Treatment centres for youth battling addiction at risk of closing, executive director says

Two treatment centres for youth battling addiction in Manitoba are at risk of closing due to a lack of funding, according to the Behavioural Health Foundation.

The foundation runs long-term programming for male youth in Selkirk and the same for female youth in St. Norbert. According to executive directorJean Doucha, the amount of funding both centres get depends on the number of people in treatment at any given time.

That number is on the decline, Doucha says, because Manitoba's overworked social workers don't want to go through the lengthy process of getting youth placed in BehaviouralHealth Foundation facilities.

With empty beds, both centres are not receiving enough funding dollars to pay their staff, according to Doucha, who says she has reached out to the Manitoba's newgovernment for help.

"I would hope that the government could make a decision soon," she said, noting both facilities are currently operating at around 60 per cent capacity.

"I know they haven't even announced a budget yet but this has been at their table for two years now."

According to Doucha, 90 per cent ofyouth receiving treatment in the centres are indigenous. They are provided with cultural and traditional teachings, education and other programs to help them recover.

"We have a lot of at risk youth. A lot of youth living in poverty, alot of youth who have dysfunctional homes, alot of youth who are using drugs and other substances and who have mental health issues," she said.

"I think the beds are essential because they're long term treatment beds. We think that it takes four to sixmonths to assist these kids and really get them on their feet."

On top of losing that, Doucha says 45 staff members and two certified teachers will lose their jobs.

"I've done this work for 35 years and this is probably the worst I've seen things for all that time I've work here," she said.

"We have a long, rich history in Manitoba. We run adult and family programs as well and house whole families in our treatment programs."

The Manitoba government said it provides $4 million in grant funding to the Behavioural Health Foundation and slightly more than $1 million to fund 10 additional beds within two facilities.

As of Thursday, the province responded to concerns about the two treatment centres by saying it'sworking with the foundation to consider all options.

Douchacalls thata "slippery slope", thoughonce programs start closing, she says, costs go up to run other programs left behind.