Community Coming Together (CCT)

The Community Coming Together (CCT) Program is part of the provincial Mental Health Capacity Building Initiative, which works to promote positive mental health in children, youth, families and support individuals in the community who interact with children and youth. The MHCB initiative is based on research and best practice literature that demonstrates that mental and emotional wellbeing can be developed, nurtured and supported through promotion and prevention efforts.

MHCB provides the staffing and support required to implement an integrated, school-based community mental health promotion and prevention program, and works with community partners to facilitate access to early intervention and treatment services for those who require it. The programs are locally planned, coordinated and implemented through collaboration with Alberta Health Services zone operations and existing partnerships, school jurisdictions, parents, community agencies and other regional service providers.  Community Coming Together (CCT) offers programming in all 9 schools in the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education schools.

We are 1 of 37 such projects throughout Alberta and we aim to:

• develop and enhance collaborative practices among service providers in school settings 
• reduce barriers to obtaining required services as well as decreasing the stigma related to mental health issues
• engage students, parents, project partners and community members in the development, implementation, and progress of their projects
• support easier access to services
• increase effectiveness while reducing the need for more intensive mental health and crisis services in the long-term

Community Coming Together embraces the opportunity to inform youth about mental health and to dispel many of the myths that surround mental illness.  Together we can begin to help students and families start to identify various ways to manage stress and build resiliency.