CASA Classrooms Program Overview
CASA is focused on implementing programs that meet needs of the “missing middle” within the spectrum of mental health care. What is the “missing middle”? The stepped care model (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2022), identifies that level 1 & 2 services of prevention, promotion and early intervention/treatment are best suited to be delivered by primary care and community programs, while level 5 & 6 intensive, complex specialty care services are best delivered within a hospital or secure care facility. CASA Classrooms are targeted to treat and support those children and adolescents requiring level 3 to 4 intensity treatment, and safe to receive care within a community school.
Support & Programming
CASA’s has partnered with school divisions to deliver intensive clinical interventions and individualized programming within the local classroom setting. Children and adolescents will receive onsite treatment and supports from health care professionals including:
- A full time mental health therapist.
- A full time classroom behavioural specialist.
- A part time psychiatrist or CanReach trained physician.
- A part time nurse.
- A part time social worker.
Treatment and supports within the CASA Classroom will include:
- Comprehensive assessment to inform a focused treatment plan.
- Education related to self-management of mental wellness.
- Medication trials and management.
- Weekly individual and group therapy.
- Weekly parent groups.
- Referrals to relevant community and social supports.
- Tapered management and supported transition back to usual school and health care team.
The CASA Classroom hosted by The Centre for Diverse Learning at St. Gabriel School (Grades 7-9) and St. Joseph High School (Grades 10-12) with Edmonton Catholic, will provide treatment for up to 12 patient/students, with a usual treatment length of 5 months that may include one day per week at their home school. Once the child/adolescent has completed their classroom treatment, they will be provided with tapering intensity/frequency treatment for another 5 months. During this time, the Classroom Team will support the child/adolescent to transition to their home school and usual health care team.
Who are CASA Classrooms for?
Children and adolescents primarily exhibiting internalizing behaviours or emotional dysregulation that have previously accessed mental health supports provided by a registered mental health professional (school and/or community-based) and have not demonstrated symptom improvement.
Target Population/Demographic
- Alberta registered student enrolled in grades 7-12.
- Children and adolescents that have accessed previous school and community based interventions provided by a registered mental health professional that have not benefited, responded and/or demonstrated symptom improvement.
- One or more confirmed diagnoses (or confirmed single + unidentified/underlying).
- CALOCUS Level 3 children and youth (requiring high intensity community based services).
Referral Process Information
CASA Classrooms are a partnership between CASA and Edmonton Catholic Schools; therefore, all referrals will be made through ECSD. Community School Administration and Instructional Coach initiate the process of a CASA classroom referral by contacting their Inclusive Consultant to help determine if a student from their school is an appropriate referral. If the student referral meets the eligibility criteria, the community school Inclusive Consultant will then connect with affiliated CASA classroom Inclusive Consultant to further discuss the referral. Once the referral meets all criteria needed, the community school Inclusive Consultant will submit the referral to CASA on behalf of the community school.
While the patient/student may meet the criteria for admission, program acceptance is reviewed by the multidisciplinary team and dependent on the following factors:
- Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria
- Primary concern
- Level of risk
- Diagnosis
- Therapeutic milieu/case mix
*Adapted with permission from CASA Mental Health