Chinook's Edge school division is working on a couple of projects that will expand its role in mental health for students.

They recently were successful in inheriting some funding to expand even further.

The Mental Health Capacity Building (MHCB) Expansion project has been running in Olds and Didsbury for over 10 years. Now with this new funding, they are doubling the YES program (Youth Empowerment and Support) to expand to Bowden, Spruce View, Delburne and Elnora.

Dr Marcie Perdue who is Associate Superintendent of Student Services for Chinook's Edge says that statistics show that this program has helped students in the past.

“What happens is those coaches work with our students in our schools to help them with mental health support on a universal level so they see all of the students in our school and then they also run targeted groups,” she explains.

It involves four success coaches who design activities and lead group work. The expanded program will be delivered in a similar manner, with four success coaches expected to be in place over the summer and ready to start next school year.

Raelynn Notley developed the original program and is going to be working hard to bring the program into four additional Chinook’s Edge school communities.

“She works with us on very different levels in our district and she was looking for a pilot for our schools, to figure out some curriculum around mental health and wellness and she was looking at some chose our little Elnora school so were very happy to have her here.”

The expanded program will be delivered in a similar manner, with four success coaches expected to be in place over the summer.