Finding doctors, nurses, and therapists is a well-known struggle in rural communities, but one organization is determined to expand its reach regardless of the challenges.
CASA Mental Health is pushing forward with a massive expansion of its youth services across northern Alberta. The organization is actively building new infrastructure and launching new programs, tackling the regional healthcare worker shortage head-on to bring critical care closer to home.
The Lakeside Leader recently reached out to the organization to get an update on their regional footprint. Lori Roe, the clinical director for CASA Mental Health Classrooms, says finding enough qualified people to staff their growing list of programs remains an ongoing challenge.
“Recruiting health-care professionals continues to be a challenge as CASA Mental Health expands across Alberta, including northern communities,” Roe says.
To keep things on track, Roe says they are working closely with local partners to make sure they actually have enough staff when the doors open.
“We are continuously working with our communities and partners to find new staff for our CASA Mental Health Classrooms program, as well as for new CASA House and Adolescent Day Program facilities opening in Fort McMurray and Calgary in 2027, and in Medicine Hat in 2029,” she says.
A key part of their plan is opening more mental health classrooms right inside local schools. Instead of forcing families to drive hours to a major city for appointments, students can get professional help during their normal school day.
“We’re continuing to open CASA Mental Health Classrooms in schools across northern Alberta and the province, to bring much-needed services to where kids live and learn,” Roe says. “Please visit casamentalhealth.org for a full list of CASA Classrooms by region and watch for new schools as they’re confirmed.”
Beyond the classroom, the organization is also in the process of constructing a new treatment hub to serve the broader northern region.
“CASA Mental Health is also building a new CASA House facility in Fort McMurray that will serve up to 81 northern Alberta youth each year with both day and live-in programming,” Roe says.
The new two-floor, 35,000-square-foot facility is being built in the south end of the city, located between Quarry Ridge Drive and Highway 63. Roe explains that the building will host two distinct but connected services to tackle complex cases.
“CASA House is a live-in program for teens who need support with significant mental health or addiction challenges, while the Adolescent Day Program sees youth attending daily during the school year,” Roe says.
She notes that the day program operates “with the aim of improving the social and learning skills of youth with serious mental health and/or addiction challenges.”
By putting both of these treatment models under the exact same roof, the organization hopes to create a much smoother, less stressful recovery journey for teenagers and their parents.
“Co-locating CASA House and the day treatment program in the new facility will allow for a seamless continuum of care, where patients can transition to and from the two programs without disruption,” Roe says.
Heavy construction on the Fort McMurray facility started in the spring of 2026. Crews are expected to continue working until the fall of 2027, when the building will officially open. From there, final preparations will begin in order to welcome the first group of new patients in early 2028.
Armaan Khanna
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter