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Part of Legal procedures and assistance

Protection of Children Abusing Drugs (PChAD) Program

You can apply to place a child who is abusing drugs or alcohol in a protective safe house for up to 10 days.

Overview

If you’re the parent or guardian of a child who is under 18 and abusing drugs or alcohol, you can apply to the PChAD Program from Recovery Alberta: Mental Health and Addiction Services.

This program allows you to apply for a court order – issued by the Court of Justice under the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act – that authorizes a child to be placed in a protective safe house.

When a child is in the PChAD Program, they:

  • get a detailed assessment
  • detox in a safe environment
  • get future treatment recommendations
  • may be supported by a parent or guardian who decides to participate in their treatment process

Place a child in the PChAD Program

Step 1. Contact an addiction counsellor

To arrange a pre-application meeting about the PChAD Program with an addiction counsellor, you can use any of these methods:

Step 2. Meet with an addiction counsellor

During your meeting with an addiction counsellor from the PChAD Program, you’ll discuss your child and how the program can help them.

If you decide to apply for the PChAD Program, ask the addiction counsellor to give you a signed Confirmation of Attendance letter.

Step 3. Fill out the form

Notice and Application for a Protection Order form

Step 4. File your paperwork

Do this at any Court of Justice in Alberta.

File both your:

  • Confirmation of Attendance letter
  • Notice and Application for a Protection Order form

Step 5. Notify all parties

You must let the PChAD Program and the other parent or guardian know that you’ve filed an order at least 2 days before the court hearing.

PChAD Program

Phone: 1-888-844-5395
Hours: 8 am to 4 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)

Other parent or guardian

Notify them with one of these methods:

  • deliver a copy of the order in person
  • fax or email a copy of the order
  • give verbal notice over the phone

Step 6. File the affidavit with the court

File the affidavit: 

Affidavit of Notice Regarding an Application for a Protection Order form 

You must swear or affirm the affidavit before a commissioner for oaths. A court clerk or an information coordinator at a resolution support centre can help with this.

Step 7. Go to court

Attend the court hearing that’s listed in your Notice of Hearing on the designated day and at the appropriated time. Bring both copies of your forms and documents.

After the hearing

If the judge grants the order

  1. Get a certified copy of the order before you leave the courthouse.
  2. Call the PChAD Program and let them know that you’ve received the order: 

    Phone: 1-888-844-5395
    Hours: 8 am to 4 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays) 

    The program representative will book a bed in a protective safe house for the child. The date for this depends on the availability of a bed.
  3. Arrange for the child to be transported to the safe house once a bed is available.

Contact your local police service if the judge ordered that the police must do either of these things:

  • take the child into custody and transport them to the safe house
  • help transport the child to the safe house

You must give the police a certified copy of the order.

If the judge does not grant the order

Call the PChAD Program and let them know about this:

Phone: 1-888-844-5395
Hours: 8 am to 4 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)

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