Imagine going back to school this fall, and feeling like something is off with you, but not knowing what it is, why it’s happening or how to fix it. Maybe it’s difficult to manage your emotions, you struggle to make friends or you haven’t been able to function in a school setting.
That’s where CASA Mental Health can help.
CASA helps treat mental health conditions so kids and youth can do better in school, go to school more often and get along better with others.
Five specialized CASA programs offer on-site schooling, small class sizes and – most importantly – integrated mental health treatment: CASA House, day programs for preschoolers, children and adolescents, as well as CASA Classrooms.
These programs can transform a child or youth’s experience at school, by giving them the tools and strategies to thrive.
“I’m so much further than I ever thought I was going to get,” says Faer, a CASA patient, who went to CASA House. “I distinctly remember having thoughts when I was younger, just being like, ‘Well, no, I’m not someone who graduates high school, no, I’m not someone who gets a big job. I’m not someone who can work for extended periods of time.’ And I was able to graduate with honours and outstanding achievement in the arts. And now I have a job, which is something that at one point in life, I never thought I would get.”
This back-to-school season, you can make a difference for kids headed back to class. Kids like Faer.
Make a gift today to ensure more kids and youth with mental health challenges have the resources and support to succeed this school year.
Looking for another way to give? CASA Mental Health offers easy, safe and secure alternatives to giving online. You can donate by e-transfer or over the phone. As well as online giving, we also gratefully accept donations like securities. Call 780-984-4493 to learn more.
An Excerpt From Jill and Faer’s Story
Driving away after dropping your child off at an intensive live-in mental health program is hard.
That’s how Jill Oliver describes feeling after admitting her youth, Faer, to CASA House in 2022.
For Jill’s family, the journey to get the right treatment has been long and challenging, surpassing 10 years. “When Faer was in Grade 2, things came to a head,” says Jill. “The outbursts were dominating the home.”
The following year, Faer was referred to CASA Mental Health and assigned a therapist who helped with emotional regulation. As time went on, it became clear that individual therapy wasn’t enough. Jill and her husband sought out private assessments for a diagnosis, pursued referral after referral and attempted to find a private psychiatrist, paying out of pocket in the hopes of finding the right care for Faer.
