ADDICTION FUNDING YANKED

Although the addiction problem among youth continues to increase,
Interior Health has withdrawn its support for a program that treats
150 troubled kids a year. ARC Programs director Shane Picken said the
decision to eliminate $189,000 in annual funding will cripple the
drug treatment portion of ARC's services

"It is shocking that the IH will shut down this vital service in our
community at a time when there is clearly an epidemic of substance
abuse among youth in this community," said Picken

"There is a big need for this program in Kelowna. What do these kids
do now? IH has no plans at this time." Kim Marshall, Interior Health's
director of mental health services for the Okanagan, said IH may
decide there is better value in putting the services in-house. She
also said the health authority is concerned that ARC serves only the
Central Okanagan, even though IH has responsibility for the whole Valley

She said IH may refine its requirements and ARC would have an
opportunity to bid on any new contracts. ARC is a Kelowna-based agency
providing services for at-risk youth and families. The Changes program
has operated in Kelowna for 12 years, serving about 145 youth and
families each year. ARC originally stood for Adolescent Residential
Care, although its services have grown beyond that

"The rate of referral is two to three times the rate of referral
experienced in previous years," said Picken. "This indicates that
there is an increasing social problem of youth drug abuse in this
community. Youth service providers will strongly object to the loss of
this resource for youth and families in the Central Okanagan." Picken
said the Changes Program provided individualized drug treatment for
the kids, often bringing in councillors from other areas such as
sexual exploitation or youth justice

"We also work with the family to support the person's recovery in the
home," said Picken. "We discuss with parents the issues and give them
some strategies to help." Picken said ARC is accredited by the
Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission

"The accreditation of our services demonstrates our services are
delivered in compliance with international standards of best
practice," said Picken

The Changes Program receives its core funding from the IH, however,
there are also contributions from the Ministry for Children and Family
Development and School District 23

"Although these other funding partners have demonstrated their
confidence in the Changes program, without the core funding from IH,
this vital program, as we know it, will collapse," said Picken

He said IH isn't giving him reasons for the cancellation of funding,
which takes effect in September

"Hundreds of youth, families and service providers in this community
depend on our agency for support and treatment services for youth," he
said. "I am mystified by this decision."