Community Outreach Assessment and Support Program

The Community Outreach Assessment and Support Team (COAST) is the product of a cross-ministerial initiative between Alberta Health Services and the Government of Alberta – (Disability Services (Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Family Support for Children with Disabilities) as well as Children’s Services – that aims to meet the needs of children, youth and adults with complex service needs. Physicians from all specialities including psychiatrists and primary care physicians and other stake-holders supporting people with intellectual disabilities including service providers and disability services can refer clients to this program.

COAST delivers a recovery-oriented service that promotes mental health and wellness in a manner that meaningfully contributes to the client’s quality of life and their participation in community. Through the provision of specialized assessment, consultation, intervention and education, the team builds the capacity of family, caregivers, community and the larger system by imparting support and planning into complex cases.

Clinical services are delivered in both clinic and community settings (homes, community agencies, schools, health care facilities, etc.). By facilitating effective collaboration with families, service providers and a range of other stakeholders, areas of enhancement include: providing increased supports to families and service providers during times of crisis; developing preventative strategies to avoid the need to initiate a critical response; and empowering families and service providers with the ability to implement and maintain high quality support and service provision.

The team is multidisciplinary and is represented by the following disciplines: Psychiatrists that specialize in Developmental Disabilities, Behavioural Consultants/Specialists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Health Liaison Specialists, Psychologists, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, Mental Health Therapists and Therapy Assistants. The team collaborates with families, service providers, organizations and others to enhance their capacity to support children, youth and adults with complex service needs.

Psychiatry and Family Medicine Residents, and medical students on elective placements would to learn about the multidisciplinary assessment of patients with Intellectual Disability.