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Program Closed
Program Closed
Dear School Teams,
On behalf of the Southwest Collaborative Support Services and our partners, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to each of you for your active participation in the Mental Health in Schools Pilot Project.
In partnership and consultation with Addictions & Mental Health – South Zone and multiple school divisions across the Southwest Region of Alberta, our collaborative has worked diligently to address the significant and ongoing need to bridge the gap between school-based and community mental health supports—particularly in both rural and urban settings.
Your engagement has been instrumental in the success of this pilot. As you know, when school divisions exhaust their in-house mental health resources, they bring forward cases to the Complex Case Team. To support these critical Tier 3 consultations and ensure the needs of children, youth, and families are being met, we were fortunate to receive grant funding for two 1.0 FTE Southwest Regional Student Wellness Companions, along with associated resource costs.
The goal of this initiative has been to ensure equitable access and consistent connection to mental health resources for Tier 3 students and families—regardless of their community size or location. Through your collaboration and commitment, we have made great strides in bridging the gap between school and community supports.
While we recognize that this project cannot fill every gap in the region, it has significantly addressed many, and your support has been a vital part of that progress.
Unfortunately, our Pilot Project wraps up on June 30, 2025. We are working toward revamping student support within the SW Collaborative and look forward to connecting in the fall. Thank you again for your dedication, your partnership, and your ongoing advocacy for student mental health and wellness.
Alberta Education Mental Health in School's Pilot Project
Alberta Education Mental Health in School's Pilot Project
The Southwest Collaborative Support Services in partnership/consultation with Addictions & Mental Health – South Zone and multiple school divisions in the SW Region of Alberta, continue
to identify a significant need to bridge the gap between both rural and urban school and community mental health supports. Once school divisions have exhausted their in-house resources, they bring forward a case consultation to the Complex Case Team.
In order to provide effective tier 3 support for these consultations and ensure the needs of children, youth, and families are being met, we are were successful in receiving grant funding for 2.0 FTE Student Wellness Companions.
In the southwest region, the core partners are committed to continuing to work together to address the needs of children/youth and families with the resources available. The Southwest Collaborative Support Services is a framework intended to strengthen the ability of families, schools, service providers and community partners to understand and to respond to the needs of children and youth in a timely, inclusive and equitable manner.
The Student Wellness Companions (SWC) will provide students/families of tier 3 Complex Case Consultations equitable access and ongoing connection to mental health resources in the region; thus, bridging the gap between school and community. The Student Wellness Companion will have a desire to improve and identify the pathways for students and families to access necessary community resources.
Duties and Responsibilities:
● provide leadership, direction and structure to support the overall vision, goals and objectives on the Mental Health in Schools Pilot Project within the Southwest Region
● bridge connection and sustainability through assessing, planning and collaborating with community and cultural partners to support students/families in navigating available system services.
● Develop and implement a plan for a Mental Health Resource Bank that can be updated regularly and shared within the southwest region
● Ensure timely submission of financial, statistical and narrative reports as required
● Liaise with school administration, community partners, cultural partners and other stakeholders
● Attend by-weekly Complex Case Reviews (virtual and in-person)
● Liaise with the Complex Case Team throughout the school-year to set appropriate support plans throughout the summer months.
● Collaborate with multi-ministry community partners to identify sustainable community support and identify and connect families to effective mental health resources.
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