At The Alex we see the whole story of health.
We meet people where they’re at with dignity and treat everyone with respect. We listen. We understand. We see unique human experiences and the social and environmental factors that shape people’s health: poverty, trauma, financial and housing stability, food security, social and community inclusion.
We take a comprehensive view of the big-picture factors that influence individual and community wellbeing. Because life’s not simple, our solutions rarely come ready-made. And that’s OK. Over 10,000 Calgarians walk through our doors each year, so we tailor solutions to the person before us. Our creative minds are always engaged, ready to find ways to say ‘yes’ to those we support, and to walk alongside people from crisis to wellness and from challenge to change.
OUR VISION
The Alex envisions a healthy and caring community where everyone is valued and can thrive.
OUR MISSION
To improve quality of life through accessible and integrated health, housing and social services.
It All Adds Up at The Alex
On National Philanthropy Day, we launched a new ambitious campaign to raise awareness and critical funds for The Alex. With your support, we aim to raise $250,000 to fill the gaps and address the pressing needs of our community members. Join us by making a donation to https://give.thealex.ca/
Community Health, Wellness, and Social Programs
The Alex provides a model of care that addresses the interdependencies between physical and mental health, economic and housing stability, and community and social well-being.
“Social” programming means interventions and activities to stabilize income and reduce social isolation. “Wellness” programming includes evidence-based interventions and supports outside of the traditional disease management model that promote physical and mental health. Research shows that adding social and wellness programming to the mix of health care services can dramatically improve health, well-being, and overall quality of life for vulnerable people – making Calgary a better place for all.
That’s why our goal is to raise $4 million in funds for the social, mental, and community health care components of our programs:
The Alex Community Health Centre provides physical and mental health care and social supports to low-income Calgarians. It reduces barriers by providing a comprehensive suite of wrap-around services that includes a lab, family physicians, mental health programming and supports, pharmacy, specialty care, social workers, justice navigators, and more, all under one roof.
The Alex Youth Health Centre (YHC) provides services in an accessible, non-judgmental and youth-friendly environment. Serving youth aged 12-24, the YHC reduces barriers to accessing physical and mental health care for at-risk youth who are street-connected, at risk of being homeless, or experiencing homelessness.
The Alex Community Food Centre (CFC) offers education and engagement programs to low-income community members in the Greater Forest Lawn area. We aim to improve overall health and social connections through community meals, peer support, food and garden skills classes, and more. It’s an innovative, results-oriented solution that strives to tackle seemingly intractable problems like hunger, poverty, and poor health, and make real change in our community.
The Alex’s fleet of mobile health buses has been a pillar of our programming since 2001, demonstrating the power of responsive health care mixed with strong social supports. The Community, Dental Health, and Youth Health Buses act as mini community-health centres, bringing wraparound care directly to those who may encounter challenges accessing or navigating the traditional system.
The Alex’s model of integrated supports includes a full range of tools to address community members’ needs. Combining medical and social teams allows us to help people address both their immediate health needs and the root causes of concerns.
Together, there is nothing but possibility. We can strengthen our community. We can tackle tough health and social issues, walking alongside people from crisis to wellness and from challenge to change.