L-R: Associate Minister Whitney Issik, Julie Kerr, Hull Services, and Associate Minister Mike Ellis launch a new recovery-oriented addiction and mental health treatment program for youth.

Alberta’s government is helping everyday Albertans by providing annual funding of $1.25 million for the new 12-week Youth Recovery Program at Hull Services. Alberta’s government is supporting the program in partnership with Hull Services and Alberta Health Services to deliver this recovery-oriented care.

The new six-bed program will provide 50 new annual youth treatment spaces that are fully funded and require no payment from families.  

“Youth in Alberta deserve the opportunity to recover from addiction and mental health challenges as much as anyone. As part of a recovery-oriented system of care, we are ensuring that youth in Calgary have the opportunity to pursue recovery and break the cycle of addiction early in life.”

Mike Ellis, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

“The important work done by Hull Services is critical in helping youth and families’ well-being and resilience. Improving the lives of Alberta’s youth is more important than ever, and this new Youth Recovery Program will help more youth find recovery and build healthy families.”

Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Children’s Services

“When we reviewed youth detox services (PChAD), we heard loud and clear that youth required more access to long-term treatment options. This new Youth Recovery Program at Hull Services will improve the continuum of care and help more youth get the recovery-oriented services they need.”

Whitney Issik, Associate Minister of Status of Women and MLA for Calgary-Glenmore

The Youth Recovery Program at Hull Services accepted its first clients in September, and has been taking referrals since August. The program focuses on providing youth who are living with addiction and mental health with appropriate, comprehensive, recovery-oriented care. While the live-in portion of the program is 12 weeks, services may be extended if a youth continues to require support after their stay.

Previously, youth with complex needs in Calgary had to travel to Edmonton or Lethbridge to access similar urban-based addiction and mental health live-in treatment.

“Hull Services focuses on building resilience within children, youth and their families. We help thousands of young people annually, many of whom have significant challenges. We are well-positioned to lead this new program and look forward to helping more vulnerable youth on their path to a brighter tomorrow.”

Julie Kerr, executive director, Hull Services

“Youth with high acuity and complex needs often require multifaceted support. This new inclusive treatment program for youth and their families will help provide access to the specialty services this population needs to succeed at addressing their substance use and mental health issues.”

Kathryn Todd, vice-president, Provincial Clinical Excellence, Alberta Health Services

Hull Services also operates the adolescent detoxification program called Recovery Stabilization and Detox, as well as Protection of Children Abusing Drugs (PChAD) beds. The Youth Recovery Program will provide more support for the detoxification, stabilization and assessment of youth who are struggling with addiction.  

Alberta’s Recovery Plan is helping everyday Albertans access life-saving prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery resources. A $140-million investment over four years is supporting the addition of new publicly funded treatment spaces; the elimination of daily user fees for publicly funded residential addiction treatment; and services to reduce harm, such as the Digital Overdose Response system (DORS), the introduction of nasal naloxone kits and the expansion of opioid agonist therapy.

Quick facts

  • Alberta’s government is making unprecedented investments in mental health and addictions:
    • $140 million over four years to enhance the mental health and addiction care system and create 4,000 more publicly funded treatment spaces. This funding includes $40 million specifically to support the opioid response.
    • More than $53 million to implement more online, phone and in-person mental health and addiction recovery supports to make it easier for Albertans to access services from anywhere in Alberta during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • In addition, Alberta Health Services spends more than $800 million annually to provide mental health and addiction services in communities across the province.
  • Contact 811 Health Link or Alberta 211 for information about in-person services and supports for youth in your area. 
  • Young Albertans can also access support directly, including the following:
    • Kids Help Phone offers confidential conversations with a professional counsellor 24-7. Call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868. 
    • Kickstand’s MoreGoodDays provides free, daily text messages for youth focused on positive mental health. To subscribe, text MoreGoodDays to 393939.
    • Jack.org’s Alberta COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub is an online resource that offers education, tools, support and reliable information. 
    • Youth Mental Health Hubs connect Albertans aged 11 to 24 to community mental health support and wellness resources.
  • Learn more about virtual and telephone addiction and mental health supports for youth by visiting alberta.ca.