Abbottsfield Partners for Kids and Youth     

CASA is one of six partner organizations providing services at this store-front resource centre for the children and families in the north east Edmonton community of Abbottsfield.

The partnership also includes Edmonton Community Services, Edmonton Police, Alberta Health Services, Alberta Children and Youth Services, and the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society. The project was introduced to the community in 1995 in response to rapidly escalating rates of child abuse, substance abuse, crime and other social and mental health issues. The mission of the project is to eliminate child abuse through social and family development.

Located in the Abbottsfield Mall, the team provides a wide range of health and social services using a collaborative team service delivery model. Residents of that community can schedule appointments or drop in as needed. Outreach to homes and communities is also available.

A CASA School Age Services therapist is assigned to the project for three days per week. That person is a full member of the Abbottsfield team and provides mental health services to children and families at that site. The therapist is also a member of one of CASA’s multidisciplinary clinical teams and consults with them regularly. While a psychiatrist does not attend the site, the therapist has ready access to consultation with the team psychiatrist and can refer for more services as required.