Introduction
The Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Wellness Centre is locally operated by a non-profit Society, (the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Health & Wellness Society), and is a 14-bed non-medical Accredited Residential Treatment Facility for both male and female clientele. Our clients are 19 years of age and over and are currently experiencing substance abuse problems. Our program is designed to assist both native and non-native individuals in freeing themselves from their chemical dependency and discover/re-discover healthy, responsible living.
The Centre first opened in 1977 as a Recovery Home for people waiting to go to treatment. We evolved into a Treatment Centre in 1992. In 1997 the Centre became incorporated under the Society Act of B.C., thus became known as The Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Health & Wellness Society and have been in good standing ever since.
We applied for and have been granted Charitable Status through the Federal Government in order to help us secure the extra funding.
The Centre has recently received our Accreditation through the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation. This means we have achieved and maintain national standards of quality for health services. This is an achievement we are very proud of!
We also currently developed a Mobile Outreach Program & an Outpatient Service to facilitate as-needed emergency/initial contact assistance with surrounding and isolated communities.
The Centre currently has 10 employees - which include six (6) Certified Addictions Counsellors, two (2) Administrative Staff, and two (2) cooks. We also employ a Psychologist on contract that is available for each Treatment Program.
The Centre currently offers Residential Treatment Programs which are:
6- week Co-ed Alcohol & Drug Treatment,
3- week Co-ed Residential School Trauma Healing Program,
12-week Co-ed Methamphetamine Treatment Program (There will be no Age Limit on this Particular Program).
Each Treatment Program is followed by an Individualized Aftercare Program as well as providing further assistance in re-establishing stability in his or her own community. Clients come from all over B.C., AB., and Sask.
In the Summer of 2006, the Wellness Centre will be moving to a new larger location only a short distance from our current location. This was made possible by Grants and Donations received, Major Contributors are The Vancouver Foundation & The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, with out their support this would not have been possible.
With this new move we will be implementing a much needed After-Care Service for Clients not ready to face the world just yet - to help them with the tools they will need in a life of sobriety (i.e. self-esteem building, education, job-training, Life-Skills, Family Reconstruction). We expect the After-Care Program to start in the summer of 2006. The Centre would then provide 12-16 beds for Treatment and 4-8 beds for Aftercare.
The expected length of stay for the After-Care Program can be anywhere from 1-month to 2 years. During this time Clients will attend the 6-week Treatment Program (unless they have just graduated such a program from another recognized Treatment Centre), then go into the After Care portion of the program, which consists of Family Reconstruction, Self-esteem building, Basic Upgrading, Lifeskills Program, Trades Program (Horticulture, Electrician, Carpentry, etc.) for this the Centre will partner with the College of the Rockies (Creston Campus). The last phase of the Program will be Computer Training, Resume Building and Job Seeking skills, which the Centre will partner with Kootenay Employment Services.
We are also hoping to become self-sufficient through agricultural land use (i.e. traditional/medicinal herbs, roots and berries as well as vegetables, nut and fruit trees) for use of our clients as well as for public sale. This would provide job-training and job-creation opportunities for our clients in After-Care as well as local community members. Planting, cultivating, gathering and use of traditional/medicinal herbs, roots, berries and fruit/nut trees promotes both a healthy lifestyle and the Recreational Therapy component to our After-Care Program.
We are hoping to be a model for other Treatment Providers so that they can see the benefit of helping clients learn Life Skills, partake in Recreational Therapy, upgrade their education, gain self-esteem, stress reduction methods and new coping skills. There is a demonstrated need for a place to recover over a longer period of time and in which to learn new skills and capabilities so that they can transition in to Society as a healthy, contributing individual.
Another welcoming addition to the Centre will be Full-time Cultural Advisors and Resident Elders, whom will teach Culture and Tradition to Clients of the Centre. They will provide guidance with hands-on experience on spiritual healing, increase the usage and knowledge of First Nations Culture and Traditions (i.e. Sweat Lodge, Healing Circles, Drumming, gathering and use of traditional natural resources such as berries, roots, herbs, grasses & flowers), and coordinating cultural lessons through Arts & Crafts (i.e. beadwork, drum-making, medicine pouches, dreamcatchers, etc).
As the KKWC clients come from various First Nations cultures, lessons will incorporate different First Nations Traditions, Cultures and Values. These services will target the needs of KKWC clients. Spirituality, confidence, self esteem, a sense of belonging and purpose become re-established. This effect "ripples" from each person to many others.