Fornits

Fornits Home for Wayward Web Fora
An open discussion about the troubled parent industry

Anthony Congo, the first graduate of AARC died this month. He was a great guy and had a terrible battle with mental illness and hardcore drug use.

Liberal MLA raises security bar issue
 
By Renata D'Aliesio; With Files From Joel Kom, Calgary HeraldApril 7, 2009
   
With the deaths of three renters in a northwest Calgary basement fire raising questions over security bars on windows, a Liberal MLA questioned on Monday why fixed bars are allowed for other structures where people live.
Photograph by: Ted Rhodes, Calgary HeraldWith the deaths of three renters in a basement fire raising questions over security bars on windows, a Liberal MLA questioned on Monday why fixed bars are allowed for other structures where people live.

Harry Chase raised the issue Monday in the provincial legislature, wondering why bars are a deemed a danger to renters in secondary suites but are allowed for owner-occupied homes as well as residential treatment centres such as Calgary's Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre.

"Why aren't they considered a threat for home-owning family members or for the vulnerable youth prisoners of forced AARC confinement?" he said in question period.

Chase accused the government of failing to look after the well-being of children "imprisoned in homes."

Municipal Affairs Minister Ray Danyluk said the province works with cities to make sure standards are in place, but didn't directly answer Chase's question about bars on owner-occupied homes or residential treatment centres.

Chase's charges follow three deaths in a Calgary basement fire in January.

The Alberta Building Code allows fixed bars on bedroom windows if they can be easily removed. Other bars, even if they're not easily removed, are allowed on any non-bedroom window in a home.

As for buildings such as treatment centres that may require more security, external bars are allowed on windows as long as other fire safety measures are taken and pass a fire department inspection.

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

NDP calling for youth centre investigation
 
Gwendolyn Richards
Calgary Herald


Wednesday, February 18, 2009


The provincial NDP's children and youth services critic is calling for an investigation into an addictions recovery centre in Calgary following reports some teens were victims of abuse.

Edmonton-Strathcona MLA Rachel Notley made the call for the investigation following question period Tuesday, where the issue was raised.

Liberal MLA Harry Chase initially called on the government to explain how the Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre is licensed and monitored.

Children's Minister Janis Tarchuk said she was concerned about the allegations, but her ministry is not responsible for the treatment centre.

"In terms of AARC, my department does not have any capabilities or mandate to license a non-residential addiction treatment centre," she said during question period.

Her response, combined with Health Minister Ron Liepert's comment that the province provides $300,000 in annual funding, is a concern, said Notley.

"Regardless of whether the ministry of children and families does not license this place, they have a responsibility to respond to any complaints of abuse in the community,"she said. "The government seems to be washing their hands of it."

She added that because judges are ordering youth to attend the centre, the government has an obligation to ensure it is operating with best practices.

A spokeswoman for Alberta Children and Youth Services said the allegations of abuse are alarming, but the department's responsibility does not include third par-ties, only cases where the allegations are made against parents or guardians.

"We do take all reports of allegations of abuse very seriously. We do recommend people contact police if they have been abused," Dawn Delaney said.

Alberta Health and Wellness spokesman Howard May said the ministry has no plans to investigate the facility, pointing out any allegations of abuse fall under the children's ministry, while questions around the provision of drug counselling services is the responsibility of his department.

Notley said the government has an obligation to examine the allegations.

Also troubling, said Notley, is that peers are serving as counsellors in the facility despite having no training and without supervision.

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© The Calgary Herald 2009