Community Health Centres

Provide people with information to make healthy choices, and opportunities to learn from and support each other to improve their quality of life. Community - based health programs can be accessed through any Community Health Centre (public health site).

Community based health programs work in the community to protect, promote, prevent, rehabilitate, support, and treat. The following services are available directly or through referral by contacting any Community Health Centre in the Central Zone:

• clinics and Immunization
• environmental public health
• immunization clinics including influenza and international travel
• ostomy clinics
• mobility clinics such as walkers
• education, consultation & counselling
• genetics counselling
• seniors' support and counselling
• mental health counselling
• nutrition consultation
• breastfeeding counselling
• oral health consultation
• school programs for health promotion
• sexual health consultation
• food safe, water analysis
• asthma education
• tobacco reduction
• injury prevention
• addiction services - information, prevention and treatment
• oral health services
• early intervention program services

Support and Allied Health services include:

• public health inspections
• public health nursing and home care services
• pediatric rehabilitation and outreach services (e.g. occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology, audiology services)
• palliative care
• follow up and support for moms and early discharged newborns
• continuing care placement coordination
• home IV therapy
• communicable disease control
• Alberta Aids to Daily Living
• respiratory services
• hospital discharge planning
• healthy communities facilitation

Continuing Care Counselling

Helps people in all areas of health care, their families, and caregivers by providing:

• short-term counselling to help manage change
• grief counselling
• in home visits
• referrals to other specialized services or resources
• support groups for caregivers (in some areas)
• information on housing options, advance care planning, and end-of-life planning
• referrals to other healthcare providers and agencies, as needed
• cognitive assessments

Counselling is offered in people’s homes, at lodges, hospitals, continuing care centres and supportive living residences.

Environmental Public Health - Disease: Communicable, Rabies, Food Borne Illness

This service:

• investigates cases and outbreaks of illness, which are caused by germs like E. coli, salmonella, and Giardia (beaver fever) to find out the cause and prevent other people from getting sick
• investigates people with vomiting and diarrhea who don’t know how they got sick
• provides follow-up for animal bites (dogs, cats, bats, and other animals) to make sure people don’t get rabies
• investigates single cases and/or outbreaks of many diseases including botulism, hantavirus, norovirus, shigella, and Q fever

For more information visit Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Drinking Water

Inspects public water supplies, reviews water sample results, and issues water advisories if needed. You can get water testing supplies (sample bottles) and shipping information from your local Community Health Centre. Testing for municipalities and private home owners is done through the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health and Alberta Centre for Toxicology. If there is E. coli or total coliform bacteria in your sample, you will be contacted right away.

May advise private homeowners about how safe their well, cistern, or dugout water is and talk about treatment options if needed.

Does drinking water testing for bacteria through the Provincial Laboratory of Public Health, Environmental Microbiology Services, which checks for:

• E. coli bacteria (shows if water is contaminated with sewage or fecal matter)
• total coliform bacteria (shows if water is contaminated with non-sewage pollution from the environment)

Chemical water testing of untreated ground water for private households is done by The Alberta Centre for Toxicology which checks for many different things including bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, and magnesium.

Your water sample requisition may be reviewed before your sample is sent to the right place for testing. This is to make sure your water supply is eligible for testing.

Sample Bottle Pick-up and Drop-off locations in Alberta.

• North Zone
• Edmonton Zone
• Central Zone
• Calgary
• Rural Calgary
• South Zone

For more information visit the Environment Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Education

Answers general environmental public health questions about topics like safe cooking, pest problems, and mould.

Offers classes, courses, presentations, and displays on many environmental public health topics. They are suited to the audience’s needs. Information can be in-person, online, or in home study, and may be available in other languages. Some services offered are:

• bed bugs presentations
• courses for childcare facility staff
• courses to operate temporary food concessions at fairs, festivals, exhibitions, carnivals, or other special events
• displays at trade shows and expos
• food sanitation and hygiene courses (the AHS Food Safety Course is required by Alberta’s Food Regulation)
• hand washing and personal hygiene presentations
• home study on food safety (a certificate in basic food safety may be issued)
• swimming pool operators course
• 3-hour courses on food safety (a certificate in basic food safety may be issued)

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Housing and Illegal Drug Operations

Requires that owners/operators/landlords/property managers keep public housing healthy and safe for tenants. The service follows up on complaints from tenants or other agencies about housing conditions which may include no heat, water problems, structure problems, or pest problems (mice or other rodents, bed bugs or other insects). If conditions could be dangerous to tenants, they may need to move out. The service works with landlords to fix or remove problems. The service can also order dangerous conditions to be fixed like houses used for illegal drug operations (e.g., marijuana grow ops, meth labs).

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - New Business and Plan Approval

Reviews and approves plans for building or renovating restaurants or other food establishments, swimming pools, social care facilities (e.g., daycares and nursing homes), and personal service facilities (e.g., tattoo studios, spas).

Reviews plans for special events (e.g., fairs, exhibitions, or carnivals) to make sure the right services are available (including washrooms and hand wash stations).

Issues permits and licenses needed for some facilities to operate like:

• a Food Handling Permit for food establishments open to the public
• a Public Swimming Pools Regulation License for swimming pools open to the public

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Orders, Disclosure and Legal Activity

Inspects public places. When needed, is granted the power by The Public Health Act to order dangerous conditions to be fixed, removed, destroyed, or declared unfit.

Public health inspectors are designated as executive officers under the Public Health Act (RSA Chapter P-37) and enforce these regulations and standards:

• Alberta Dishwashing Standard
• Bed and Breakfast Health Standards and Guidelines
• Bodies of Deceased Persons Regulation (AR 14/2001)
• Bottled Water and Packaged Ice Facility Standards
• Communicable Diseases Regulation (AR 238/1985)
• Food Regulation (AR 31/2006)
• Food Retail and Foodservices Code
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Barbering and Hairstyling
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Body Piercing and Ear Piercing
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Electrolysis
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Esthetics
• Health Standards and Guidelines for Tattooing
• Housing Regulation (AR 173/1999)
• Institutions Regulation (AR 143/1981)
• Meat Facility Standards
• Minimum Housing and Health Standards
• Nuisance and General Sanitation Regulation (AR 243/2003)
• Personal Services Regulation (AR 20/2003)
• Public Health Act Forms Regulation (AR 197/2004)
• Recreation Area Regulation (AR 198/2004)
• Public Swimming Pool Regulation (204/2014)
• Waiver Regulation (AR 298/2003)

For more information visit Health Enforcement Orders

Environmental Public Health - Personal Services

Prevents illness and infection from spreading by:

• reviewing plans for new businesses
• approving facilities before they open
• doing inspections to make sure practices followed are safe and facilities are maintained as regulation requires
• investigating any complaints from clients.

The requirements of the Personal Services Regulation and its related Health Standards and Guidelines apply to services which offer:

• barbering
• body and ear piercing body
• body and facial waxing
• electrolysis
• facials
• hair styling or hair replacement
• make-up application (temporary or permanent)
• manicures and pedicures
• tattooing

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Environmental Public Health - Recreational Water

Keeps the public from getting sick when using recreational water by:

• approving pool plans
• inspecting pools and other water facilities to ensure water is safe and sanitary
• teaching operators about proper pool maintenance
• reviewing water sample results (local community health centres may accept water samples for testing for E. coli, total coliforms, and Pseudomonas)

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health page.

Environmental Public Health - Risks: Indoor Air, Outdoor Air, Contaminated Sites

Responds to and investigates health risks from activities like sour gas wells, forest fires, and accidental releases of gasoline, pesticides, or other chemicals.

Reviews and makes recommendations to approving authorities regarding proposed land use developments (e.g., intensive livestock operations, industrial plants, or developments on contaminated sites).

Responds to complaints and investigates indoor air in residences, schools, malls, swimming pools, or other public places. Will also respond to and investigate complaints about outdoor air.

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Safe Food

Inspects public food facilities (e.g., restaurants, mobile food trucks, grocery stores, kitchens in daycares and nursing homes) to make sure food is prepared safely.

Applies Food Regulation requirements in public food facilities or operations to areas like:

• bed and breakfast facilities
• commercial caterers
• community organization functions (when food is prepared for the public by volunteers)
• convenience stores and fast food restaurants
• restaurants, delis, and mobile food vendors
• farmers’ markets (licensed by Alberta Agriculture) and their stallholders
• food banks
• food facilities in halls and churches that may be rented to the public
• daycares, nursing homes, group homes, and other care facilities with over 10 clients that offer food service
• grocery stores
• temporary food facilities at special events (e.g., fairs, festivals, exhibitions, carnivals, rodeos)
• water trucks that haul drinking water
• work-camp food facilities

This program offers guidance but will not apply Food Regulation requirements at private functions like:

• bake sales when low risk foods are sold for charity
• food prepared in a private home for family and guests
• potlucks and other functions not open to the public

For more information visit our website.

Environmental Public Health - Social Care

Reviews plans for new businesses and approves facilities as requested by Child and Family Service Authority Licensing, Inspects many adult and childcare facilities routinely and follows up on complaints from clients or their families. May also provide education for staff in social care facilities.

Applies the requirements of the Institutions Regulation in social care facilities including:

• daycares and foster homes
• drop-in centres and shelters
• group family day homes and group homes
• long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and seniors’ lodges
• preschools and out-of-school care
• playgrounds

For more information visit our website

Environmental Public Health - Work Camps

Inspects work camps of all sizes, including camps that move around Alberta or stay in one place. This includes camps used for any type of business (e.g., oil exploration and development, logging, tree planting). Inspections check that food is safely prepared, water is safe to drink, sewage is properly treated and disposed of, and housing conditions are safe.

Teaches companies about requirements for work camps.

Investigates complaints from people living at work camps.

For more information  the Environmental Public Health website

Environmental Public Health Program

Work to keep public places (e.g., restaurants, daycares, pools, rental properties, tattoo studios) safe. Tell people about health risks (e.g., unsafe water or housing). Make sure that the Public Health Act is being followed.

Our services include:

For more information visit the Environmental Public Health website.

Fluoride Protection for Toddlers

Children only need to have a few teeth to start getting fluoride. Applications are given 4 times, once every 6 months. For eligibility information visit our website.

At the appointment:

• The child sits on their parent's lap while staff apply fluoride on the child's teeth using a brush, which takes less than a minute.
• The child can eat and drink right after the treatment.
• The fluoride sticks to the teeth and protects them. It slowly wears off when the teeth are brushed.

If the child has asthma, bring his or her asthma reliever medicine to the appointment.
This provincial prevention service is available in all AHS (Alberta Health Services) zones.

Health Promotion

The Health Promotion team can connect with schools and communities in a variety of ways. Some examples are:

• Assist with bringing people together to develop strategies, plan local events and deliver workshops;
• Increase physical activity;
• Facilitate conversations to support communities as they create a vision, terms of reference or action plan;
• Work in partnership with schools on initiatives such as breakfast programs and student leadership conferences;
• Develop surveys to determine local needs;
• Develop healthy policy.

Home Care

Helps people of all ages who live at home and need medical support including:

• care after surgery
• short-term and long-term care
• palliative and end-of-life care
• respite services 
• equipment for short-term loans

A case manager and nurse meet with clients and help decide which services they need. This service also assesses applications for long-term care, supportive living, and facility respite care.

The Continuing Care Access Line toll free number is available for new patients and their family to call if they have questions or inquiries about accessing Home Care services in their community (during and after regular business hours).

Immunization - Adult and Seniors Services

This service provides routine immunization for adults and seniors. Suggested immunizations;

• a booster dose of tetanus / diphtheria vaccine every 10 years
• an adult booster dose of pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, often combined with one of the tetanus / diphtheria boosters (dTap)
• annual influenza vaccine - for all Albertans 6 months of age and older
• pneumococcal vaccine - for all adults 65 years of age and older and adults with certain health problems

To find out which vaccines are recommended for you and to book an appointment for immunization, call your nearest community/public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community/public health centre is, you can call Health Link at 811.  Bring any immunization records you have to the appointment, especially if you were immunized in another province or country.

For more general information about immunization, go to Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca or call Health Link.

Immunization - Infant and Preschool Services

Alberta Health Services provides routine immunization for infants and children across Alberta. Immunizations are free of charge for infants and children who live in Alberta.

Immunizations are recommended for infants starting at 2 months of age. Routinely recommended vaccines include: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenza type b, rotavirus, meningococcal, pneumococcal, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and influenza.

For the routine immunization schedule, go to immunizealberta.ca.

Additional vaccines may be needed depending on your child’s health conditions or other risk factors.

Immunization is effective. Other than providing safe drinking water, no other health intervention works as well as immunization to reduce disease and death rates. Immunization protects whole communities. The more people who are fully immunized in a community, the safer everyone is.

Immunization is safe.  It is much safer to get immunized than to get the diseases that vaccines protect against. 

For more information, and to book an appointment, call your nearest community/public health centre. If you are not sure where your nearest community/public health centre is, call Health Link at 811. Bring your child’s immunization record to the appointment, especially if your child was immunized in another province or country. 

For more general information about immunization, go to Immunizations at myhealth.alberta.ca, or call Health Link at 811.

Immunization - School Services

This program provides routine immunizations to children in Grades 1, 5, and 9 in school. Before immunizations are given, records are reviewed to see what immunizations each child needs. A consent is then sent home. No immunizations will be given without consent from a parent or legal guardian. Immunizations in this program include:

• Grade 1: for children who have not received routine preschool immunizations, which includes diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella
• Grade 5: Offers Hepatitis B, human papilloma virus (HPV) and varicella (chickenpox) immunization to children who aren't immunized or have NOT had Hepatitis B or varicella disease. In August, 2014 HPV vaccine started being offered to grade 5 boys and girls. There is also a catch-up program for the grade 9 boys and girls who did not receive their vaccine in grade 5
• Grade 9: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and meningococcal vaccine is offered

Mobility Clinics Rural

Offers support for people who live in rural areas and have fallen, are at risk of falling, or who have trouble moving around by:

• assessing their ability to move around (mobility)
• helping them choose canes, crutches or walkers (mobility aids)
• seeing if their homes need special safety equipment
• referring them to other services

Also helps people find out if the cost of their walking aid is covered by Alberta Aids to Daily Living.

Occupational Therapy - Outpatients / Community

Provides services such as:

• assessment
• evaluation
• learn to live with a disability
• manage a chronic disease
• with end-of-life care
• rehabilitation
• treatment
• education
• health promotion

Services are available at outpatient hospital clinics, community health centres, patient’s homes and continuing care / long term care centres.

Note: Services may vary by community – please call for more information.

Oral Health Program

The standard services offered are:

• Fluoride Varnish Program for School Children
• Fluoride Varnish Program for Preschool Children
• Dental Sealant Program for School Children
• Information, education and health promotion to increase Albertans’ ability to maintain and improve their family’s oral health

The DOoR program at Red Deer Johnstone Crossing Community Health Centre provides:

• urgent dental treatment for children with visible tooth decay, pain, broken teeth and signs of infection.

NEW Interactive Fluoride Protection for Toddlers Tool

Physiotherapy - Outpatients / Community

Rehabilitation service for patients who have recently been discharged from hospital or are recovering from surgery.

Provides services such as:

• assessment
• consultation
• evaluation
• treatment
• rehabilitation
• education
• health promotion

Services are available at outpatient hospital clinics, community health centres, patient’s homes and continuing care / long term care centres.

Note: Services may vary by community – please call for more information.

Prenatal Education Programs

Nutrition Class: Starting Off Healthy – Attend before you become pregnant or anytime during your pregnancy:

• Foods and nutrients needed for pregnancy
• Healthy weight gain
• Food demonstration/tasting

Later pregnancy classes - Attend in your second or early third trimester:

1. Delivering Your Baby

• Normal changes in 3rd trimester
• Stages of labour and birth
• When to go to the hospital
• Role of the support person

2. Meeting Your Baby

• Decision making in labour & delivery
• When things don’t go as planned
• What to expect after delivery
• Getting to know your newborn

3. You and Your New Baby

• Feeding your baby
• Learning to breastfeed
• Understanding and responding to your baby

Birth and Babies: Free online course available through AHS Calgary Zone website.

Public Health Breast Pumps

Breast pumps are available for short term loan at Community Health Centres. Contact your local Community Health Centre for details.

Public Health Breastfeeding Support Services

Public Health offers breastfeeding support and education through prenatal education, telephone counseling and home visits. Public Health Nurses respond to breastfeeding questions and concerns.

After the birth of a baby, a Public Health Nurse contacts the mother and asks about how her baby is feeding and offers information and support.

Breastfeeding support services may include support from an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

Public Health Mother Baby Drop In Services

Contact your local Community Health Centre for service options or to speak with a public health nurse. Information provided may include:

• breastfeeding and infant feeding
• healthy eating
• parenting
• growth and development
• injury prevention
• diseases and immunizations

Information and support may be offered in one-to-one, and/or group sessions so parents can connect with other parents and caregivers.

Public Health Nursing

The four areas that are covered by public health nurses include:

• maternal, child and family health
• communicable disease control
• school health
• health promotion

Public Health Postnatal Services

Services are offered to mothers who:

• have been discharged with their baby
• have been discharged while their baby is still in the hospital
• are adopting
• have chosen adoption for their baby 
• had a stillborn baby
• are dealing with loss due to a neonatal (newborn) death

Public health nurses contact families within 48 hours after discharge from the hospital.  They offer support and health assessments of the newborn, mother and family. Discussions with the family guide the information and support provided. Referrals to community resources are available.

Public Health Pregnancy Support Programs

Services include:

• getting ready for birth
• information and activities about healthy eating and lifestyle
• practical and emotional support
• referral to community services

Services are offered either one-to-one or in a group program depending on the community.

Respiratory Therapy Services

Services include:

• respiratory assessments including patient history, history of illness, and physical assessment
• diagnostics including pre and post spirometry, arterial blood gases, and oximetry
• treatment and intervention including asthma Action Plans
• education to families on asthma triggers and respiratory inhalers/medication
• a focus is placed on Asthma Control should look like
• client / caregiver education regarding care plans, lung disorder education and supports
• consultation, follow-up, and referral to other disciplines, agencies, and programs as required
• health promotion and public education to clients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
• Roaring Adventures of Puff School Asthma Program.
• services may include consultation, one-on-one or group therapy
• encouraging the involvement of family, schools, educators, and caregivers in every aspect of care.
• educational workshops in-services regarding respiratory care to health professionals.

School Oral Health Services

Services are offered to eligible schools and may include:

• fluoride varnish, provided to kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2
• dental sealants, provided to Grade 1 and Grade 2

A child diagnosed with asthma must have their short acting asthma reliever medication with them to receive service.

Sexual Health Program- Education Requests

Education and consultation services may include:

• Direct presentations to high school students & alternative schools
• Teacher in service and one-to-one support for grade 4 to 12 teachers to help them teach sexuality and understand current issues and research in sexual health
• resource lending (e.g., DVDs, puberty kits )
• sexuality education programs for parents, youth, schools, service associations, health professionals, or community groups
• one-to-one sexual health consultation

Special projects are developed based on program goals and community requests and needs.

Speech Language Pathology - Children's Rehabilitation Services

Support could include helping your child in the following areas:

• listening and understanding spoken language
• using words to communicate thoughts and ideas
• using language in social situations
• pronunciation of speech sounds
• reading and writing
• stuttering and voice quality
• limited support for feeding and swallowing is also offered
• challenges associated with complex diagnoses, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Neuromuscular conditions, or Head Injury

Services:

• may be provided together with other services, such as Occupational Therapy or Physical Therapy
• may include assessment, consultation, treatment, follow-up, and co-ordination of services
• can be provided on an individual or group basis
• may be offered in many settings, including health centre/clinic, home, school, and community
• are based on the family priorities and goals
• health promotion and public education

Tuberculosis Testing

Offers free tuberculosis (TB) skin testing to eligible Albertans. The Mantoux skin test is not recommended to diagnose TB.

Testing is done at public health centres throughout the province:

• North Zone
• Edmonton Zone
• Central Zone
• Calgary Zone
• South Zone

If you are not eligible for free testing but still need to be tested there will be a charge for the test.

For travel or work related TB testing contact the Travel Health Services in your area. With the exception of Edmonton, you would contact the Immunization Business Unit to have school or work-related TB skin testing done.