Antenatal Community Care Program

Cares for women with medically stable high-risk pregnancies in their home.
Services include:

• daily assessment of women in their homes or over the telephone
• fetal monitoring (non-stress tests) as ordered by the caregiver
• teaching about pregnancy, health concerns, and self-monitoring
• referrals to resources as needed
• connection with an emergency response system if needed
• communication with the referring health care provider

This service provides in home care for patients who might otherwise be cared for in hospital.
Women are still cared for by their own obstetrician, or family physician, or midwife (with OB consult).
To book an immunization appointment only, dial 811 Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Assertive Community Treatment - Addiction and Mental Health

In the Calgary Zone, ACT (Active Community Treatment) operates two separate teams out of the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre and the East Calgary Health Centre. They provide support 12 hours per day, Monday to Friday.

The teams provide comprehensive outreach services to adults with severe and persistent mental illness who are struggling to engage in less intensive addiction and mental health outpatient or community services. ACT offers a strengths-based and holistic approach to promote optimal wellness and recovery to people with challenges related to a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and other psychotic disorders who may have concurrent substance use. ACT advocates and supports access to individualized care.

Services offered by a multidisciplinary team in a person's community and may include:

• harm reduction approach to care
• psychiatry
• liaison with family and community services
• support with medication management and CTO monitoring
• advocating and connection to housing, medical needs, legal and financial services
• access to psychosocial, recreational programming, psycho-educational, and peer support services

Child and Adolescent Addiction and Mental Health Community Clinics

The service offers a wide range of psychosocial assessment and treatment services to children 5 to 18 years with moderate to severe mental health issues, and their families.

Services include individual, family, and group therapy in a community clinic setting.

Community Health Centres

Community Health Centres provide a wide range of health services, which may include:

• Antenatal Community Prenatal Program (ACCP)
• Best Beginning
• Early Start Parent Drop In
• Postpartum Services
• School Health Program
• Well Child Services

To book an immunization appointment only, dial 811 Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Community Pediatric Asthma Service

Virtual (Skype or Zoom) asthma education appointments for children and their families with mild to moderate asthma that includes a customized Asthma Action Plan for every patient. A breathing exercise (simple spirometry) for children; 6 years of age and older; will be scheduled in a subsequent;face-to-face appointment as required.

Corrections Transition Team

Provides short-term case management and outreach support for soon to be or newly released provincial offenders. Services include support for connecting to:

• mental Health treatment
• addictions treatment
• financial support
• community engagement
• employment supports
• affordable housing

Early Childhood and Perinatal Mental Health

Our goal is to support parents and young families from pregnancy through the early years of childhood. We have 2 main programs: Perinatal Mental Health and Early Childhood Mental Health.

Early Childhood

We will support you and your child in your home, at our office, and/or in your community.

We offer:

• in-person, telephone and virtual (Zoom) sessions
• parent-child relationship based therapy
• parent groups (i.e. Circle fo Security, Child-Parent Relationship Therapy)

The first sessions of therapy with ECAP serve three purposes:

1. to better understand the challenges your child and family may be facing and the strengths you have to address those challenges
2. to ensure that our program is the right fit for your family based on your concerns and goals and
3. to make recommendations about programming options, which may include:

• an opportunity to more deeply explore the challenges and strengths of your child and family to better determine the support you may need. We may invite other professionals from our team (Speech-Language Therapist, Consulting Psychologist) into your care in order to best understand your child’s needs
• in-home, at our clinic, community, or virtual sessions with a Therapist to support you in further developing and understanding the relationship with your child to meet your goals
• in-person and virtual Parenting groups to develop a better understanding of yourself, your child and the relationship you have with your child.

Perinatal Mental Health

A brief therapy program for people between 24 weeks gestation and 12 months postpartum. Our clients come to us seeking support to cope with symptoms of anxiety or depression, grief, loss, difficulties related to their birth experience, among other challenges that are affecting their sense of wellbeing and journey into parenthood.

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 Information / Records Management

Completes patient charts, collects data, data entry and coding, collects patient information, dictates notes, and transcribes inpatient and outpatient charts.

Hepatology Clinic

Offers medical services for people with hepatitis, including:

• assessment
• diagnosis
• treatment
• follow-up
• education

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

Neonatal Transition Team, Postpartum Community Services

This community-based specialized service provides:

• support for the family following infant discharge from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit;
• information about the infant's health, abilities and special needs;
• regular assessments of the infant's health, growth and development;
• guidance to enhance infant nutrition;
• liaison with the infant's physician and specialists;
• referrals to other services and community resources, as required.

Newborn Jaundice Screening Program

This program provides comprehensive screening for jaundice in the newborn in both hospital and community locations in Calgary. Identifying babies early and reliably provides a high level of safety for newborn infants and reassurance and convenience for parents.

As part of this program nurses in the hospital and community use a device called a Transcutaneous Jaundice Meter to measures how yellow the baby is. This device uses a flash of light and the procedure is accurate, safe, quick and painless. If the reading on the device is high, a blood test will be done.

Nutrition Counselling - Pediatric

Services provided for:

• optimizing growth
• allergy and food intolerances
• iron deficiency anemia
• inappropriate diets for age
• eating and feeding difficulties
• nutrient deficiencies secondary to restricted diets

Parent Drop-In (Babies 2 months and older)

This service offers health information on:

• infant feeding
• infant growth and development
• vaccination
• parenting adjustment
• variety of health promotion topics

Drop in at the most convenient time and location for you. Sessions are offered on a weekly basis.

Patient Information

Services offered:

• responding to patient location inquires
• providing direction on a patients whereabouts

Pediatric Behavioral Developmental Clinic - Child & Adolescent Mental Health Community Services and Mental Health Community Services

This service includes:

• assessment and treatment
• counselling (one-to-one and family)
• teaching for parents
• talking with schools and other community resources

Pediatric Community Rehabilitation

Services support the development of children and youth to participate in meaningful activities of daily life at home and in the community. We want to understand what's important to your child and family. Services are goal - driven; starting and continuing services is based on having functional reasons / goals for rehabilitation. The purpose is to understand your child's strengths and needs. Therapy may look like 'play', depending on your child's age. We will work together so you and your child are supported to move to the next developmental stage or between providers and services. Services may be in - person, by phone, or videoconference. They may be in a group or one to one. Services provided are related to (neuro) developmental conditions and / or medical conditions.

Occupational Therapy 0- 5 years services children and their families with self - care; motor development and eating, feeding and swallowing

• motor development
• self - care
• participation in activities typical for their development
• eating, feeding and swallowing
• specialized equipment
• modifying the environment
• assistive technology

Physiotherapy 0-5 years services help children and their families with development and movement

• motor development
• movement and function
• specialized equipment
• Torticollis

Speech Language Pathology services help children and their families with communication and eating, feeding, and swallowing

• communication
• using speech sounds
• understanding spoken language and listening
• using words to communicate thoughts and ideas
• using language in social settings
• speaking smoothly and easily
• voice quality
• eating, feeding and swallowing
• augmentative & alternative communication (AAC)

Postpartum Community Services - Urban

Services include:

• newborn assessments including checking for jaundice
• postpartum assessment for new mothers includes physical and psychosocial assessmetns including domestic violence
• support with infant feeding including lactation consultants to help with breastfeeding
• parenting information
• information about newborn care, safety, growth, and development
• referrals to social worker support as needed
• referrals to doctors and community services as needed

Prenatal and Parenting Classes (Perinatal) Education

This program provides interactive classes by Health Education professionals. Over 30 different classes are available including:

• Early pregnancy & nutrition for pregnancy
• Prenatal classes (including refresher and Vaginal Birth After C-Section classes)
• Perinatal classes spanning the end of pregnancy through early parenthood
• Prenatal classes for midwifery clients
• Parenting and grand-parenting classes
• Car seat safety
• Baby health and safety

To ensure that expectant and new parents receive the most accurate and up-to-date information all classes are based on current AHS and Health Canada guidelines.

Please visit our on-line class brochure for a further details.

Registration

Patient Registration

• registers and pre-registers patients and collects demographic and financial information.
• registers patients for inpatient admissions, ambulatory clinic appointment, and emergency department services

School Health Program

This service offers:

• public health nursing to support all schools in the region. Works in partnership with school communities to promote health and develop strong, supportive communities using a comprehensive school health approach.
• teachers, parents and students can consult with a public health nurse for guidance around school health activities
• school aged immunizations through school based programs. Routine immunization programs occur in grades 1, 6 and 9
• public health nurses monitor, report and respond to communicable disease outbreaks within the school community

To book an immunization appointment only, dial 811 Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

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.

Sexual and Reproductive Health - Clinical Services

Urban Calgary Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinics offer the following services:

• birth control information, prescription & free supplies
• IUD & contraceptive implant (Nexplanon) insertions & removals*
• STI testing & treatment
• emergency contraception (including emergency Copper IUD insertion)
• pregnancy testing and options support (parenting, abortion & adoption)
• HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) prescriptions*
• pap tests
• care after a sexual assault
• post-abortion check-ups
• HPV vaccination

*These services generally require a pre-booked appointment ( in-person or phone consultation )

Southern Alberta Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Prevention Program

Submission of the Risk Assessment form by a health care professional is required to determine a child's eligibility for palivizumab. Risk Assessment forms available on the RSV Prevention Risk Prevention Program website.

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These services include:

• answering incoming telephone calls
• transferring telephone calls and
• giving out authorized telephone numbers

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.

Volunteer Resources

Our volunteer roles share a commitment to improving the quality of the patient and family experience.

Volunteers are:

• way-finders who help guide patients and families around our busy facilities,
• friendly visitors who spend time with our socially isolated patients,
• patient and family advisors who provide input and direction to AHS on numerous committees,
• supporters of our volunteer retail operations - where the proceeds are returned to AHS to provide patient care and comfort.

For general information about volunteering with AHS please visit our website.

Well Child Services

Provide appointments for:

• routine vaccination (2, 4, 6, 12, 18 months and 4 years of age)
• health education, health promotion and support for parents related to adjustment to parenthood, breastfeeding, infant feeding, nutrition and healthy eating, normal growth and development, etc.
• health assessment and screening to identify health concerns
• information and referral to community services, and community partnerships

There are 20 Community Health Centres (8 urban and 12 rural) across the Calgary Zone.

To book an immunization appointment only, dial 811 Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.