Enviros’ community of experiential learning EXCEL GROUP HOME is a residential program for adolescent female offenders who are serving open custody dispositions throughout Alberta.
Since 1986, the EXCEL program has provided services for youth in conflict with the law. In response to a growing need, EXCEL has recently developed a treatment program (ExCEL Discovery Program) addressing addiction and mental health issues in adolescent female young offenders.

The following agencies have joined in a collaborative partnership, to holistically address the treatment needs of adolescent females serving an open custody sentence at the ExCEL Discovery Program:
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC)
Forensic Adolescent Program (FAP) with the Calgary Health Regional (CHR)
Enviros Wilderness School Association (ExCEL Group Home)
Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security
Alberta Learning, Calgary Board of Education, West View Secondary School

The Basics
A basic tenet of the program is the assertion that most adolescent female offenders wish to be successful, and can learn the skills required to achieve success in a community treatment setting that addresses concurrent disorders. Through on site resources such
as school, addiction and mental health therapists, life skills training, group and individual sessions, and experiential programming.

EXCEL DISCOVERY helps adolescent female offenders to realize their own potential thus, reducing the risk factors involved with re-offending and increasing safe healthy living options.

EXCEL DISCOVERY focuses on the treatment needs and readiness of the individual. ExCEL Discovery offers two options for open custody treatment. The first being the Discovery stream, where most residents will start, Discovery offers a place to assess treatment needs and will accommodate residents with short-term sentences. Summit is the second stream; offering more concentrated voluntary treatment for residents serving out a sentence long enough to accommodate treatment, preferably 60 days or more.

Of special concern for the girls at EXCEL DISCOVERY is the topic of gender issues. ExCEL Discovery Program raises awareness of the subtleties of expectation, reality, and self-esteem. The group home program provides positive and successful experiences that the youth can build on for future success.

EXCEL DISCOVERY
Female
Age 12 - 18
Funded by Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security,
In partnership with Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) and Alberta Mental Health
Academic programming provided in partnership with Alberta Learning and the Calgary Board of Education

Contact Manager of Residential Services
Danielle Ladouceur

Contact ExCEL Supervisor
Renita Bartlett