CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA:
THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
Alberta Health and Wellness
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
• September, 2006: Release of Positive Futures – Optimizing Mental Health for Alberta’s Children
and Youth: A Framework for Action (2006-2016)
3 Strategic Directions
 $38.9 invested in Alberta Health and Wellness children’s mental health promotion and prevention
projects, including building mental health capacity in schools
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
The Children’s Mental Health Plan for Alberta: Three Year Action Plan (2008-2011) was announced
on August 29, 2008.
• 3 year action plan to improve access to mental health services for children, youth and their
families; and to address the needs of children and youth at risk.
• Informed by Positive Futures and the implementation planning that occurred over the past two
years with 9 ministries, AADAC, the AMHB and regional health authorities.
• Includes an investment of $50.5 million in 6 strategies with 23 actions.
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
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Safe Communities
Enhanced access to school addictions counselors
Addiction Prevention in Schools
Treatment for Perpetrators of Family Violence
Protection of Children Abusing Drugs enhancement
Increased treatment beds for young adults with addictions
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Cross-ministry Initiatives
Student Health
Children and Youth with Complex Needs
Prevention of Family Violence and Bullying
FASD Strategy
Alberta Mentoring Partnership (Leadership Team) Strategy
Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy
Building Mental Health Capacity in Schools (wellness,
resiliency and mental health promotion)
CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
GOAL 1: ACCESS
Improve equitable access to the full range of children’s mental health services across
the province and decrease children’s mental health wait-times for services. This will be
achieved by building local capacity and implementing innovative strategies that serve
infants, children, youth and their families in their own communities where they live,
learn and play.
GOAL 2: CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK
Improve access to effective and innovative services across the mental health
continuum through innovative partnerships between health areas, schools and
community agencies. This includes prevention, early intervention, treatment and
supports that address the needs of children and youth at risk, including the needs of
Aboriginal and immigrant/refugee children and youth.
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
GOAL 1:
ACCESS
STRATEGY 1
Implement coordinated access standards for children’s mental health services for
emergent care (within 24 hrs.), urgent care (within 2 weeks) and scheduled visits
(within 30 days).
Western Canada Waiting List Children’s Mental Health Services
1.
Prioritization Tool
2.
Mental health workers in urban ERs and crisis triage therapists in rural areas
3.
Urgent bookable clinics within 2 weeks (walk-in/single session)
4.
Coordinated regional intake processes
5.
Children’s mental health in primary care networks
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
GOAL 1:
ACCESS
STRATEGY 2
Increase access to basic and specialized children’s mental health services for
those children and youth who reside in rural and remote areas across the province.
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Community geographic teams
7.
Clinical consultation and education for rural and remote areas
8.
Mental health treatment beds for children and youth from northern Alberta
9.
Assess the need for community-based mental health treatment group homes in
rural areas
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
GOAL 1:
ACCESS
STRATEGY 3
Enhance and strengthen collaboration and coordination of services for children and
youth during transition from psychiatric inpatient care to the community, including
family and school support.
10.
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Community extension teams
Follow-up protocols between health, CFSAs, DFNAs, schools and other
community agencies
12.
Transitional Youth Services
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
GOAL 2:
CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK
STRATEGY 1
Increase the number of innovative mental health service delivery practices/models in
schools that address the needs of children and youth at risk, using collaborative
partnerships and joint decision-making between health services and schools.
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Mental health service models in schools
14.
Centralized learning treatment classrooms
15.
Mental Health First Aid for teachers
16.
Peer Support models in schools
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
GOAL 2:
CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK
STRATEGY 2
Reduce risk factors associated with poor mental health in populations at risk through
innovative targeted strategies in children’s mental health.
17.
Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment service for immigrants and refugee
children and their families
18.
Home visitation services for vulnerable families
19.
Mental health consultation on pediatric medical units
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
GOAL 2:
CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT RISK
STRATEGY 3
Enhance and build upon infant and preschool development screening and mental
health intervention programs to provide early intervention to families and young
children at risk for developing mental health problems.
20.
Pre-school developmental screening and intervention programs (ASQ-SE)
21.
E/B child development tools
22.
3 pilot projects – prenatal and at-birth screening and intervention programs
23.
1 pilot project – pre-school assessment and intervention clinic for infants and
young children who have experienced trauma
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CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH PLAN FOR ALBERTA: THREE YEAR ACTION PLAN (2008-2011)
Final Comments
• There continue to be significant mental health workforce issues
(e.g., shortages of psychiatrists, child psychiatrists, therapists).
Mental health workforce issues have been integrated into the
Comprehensive Health Workforce Action Plan as part of a policy/
governance decision to integrate mental health into the broader
system.
• The $50.5 has been granted to Alberta Health Services to implement
the 23 actions in the Plan over the next three years.
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