has asthma, bring his or her asthma reliever medicine to the appointment.
This provincial prevention service is available in all AHS (Alberta Health Services) zones.

Health Promotion

Working collaboratively with our partners, we facilitate strategic direction setting, leverage data and supports, and increase capacity for wellness. We connect stakeholders to professional learning opportunities and relevant resources to assist groups in working towards healthier outcomes in their communities. The Health Promotion team can connect with schools and communities in a variety of ways. Some examples are:

• Work in partnership with schools and communities on health promoting initiatives.
• Assist with bringing people together to assess strengths, needs and priorities of schools and communities.
• Facilitate conversations to support communities as they create a vision, terms of reference or action planusing a health equity approach
• Bring data to schools and communities to help inform their decisions
• Develop healthy policy.

Home Care

Helps people of all ages who live at home and need medical support, which may include:

• care after surgery
• short-term and long-term care
• palliative and end-of-life care
• respite services
• equipment for short-term loans

An AHS case manager and Registered Nurse meet with clients and help decide which services they need. This service also assesses applications for long-term care, supportive living, and facility respite care.

The Continuing Care Access Line toll free number is available for new patients and their family to call if they have questions or inquiries about accessing Home Care services in their community (during and after regular business hours).

Immunization - Adult Services

This service provides routine immunization for adults. Suggested immunizations:

• a booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough)(dTap) every 10 years
• dTap vaccine for pregnant women every time they are pregnant
• Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) for unprotected adults born in 1981 or later. Some adults born before 1981 may need this vaccine if they are at risk for hepatitis B (e.g. health problems, type of work, lifestyle, contact with the virus)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adults up to and including age 26 years who did not get it in school.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine for adults whose immunization records do not show the recommended number of doses of measles, mumps, or rubella vaccine.
• Chickenpox vaccine for unprotected adults
• annual influenza vaccine
• pneumococcal vaccine for all adults 65 years of age and older and adults with certain health problems
• shingles vaccine for adults 18 years of age and older who have had or are going to have an organ transplant

To find out which vaccines are recommended for you and to book an appointment for immunization, call your nearest community / public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community / public health centre is, you can call Health Link at 811. Bring any immunization records you have to the appointment, especially if you were immunized in another province or country.

For more general information about immunization go to ImmunizeAlberta.ca, Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca, or call Health Link.

Immunization - Infant and Preschool Services

Alberta Health Services provides routine immunization for infants and children across Alberta. Immunizations are free of charge for infants and children who live in Alberta.

Immunizations are recommended for infants starting at 2 months of age. Routinely recommended vaccines include: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenza type b, hepatitis B, rotavirus, meningococcal, pneumococcal, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and influenza.

For the routine immunization schedule, go to immunizealberta.ca.

Additional vaccines may be needed depending on your child’s health conditions or other risk factors.

Immunization is effective. Other than providing safe drinking water, no other health intervention works as well as immunization to reduce disease and death rates. Immunization protects whole communities. The more people who are fully immunized in a community, the safer everyone is.

Immunization is safe. It is much safer to get immunized than to get the diseases that vaccines protect against.

For more information, and to book an appointment, call your nearest community/public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community/public health centre is, call Health Link at 811. Bring your child’s immunization record to the appointment, especially if your child was immunized in another province or country.

For more general information about immunization, go to immunizealberta.ca,Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca, or call Health Link at 811.

Immunization - School Services

Each year, Alberta Health Services, Public Health reviews immunization records for students in grades 1, 6, and 9 to see what immunizations each student needs. A consent form is then sent home with an information sheet for each vaccine recommended for the student. No immunizations will be given in school without consent from a parent or legal guardian. Immunizations in this program include:

• Grades 1, 6, and 9: Any routine childhood and school vaccines that may have been missed according to a review of the students immunization record on file
• Grade 6: Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine for students who have not already completed a hepatitis B immunization series and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine
• Grade 9: diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (dTap) and meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y, W-135) conjugate vaccine

Nutrition Counselling - Pediatric Weight Management

In the Outpatient Dietitian Counselling program, families work one-on-one with a registered dietitian (dietitian) trained in Pediatric Weight Management. The dietitian will help the family work on healthy eating and active living habits and set realistic goals that focus on creating a healthy lifestyle. Areas of focus include nutrition, physical activity, sedentary time and sleep.

The dietitian and the family’s healthcare provider work together to ensure the family is supported in achieving their health goals. They can also assist in connecting the family with other supports as needed, such as physical activity, mental health, and community services.

The program’s aim is to help families achieve a lifestyle that promotes healthy growth and development in their children.

For more information visit the Outpatient Dietitian Counselling website.

Occupational Therapy - Children's Rehabilitation Services

Support could include helping your child in the following areas:

• fine motor development (e.g. managing buttons/zippers/shoelaces, grasping objects, playing with toys with small parts)
• self-regulation
  • sensory processing (e.g., sensitivity to the feel of clothing, loud noises, or busy environments, difficulty with sitting still or poor attention)
  • emotional regulation (e.g., difficulties with outbursts, meltdowns, becoming overwhelmed)
• life skills (e.g., social skills, toileting, dressing, bathing, hygiene)
• feeding (e.g., breast and bottle feeding, transition to solids, picky eating, swallowing)
• equipment needs (e.g., wheelchairs, bath seats, toilet seats, fabrication of splints)
• assistive technology (e.g., keyboarding, apps, switches, adapted computer access)
• environmental modifications (e.g., lifts, ramps, seating options, grab bars)
• challenges associated with complex diagnoses, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Neuromuscular conditions, Brachial Plexus Injury, or Head Injury

Services:

• may be provided together with other services, such as Speech Language Pathology or Physical Therapy
• may include assessment, consultation, treatment, follow-up, and co-ordination of services
  can be provided on an individual or group basis
• may be offered in many settings, including health centre/clinic, home, and community
• are based on the family priorities and goals
• health promotion and public education

Oral Health Program

The standard services offered are:

• Fluoride Varnish Program for School Children
• Fluoride Varnish Program for Preschool Children
• Dental Sealant Program for School Children
• Information, education and health promotion to increase Albertans’ ability to maintain and improve their family’s oral health

The DOoR program at Red Deer Johnstone Crossing Community Health Centre provides:

• urgent dental treatment for children with visible tooth decay, pain, broken teeth and signs of infection.

NEW Interactive Fluoride Protection for Toddlers Tool

Palliative Care

Supports people and their families during the dying process and at the end of life. Services are offered in different places, including at home, in health centres, and in continuing care centres.

Services include:

• assessing and dealing with symptoms
• giving end-of-life care options
• planning care at home
• offering counselling and support
• helping people access care and resources outside the area

Physiotherapy - Children's Rehabilitation Services

Support could include helping your child in the following areas:

• reaching their developmental milestones, like rolling, crawling and walking
• moving independently
• balance, strength, flexibility or coordination
• obtaining supportive equipment (e.g. standing frame, walker, wheelchair)
• staying physically active and healthy with a long term condition
• prevention of complications of long term conditions
• challenges associated with complex diagnoses, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Neuromuscular conditions, Brachial Plexus injury, or head injury
• recovery from surgery (e.g. Botox, orthopedic)
• head shape (Plagiocephaly), Torticollis
• palliative care

Services:

• may be provided together with other services, such as speech language pathology or occupational therapy
• may include assessment, consultation, treatment, follow-up, and co-ordination of services
• can be provided on an individual or group basis
• may be offered in many settings, including health centre/clinic, home, and community
• are based on the family priorities and goals
• health promotion and public education

Prenatal Education Programs

This in-person service is not offered during public health restrictions for COVID-19.

Nutrition class is offered by Zoom (virtual health)

Later pregnancy classes - Attend in your second or early third trimester:

Delivering Your Baby

• normal changes in 3rd trimester
• stages of labour and birth
• when to go to the hospital
• role of the support person

Meeting Your Baby

• decision making in labour & delivery
• when things don’t go as planned
• what to expect after delivery
• getting to know your newborn

You and Your New Baby

• feeding your baby
• learning to breastfeed
• understanding and responding to your baby

Birth and Babies: Free online course available through AHS Calgary Zone website.

Public Health Breast Pumps

Breast pumps are available for short term loan at Community Health Centres. Contact your local Community Health Centre for details.

Public Health Breastfeeding Support Services

This service continues to be offered, following COVID-19 protocols, and may include in-person contact when indicated.

Public Health offers breastfeeding support and education through prenatal education, telephone counseling and home visits. Public Health Nurses respond to questions and concerns about infant feeding.

After the birth of a baby, a Public Health Nurse contacts the family to inquire about how their baby is feeding; and to offer information, support and services.

Breastfeeding support services may include support from an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

Public Health Mother Baby Drop In Services

Contact your local Community Health Centre for service options or to speak with a public health nurse. Information provided may include:

• breastfeeding and infant feeding
• healthy eating
• parenting
• growth and development
• injury prevention
• diseases and immunizations

Information and support may be offered in one-to-one, and/or group sessions so parents can connect with other parents and caregivers.

Public Health Nursing

The four areas that are covered by public health nurses include:

• maternal, child and family health
• communicable disease control
• school health
• health promotion

Public Health Postnatal Services

This service continues to be offered following public health COVID-19 protocols.

Services are offered to parents who:

• have been discharged with their baby
• have been discharged while their baby is still in the hospital
• are adopting
• have chosen adoption for their baby
• had a stillborn baby
• are dealing with loss due to a neonatal (newborn) death

Public health nurses contact families within 48 hours after discharge from the hospital. Services are offered according to the situation and discussion with the family and may include health assessments of the newborn, mother and family; information about what to expect and when to seek medical attention; feeding support and referrals to community services.

Pulmonary Function Testing

Provides:

• lung function testing (both basic and in-depth lung function testing)
• provocation testing (tests to show how sensitive the airways are)

Some tests may not be available at every location.

School Oral Health Services

Services are offered to eligible schools and may include:

• fluoride varnish, provided to kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2
• dental sealants, provided to Grade 1 and Grade 2

A child diagnosed with asthma must have their short acting asthma reliever medication with them to receive service.

Seniors Mental Health Program Community Services, Seniors Outreach Nurses

Offers services to assess mental health concerns in older adults where they live (in their homes, lodges, assisted living, supportive living, continuing care centres, and hospitals)

Services include:

• providing mental health assessments, including mental status checks
• teaching clients and their families about the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and possible treatments
• working closely with a client’s doctor to decide which services are needed
• providing information on medicines and treatment

This service is provided by Alberta Health Services and Alberta Health Services contracted service providers.

Tuberculosis Testing

Offers free tuberculosis (TB) skin testing to eligible Albertans. The Mantoux skin test is not recommended to diagnose TB.

Testing is done at public health centres throughout the province:

• North Zone
• Edmonton Zone
• Central Zone
• Calgary Zone
• South Zone

If you are not eligible for free testing but still need to be tested there will be a charge for the test.

For travel or work related TB testing contact the Travel Health Services in your area. With the exception of Edmonton, you would contact the Immunization Business Unit to have school or work-related TB skin testing done.

Wound and Ostomy Care Team

Provides support to help manage an ostomy or wound, which includes:

• one-on-one appointments
• clinic appointments
• teaching patients/families and healthcare providers
• developing resources
• developing guidelines for care