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Overview
Recovery communities are an important part of the Alberta Recovery Model, providing Albertans struggling with addiction access to holistic, long-term treatment free of charge.
Programming
Recovery community programming focuses on holistic addiction recovery, addressing the whole person and overall lifestyle changes needed to regain physical and mental health and wellness.
Clients can stay in a recovery community for up to one year and take part in programming that helps them improve their health and build skills to support their recovery. They can access a range of services, including opioid agonist treatment medications, counselling, employment, training, as well as financial and housing supports.
Each client receives an individualized care plan and is assigned a peer mentor, who is in the later stages of recovery. As people progress through the stages of addiction treatment and recovery, they assume greater personal and social responsibility within the recovery community.
Facilities
All recovery community operators are licensed as residential addiction treatment service providers under the Mental Health Services Protection Act (MHSPA).
A total of 11 recovery communities are being established in Alberta. Four recovery communities are open in Red Deer, Lethbridge, Gunn, and Calgary and 7 more recovery communities are in development across the province.
Alberta’s government is working with Indigenous communities to build 5 recovery communities in direct partnership with Siksika Nation, Blood Tribe, Enoch Cree Nation, Tsuut’ina Nation and Métis Nation of Alberta. This is part of ongoing efforts to remove barriers to land-based, culturally safe services for Indigenous Peoples in Alberta.
Red Deer Recovery Community single bedroom
Red Deer Recovery Community group meeting room
Blood Tribe Recovery Community Entrance
Blood Tribe Recovery Community double bedroom
Blood Tribe Recovery dining room
Siksika Recovery Community rendering west perspective
Siksika Recovery Community rendering northwest perspective
How to apply
Each recovery community has a separate admission process, managed by the operator.
Visit the links above for information on each recovery community’s admission process.
Eligibility
Eligibility requirements may be slightly different for each recovery community. Generally, to be eligible, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Struggling with serious substance use that is making it hard for them to go to school, keep a job, or be part of their community.
- Minimum of 18 years of age.
- Resident of Alberta.
- Does not require acute hospitalization or crisis care.
- Able to participate in all activities of daily living.
- Able to understand and verbally communicate in English (for safety).
Individuals who meet these criteria may apply for admission to recovery communities operating in Alberta.