Students at West Central High School in Rocky Mountain House will soon have increased access to mental health supports, as CASA Mental Health is set to launch a new CASA Classroom at the school in February.
CASA Classrooms, a school-based mental health initiative, is a partnership with the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction, the Ministry of Education, and Alberta K-12 school divisions. The program aims to provide accessible mental health services to students who are struggling with mental health challenges.
West Central High School will join Daysland School as the latest additions to the CASA Classroom program, bringing the total number of classrooms operating in central Alberta to five. In addition to these two schools, CASA Classrooms are already in place in Bonnyville, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Fort Saskatchewan, High River, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, Sturgeon County, and Wetaskiwin.
Once the new classrooms are operational, the program will be able to serve up to 480 children and youth annually across Alberta.
“We are very excited to host a CASA Classroom in Wild Rose School Division. The opportunity for students to access critical mental health supports within a classroom setting is a huge benefit to our students and their families,” says Brad Volkman, Superintendent of Schools for Wild Rose School Division. “These services will enhance our ability to provide powerful learning environments to students that focus both on their individual learning and wellness needs.”
The CASA Classroom at West Central will serve students in Grades 8 through 10, while the Daysland classroom will serve Grades 7 through 10. These classrooms are designed to support youth who have not responded well to previous therapy and are struggling with symptoms that affect their social, school, and home lives.
CASA Classrooms bring mental health services directly into the school setting, eliminating the need for caregivers to schedule separate appointments. This approach ensures that students receive therapy and support within their daily environment.
In CASA Classrooms, students participate in individual and group therapy, receive medical care, and engage in school programming designed to support their mental health and academic needs.
Parents also receive education and guidance to help support their child at home, says Dena Pedersen, director of clinical operations at CASA Mental Health. This includes connections to community resources to assist their child after the program ends.
Along with Rocky and Daysland, another CASA Classroom is also expected to open at F.E. Osborne School in Calgary in February.
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