Alberta Distance Learning Centre is a safe space and our counsellors' offices are safe spaces.   Andrea Robin, Gary Simpson and Kerry Smith are counsellors for Alberta Distance Learning Centre and Vista Virtual School program students.  Parents and students in both programs are welcome to contact me regarding course selection, exam conditions, unique educational needs, educational and career goals, and scolarships.   You can phone us toll free from inside Canada at 1-866-774-5333. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Alberta Distance Learning Centre, EXT 6252 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Alberta Distance Learning Centre, EXT 5220 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , Vista Virtual School, EXT 6220

Note: Online resources are no substitute for professional medical or counselling assistance. Students needing to speak with a counsellor about personal issues should seek assistance from a qualified counsellor, registered psychologist, or licensed social worker in their local communities.

Bullying Resources

• Students who experience bullying are encouraged to visit the Alberta Government website Bully Free Alberta. The Province of Alberta operates a toll-free line for support and advice for dealing with bullying. The help line, staffed by trained counsellors, is available 24 hours a day seven days a week. The toll-free number for Alberta residents is 1-888-456-2323.
• Healthy Settings for Young People in Canada is a Public Health Canada online book covering numerous topics related to child and youth health.  One chapter discusses bullying and fighting. 

Emergency Resources

• Alberta Council of Women's Shelters. The Council assists local women's shelters in Alberta. Referrals to individuals in local shelters can be obtained by contacting the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters at 1.866.331.3933. People who are in immediate danger need to dial 911 or contact their local police department. 
• Alberta Food Bank Network Association. The Alberta Food Banks website provides a list of food banks in Alberta. 
• Bissel Centre. Bissel is an Edmonton organization offering a wide range of services, including temporary child care, programs to provide support for parents, employment services, services for homeless people (examples - showers and laundry), lunches, Fetal Alcohol services, recreation activities, thrift shop and inner city victim services.
• Calgary Drop-in Centre. The Drop-in Centre offers assistance with housing for homeless people.
• Calgary Foodbank. The Calgary Foodbank offers programs such as emergency food hampers and hampers for the homeless.
• Canadian Association of Poison Control Centres, serving Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. Emergency toll free phone number inside Alberta and the Northwest Territories - 1-800-332-1414. The toll free Saskatchewan emergency number is 1-866-454-1212. People living in Calgary or outside of Alberta can also phone 403-944-1414.
• Child Welfare - Child Intervention Services. Students who are being abused or neglected and individuals who have reason to believe a child is being abused or neglected can call the Alberta Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-387-5437. The Child Abuse Hotline is a toll-free number for people living inside of Alberta.
• Distress Centre, Calgary. The Distress Centre provides free 24-hour crisis support and referral services. The Distress Centre can be contacted by phone at 403-266-HELP or 403-266-4357.
• Edmonton Food Bank. In addition to providing food hampers, the Edmonton Food Bank has programs that include a day-old bread program, collective kitchens, community meal information and information about discount groceries.
• Family physician. A family doctor can help with medical needs and can refer young people to counselling services in the community.
• Hope Mission. This Edmonton agency provides emergency accommodations, meals, thrift shop and other services.  
• Hospital. In some Alberta communities, mental health counsellors work in hospitals. Nurses, physicians, and counsellors know of local community agencies providing emergency assistance.
• Municipal police or Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The RCMP website has addresses and phone numbers for their detachments. Select the province and then click on detachments for a list of RCMP detachments.
• Reference Directory, Edmonton. The Reference Directory has contact information for the Edmonton Police and Fire Departments, agencies providing assistance with housing, clothing and food, emergency utilities and medical inquiries.
• The Support Network. This Edmonton area agency has a data base of community agencies for the Edmonton region. It also offers walk-in counselling, youth crisis chat, caregiver support, and a distress line. The distress line has an easy to remember telephone number: 482-HELP (482-4357).
• Woods Homes, Calgary. Woods Homes provides services for children and their families. The services provided include residential treatment centres, homeless youth shelter and stabilization services for families in crisis. 
• Youth at Risk. Site has information about how to support people who are at risk of suicide. The site has phone numbers Albertans can contact when they are in crisis. People living in other regions of Canada can find crisis phone numbers for their area on the website.
• Youth Empowerment And Support Services Edmonton. YESS provides an emergency shelter and other services for youth.

General Resources

• 211 Edmonton. 211 provides people with assistance finding agencies and services that can provide support in a wide variety of areas. People living in the Edmonton, Alberta area can access the service by dialing 211. 
• Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary. The Aboriginal Friendship Centre provides social, cultural, education and employment services to the Aboriginal peoples in the Calgary area.
• Aboroginal Resources - General. A number of general resources for First Nation students can be found on our Academic Advising for Aboriginal Students web page.
• Bissel Centre. Bissel is an Edmonton organization offering a wide range of services, including temporary child care, programs to provide support for parents, employment services, services for homeless people (examples - showers and laundry), lunches, Fetal Alcohol services, recreation activities, thrift shop and inner city victim services.
• Calgary Aboriginal Services Guide, a document that provides contact information for the various services members of First Nations groups living in Calgary may need to access. The Aboriginal Services Guide provides a wide range of services, not limited to services used exclusively by First Nation peoples. The Guide is found on the City of Calgary website.
• Calgary United Way. The United Way in Calgary offers numerous programs for youth, including programs for Aboriginal youth, children and youth from immigrant strategies, and vulnerable youth. Contact the United Way for information about the full range of programs offered by the United Way of Calgary.
• Churches, mosques, synagogues, and other places of worship are sources of assistance. Some larger congregations have professionally trained counsellors. Members of the clergy are often aware of different community resources.
• Deal. The Deal website is sponsored by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The site has articles about issues youth may face.
• Inform Alberta. Website has an online directory for agencies through Alberta.
• Islamic Family Social Services Association, Edmonton. Islamic Family Services offers programs related to healthy families, counselling, immigrants and a food and clothing bank.
• Jewish Family Services, Edmonton. Jewish Family Services offers services such as advocacy, bereavement, counselling, immigrant support, seniors transitions and Holocaust survivor support.
• Jewish Family Service, Calgary. Calgary Jewish Family Service has programs related to job search, senior citizen support, immigrant support, counselling, food bank/pantry, affordable housing and financial assistance.
• GLBT Resources - General. Our Academic Advising web page for Sexual Minority Students has numerous resources.
• Invest in Kids. Site has a section with tips for parents.
• Kids Help Line. The Kids Help Line has a bilingual (English and French) website. According to the Kids Help Line website, "Each of our counsellors has access to a database of more than 36,000 community and social service agencies that allows us to refer callers to services in their own area - right across the country." The Kids Help Line has a 24-hour toll-free line for students living in Canada: 1-800-668-6868.
• McMan Youth, Family and Community Services has services in northern Alberta (Barrhead/Whitecourt, Edson/Hinton, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray), Edmonton, central Alberta (Innisfail), Calgary, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat areas. The services can vary from region to region. 
• Metis Calgary Family Services Society. Metis Family Services offers a range of services to Aboriginal children and families.
• Native Counselling Services of Alberta. This Edmonton based agency provides a variety of health, wellness, family and legal-related services.
• PFLAG Canada (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).  Site has resources for family and friends of individuals who are members of a sexual minority.
• School officials. A teacher, counsellor, or principal may know the social service agencies or the names of people who can provide youth with the assistance.
• Sunrise Native Addictions Services Society. Sunrise offers programs to assist Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in recovery from addictions. 
• The Support Network. This Edmonton area agency has an online directory of community agencies for the Edmonton region and northern Alberta. A phone number is provided for people who are unable to find the service they need in the online data base. They also offer walk-in counselling, youth crisis chat, caregiver support, and a distress line. The distress line has an easy to remember telephone number: 780-482-HELP (780-482-4357).
• Woods Homes, Calgary. Woods Homes provides services for children and their families. The services provided include residential treatment centres, homeless youth shelter and stabilization services for families in crisis.
• Youth Empowerment And Support Services Edmonton. YESS provides an emergency shelter and other services for youth.

Accommodations

• Alberta Council of Women's Shelters. The Council assists local women's shelters in Alberta. Referrals to individuals in local shelters can be obtained by contacting the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters at 1.866.331.3933. People who are in immediate danger need to dial 911 or contact their local police department. 
• Avenue 15 Youth Shelter. The Avenue 15 shelter is operated by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Calgary.
• Bissel Centre. Bissel is an Edmonton organization offering a wide range of services, including temporary child care, programs to provide support for parents, employment services, services for homeless people (examples - showers and laundry), lunches, Fetal Alcohol services, recreation activities, thrift shop and inner city victim services.
• Calgary Drop-in Centre. The Drop-in Centre offers assistance with housing for homeless people.
• Hope Mission. This Edmonton agency provides emergency accommodations, meals, thrift shop and other services.  
• Inn from the Cold, Calgary. The Inn provides emergency shelter and support.
• Mustard Seed - Edmonton and Calgary. The Mustard Seed assists people with food, clothing, emergency shelter and spiritual care.
• Raido House. Raido provides shelter and assistance to homeless Calgary teens aged 14 to 17.
• Servants Anonymous Society. Servants Anonymous, a Calgary agency, provides assistance to at-risk ladies and youth, and their children.
• The Doorway. This Calgary agency offers services to assist young people to get off the streets.
• Woods Homes, Calgary. Woods Homes provides services for children and their families. The services provided include residential treatment centres, homeless youth shelter and stabilization services for families in crisis.
• Youth Empowerment And Support Services Edmonton. YESS provides an emergency shelter and other services for youth.

Counselling, Health & Mental Health

• Awo Taan Healing Lodge. The lodge provides services for women and children of all cultures, who suffered abuse or violence, and would like service in an Aboriginal atmosphere.
• Addiction Services is part of Alberta Health Services.  Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) is the branch of Alberta Health Services that provides counselling services for people with alcohol, drug, tobacco, and gambling addictions. The AADAC website is an excellent source of information about drugs, drug abuse, and addictions. Alberta Health Services offers a toll-free 24-hour hotline for people needing to access addictions services. The phone number is 1-866-332-2322.
• Canadian Legal Frequently Asked Questions.  This website provides English and French information for frequently asked regarding Canadian and Alberta law.  One section discusses laws relating to renting a home.  Students should contact a lawyer to confirm facts and to obtain legal advice before acting on any legal information provided online.
• Calgary Urban Projects Society. CUPS has programs providing medical clinic care, educational programs and housing assistance for low-income families and individuals.
• Canadian Mental Health Association. The website for the Alberta division of the Canadian Mental Health Association has articles about stress, anger, unemployment, parenting, divorce, mental illness, and mental wellness.
• Career Information Hotline. Monday to Friday available from 8:15 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Toll-free (within Canada) 1-800-661-3753. Students living in Edmonton are able to phone a local number, 780-422-4266.
• Family physician. A family doctor can help with medical needs and can refer young people to counselling services in the community.
• Hospital. In some Alberta communities, mental health counsellors work in hospitals. Nurses, physicians, and counsellors know of local community agencies providing emergency assistance.
• HealthLink Alberta. This agency provides 24 hour telephone advice and health information. The toll-free number for residents of Alberta is 1-866-408-5465. The website has links to each of the health regions in Alberta. Clicking on the appropriate part of the Alberta map links to a website for that health region. The health region websites have phone numbers and addresses for hospitals in that region.
• My Health Alberta. The website provides phone numbers for Health Link Alberta, Poison and Drug Information Service, Addiction Services Helpline, Income Support Contact Centre and Medicine and Herbal Advice Line. Articles about different health topics and an online system for finding health care facilities are also on the My Health website.
• Woods Homes, Calgary. Woods Homes provides services for children and their families. The services provided include residential treatment centres, homeless youth shelter and stabilization services for families in crisis.

Food

• Alberta Food Bank Network Association. The Alberta Food Banks website provides a list of food banks in Alberta. 
• Bissel Centre. Bissel is an Edmonton organization offering a wide range of services, including temporary child care, programs to provide support for parents, employment services, services for homeless people (examples - showers and laundry), lunches, Fetal Alcohol services, recreation activities, thrift shop and inner city victim services.
• Calgary Foodbank. The Calgary Foodbank offers programs such as emergency food hampers and hampers for the homeless.
• Calgary Interfaith Foodbank.
• Edmonton Food Bank. In addition to providing food hampers, the Edmonton Food Bank has programs that include a day-old bread program, collective kitchens, community meal information and information about discount groceries.
• Hope Mission. This Edmonton agency provides emergency accommodations, meals, thrift shop and other services.
• Mustard Seed - Edmonton and Calgary. The Mustard Seed assists people with food, clothing, emergency shelter and spiritual care.

Financial

• Debt Solutions. Service is provided A.C. Waring and Associates, Alberta’s Debt Resolution Advisor.
• Money Mentors. This non-profit agency helps Albertans with budgeting and debt management strategies.

Legal

• Access to Justice Network.  ACJNet is a service provided by the Legal Resource C.entre of Alberta.  A wide variety of legal information can be found on the ACJNet. Students should contact a lawyer to confirm facts and to obtain legal advice before acting on any legal information provided online.
• Bissel Centre. Bissel is an Edmonton organization offering a wide range of services, including temporary child care, programs to provide support for parents, employment services, services for homeless people (examples - showers and laundry), lunches, Fetal Alcohol services, recreation activities, thrift shop and inner city victim services.
• Dial-A-Law. Dial-A-Law provides recorded legal information on various topics. There is a toll free number for people living inside Alberta (1-800-332-1091), as well as a Calgary local number (403-234-9022).
• Elizabeth Fry Society serves youth and women. Elizabeth Fry has offices in Edmonton and Calgary. The programs in Edmonton and Calgary vary some.  
• John Howard Society. The John Howard Society has offices in Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. John Howard Society aims to reduce crime and improve community safety by providing services for offenders and their families, ex-offenders, youth and the general public. The services provided at each office may vary, depending on the needs of the local community.
• Law and Abused Immigrant Women.  The Rosenet-ca website describes forms of abuse, explains why some women remain in abusive relationships and legal protection for women who have been abused, and provides resources, including links to safe houses.
• Legal Aid Alberta. Clients who meet are financially eligible for Legal Aid Alberta assistance may be able to receive referrals, legal information, legal advice and legal services and representation. The Legal Aid website explains how clients can access legal aid and contact information for Legal Aid offices.
• Legal FAQs.  Website provides answers to frequently asked Canadian and Alberta legal questions.