Tuesday, May 13, 2025
The Government of Alberta announced that new CASA House facilities in Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray and Calgary will provide mental health treatment and support to hundreds of young Albertans every year.
Alberta’s government has an established partnership with CASA Mental Health, the province’s second-largest provider of community-based youth mental health services. The organization focuses on youth who are experiencing mental health challenges that are complex but do not require treatment in an acute care setting or psychiatric hospital.
To continue this partnership, Budget 2025 provides $47 million in capital grants to CASA Mental Health to build live-in and day program youth facilities in three new locations: Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray and Calgary. This is part of a capital commitment of $75 million over three years (2023-26), which will also support the relocation of the existing CASA House from Sherwood Park to Edmonton. This capital grant funding will quadruple the number of CASA House beds in Alberta to about 80. Once fully operational, CASA House facilities will treat more than 300 young Albertans every year.
“Through the Alberta Recovery Model, we are continuing to invest in the infrastructure, programs and services that will give Albertans access to the supports they need to live meaningful, fulfilling lives. Our partnership with CASA Mental Health is increasing access to services and bringing supports closer to home,” said Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction.
Clark Builders has been awarded the contract by CASA Mental Health (CASA) to lead the CASA Mental Health Capital Expansion project.
The four new centres will be constructed using an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach, which brings together the owner, design team, and builder early in the process to collaborate as a unified team. This method encourages innovation, shared responsibility, and trust—ensuring that every decision made supports the project’s goals and the communities it serves. Clark Builders will be working closely with CASA and its other partners—Reimagine Architects, SMP Engineering, WSP Canada Inc., Eng-Spire, Canem Systems Ltd., Dee-Jay Plumbing & Heating Ltd., and Collins Steel—all of whom bring specialized expertise and a commitment to delivering high quality facilities.
CASA House facilities will provide treatment for youth aged 12-18 who are experiencing complex mental health challenges with both live-in and day programming. This programming supports youth with the development of skills to build stronger relationships, manage conflict, solve problems, maintain positive health and wellness, and transition to a community school setting. Alberta’s government ensures no family needs to pay for these services by fully funding their operation.
“CASA Mental Health is expanding to provide services to children and youth, and hope to the families supporting them, by bridging the gap between home and hospital. We’re pleased to partner with the Alberta government to bring timely mental health care to more children and youth throughout the province,” said Bonnie Blakley, CEO, CASA Mental Health.
CASA Mental Health is in the final stages of securing land for the Fort McMurray CASA House, with that location and the Calgary CASA House expected to open in 2027.
Targeted completion of the Medicine Hat and Edmonton CASA House facilities is 2029. The existing CASA House in Sherwood Park will continue operating until the new location opens. As a non-profit charity, CASA Mental Health will engage with the community and embark on a fundraising campaign to supplement government’s capital funding commitment.
“CASA House will have a profound impact on the Fort McMurray region. This facility will help children receive quality mental health care close to home. This is another example of Alberta’s government investing in local infrastructure to support families in northern Alberta,” said Brian Jean, MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche.
Featured image: (Government of Alberta)
