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.
The first wave will introduce CASA Classrooms to two schools in the Sturgeon area in February 2023, expanding throughout Alberta until 2025.
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, and must be referred by their school.
How do I access this program?
Children and youth must be referred to CASA Classrooms by their school. For more in-depth information on CASA Classrooms, contact info@casaservices.org.
Publications
Please see a list of available publications:
- CASA Classrooms Publication (March 2023)
- Information for Physicians and Primary Care Networks (April 2023)
- Information for Families (May 2023)
