The loss of a local nurse tied to a number of sexual health programs will be keenly felt at Barrhead Composite High School.
For students who participate in Rebecca Carr’s Career and Life Management (CALM) classes at BCHS, April 26 was the last chance to interact with nurse Dalerie Felstad, whose contract with Alberta Health Services (AHS) has recently expired.
Carr said Felstad is an integral part of programs such as COOL and PARTY, both which are geared towards prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as sexual education, adding it is a big loss for the community.
“There isn’t somebody set to take Dalerie’s place either,” Carr said, adding Felstad will be operating out of Westlock.
There are enough volunteers that PARTY will continue despite Felstad’s absence, Carr said, but it is uncertain how the change will affect other programs like CALM and COOL.
BCHS counsellor and teacher Margryt Rispens said Felstad will be missed by staff and more especially, by students who have come to trust her.
“From a counseling stand-point, I have a lot of girls who come in to my office who are having unprotected sex and I often call Dalerie to come talk to them,” Rispens said, adding many of the students reach out to Felstad specifically and wondered how the dynamics will change now that instead of a familiar face, these same students will now have to speak to a stranger.
“When you cut something like this out, the kids will have no idea where to turn,” she said.
Added fellow BCHS counsellor Karen Ladan: “There are still options in Barrhead, like the public health nurses, but it won’t be the same for the students.”
Ladan added that it is going to be difficult to have Felstad’s presentations about alcohol and consent handled by another person, possibly RCMP school resource officer Const. Robert Hynes.
AHS senior communications advisor Kirsten Goruk declined to comment on staffing.
“She has been a great resource and it is a huge, huge loss for us. Our province is No. 1 in the country for sexually transmitted infections, so where the logic is behind this move by AHS is beyond me. They aren’t calling it a job elimination because she’s still employed, but she won’t be in Barrhead anymore, and that means the relationships she has worked so hard to foster and develop, those are going to be gone,” she said.
