The Summit
The Summit: Marian & Jim Sinneave Centre for Youth Resilience marks an important step forward in mental health care for children and youth in Calgary, and was made possible thanks to generous community support through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The Summit is located in the beautiful northwest Calgary neighbourhood of Hounsfield Heights and is easily accessible by bus, LRT and vehicle, with onsite parking available. Its design was significantly informed by young people and families whose insight helped shape the look and feel of this first-of-its-kind space, wholly dedicated to and purpose-built for them.
Its three new services augment and integrate with the overall continuum of care currently provided through the AHS Child & Adolescent Addiction, Mental Health and Psychiatry Program (CAAMHPP) and other important community agencies, and provides families with greater access to timely assessments, intervention and therapy.
Self-referrals are welcome, as are referrals from AHS Child and Adolescent Addiction, Mental Health and Psychiatry Programs (CAAMHPP) and other professionals in health, education, law enforcement and community agencies.
Young people can return for additional care for several days in a row if required. No fee is required for services that include:
■ One-hour therapy session for youth, parents and/or family
■ Development of personalized care and safety plans
■ Access to psychiatrist, if required
■ Referrals to other CAAMHPP services
■ Links to community agencies
For more information about this service and hours of operation, visit here.
These services are aimed at helping young people manage acute escalating symptoms to prevent or reduce the need for hospitalization. With a referral from CAAMHPP, an Emergency Department, Access Mental Health or the Owerko Family Walk In Services, children and adolescents can benefit from personalized intensive individual, family and group therapy for one to four hours, three to five times a week for a period of up to six weeks. This program is designed to meet the needs of those who need more support from an integrated team of professionals.
Services include:
■ Thorough assessment
■ Integrated multi-disciplinary testing
■ Personalized treatment plan developed with family
■ Individual, family and group therapy
■ Outreach to provide in-home and/or in-school support
To reduce their length of stay in hospital and ensure a smooth transition back to home, school and community, the Ptarmigan Day Hospital helps youth shift gradually from around-the-clock care to eight to 10 hours of daily intensive therapy. After receiving the support they need during the day kids can sleep in the comfort of their own beds at night. This “step down” approach will occur over two to four weeks and includes outreach mentoring for educators and families.
Services include:
■ Individual, family and group therapy
■ Medication management
■ Music, art and recreational therapy
■ Educational support
■ Outreach to provide in-home and in-school support
Research
A robust research framework, built in partnership with the University of Calgary, integrates with services at The Summit. This framework was developed collaboratively with youth, families and care providers. Through it, experts will follow a cohort of children and adolescents to see how their mental health issues evolve over time and how they respond to treatment. This research will generate new biological, psychosocial, translational and clinical data that can be used to develop, test and refine interventions – a pipeline from discovery to care, all under one roof.
Youth are invited to participate in research by visiting Mental Health Research 4 Kids.
How to Help: Therapeutic Programs and Support for Families at the Summit
Ongoing donor support for The Summit provides a nurturing environment and programs that promote self-expression, increase self-confidence and build self-esteem for youth. Building on best practices from world-leading mental health organizations and in consultation with youth and family advisors, the Summit offers expressive arts and horticultural therapy programs led by certified Child Life specialists. Kids and teens at The Summit engage in play, art and music therapy to help reduce stress and anxiety. A rooftop terrace also enables them to participate in the tactile experience of growing their own flowers and plants in the Foo Family Healing Gardens. For more information about this opportunity to support Therapeutic Programs at The Summit, please email us!
The Summit was made possible through the generosity of this community, and your continued support will help ensure children and teen receive the mental health care they need, when they need it. You can also show your support by making a monetary gift or with a gift-in-kind.
More Information
For more information about The Summit, its services and hours of operation, go to The Summit website here.
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