CASA Classrooms
CASA Mental Health is partnering with the Government of Alberta, community partners and school divisions to deliver mental health care in classrooms. CASA Classrooms will address the need for services closer to students by bridging a child’s mental health and school needs, through a coordinated approach by a mental health team and a teacher.
What happens in this program?
Students receive individual and group therapy, psychiatric care, medication and school programming according to their individual need. This is provided by a team of mental health professionals, a specialized teacher and support staff.
Caregivers will receive mental health education, connections to community supports and resources to better support their child/youth. School staff will receive similar supports in order to be better able to support the child in the classroom after the program.
Students will remain in the program for approximately half the school year, followed by another half-year of transition support.
Who is this program for?
CASA Classrooms are designed for students in grades four through 12 with mental health diagnoses. These students:
- have not responded as expected to previous therapy and continue to have symptoms that impact their home, social and school life;
- are currently under the care of a physician, nurse practitioner or psychiatrist; and
- are willing to participate in individual and group therapy with their family.
Students may come from schools within a CASA Classroom’s geographical school area.
How do I access this program?
Children and youth must be referred to CASA Classrooms by their school. For more in-depth referral information, please contact infoclassrooms@casaservices.org.
CASA offers monthly information sessions for caregivers and other community members who are interested in CASA Classrooms. Sessions are held on the third Thursday of each month, from 4 – 4:45 p.m. To attend an upcoming session, please contact infoclassrooms@casaservices.org.
Where are CASA Classrooms?
Opened February 2023
Gibbons: Gibbons School (grades seven to nine)
Sturgeon County: Sturgeon Composite High School (grades 10-12)
Opened September 2023
Edmonton: J.A. Fife School (grades four to six)
Fort Saskatchewan: Fort Saskatchewan Elementary (grades four to six)
Edmonton: St. Gabriel Catholic School (grades seven to nine)
Opening February 2024
Medicine Hat: Southview Community School (grades four to six)
Red Deer: Escuela Vista Grande School (grades four to eight)
Wetaskiwin: Wetaskiwin Outreach School (grades seven to 11)
Opening September 2024
Calgary Zone
Central Zone
North Zone
South Zone
Opening February 2025
TBD
Publications
Please see a list of available publications:
- CASA Classrooms Publication (November 2023)
- Information for Physicians and Primary Care Networks (November 2023)
- Information for Families (November 2023)
- CASA Classrooms Caregiver Handbook (September 2023)
