Support for students struggling with mental health, addictions or other diverse needs, may soon be taken to a deeper level at Cochrane High School thanks to a grant application that was approved at Tuesday night’s town council meeting. The school has it sights set on receiving a Civil Forfeiture Grant – money obtained by the Alberta government through court orders to freeze and forfeit property, such as cash, vehicles and homes, that, based on a police investigation, were gained from or used to commit crime. If awarded to the school, it will be pumped into Cochrane High’s existing program, CHAT (Cochrane Healing Arts Time). The grant funding can be between $50,000 and $200,000 per project and is available for projects lasting up to two years. There is $2.5 million in available grants. According to the province, the projects must focus on “services that directly prevent at-risk individuals from becoming involved in criminal activity and/or crime prevention planning initiatives, such as co-ordination plans to deter rural crime.” The CHAT program is an optional, non-credit period for students who have self-identified, or who have been identified by the school as students with “diverse needs.” The students in the program can unwind with art, chat with the program facilitator, Brianne Link, and learn self-improvement skills. “We’re working with youth in Cochrane High School and helping them learn self-advocacy skills, improving their communication, a big one is their self-confidence, resiliency,” Link said. “(Students) are trying to attend school and have success both academically and personally.” Link said since starting the CHAT program four years ago, the school has seen improved attendance among the students needing the support, as well as an increase in their grades and heightened confidence. Ed Polhill, school principal, said the number of students in the program varies year-to-year but roughly there may be between 25 and 35 students attending CHAT. “There are enough (students), that we want to support those students just like we want to support all the other students,” Polhill said. While town council approved the school’s request to apply for the grant this week, the school will still need several letters of support from the Cochrane community before the grant – which could be up to $100,000 – is officially awarded. The grant money, if awarded, might also go towards funding a once per week police liaison position at the school. “I think it’s kind of trying to build bridges between local RCMP and having a connection there,” Polhill said. “There’s a lot of things we can access (police liaison) for as far as education in our building ... like healthy behaviour and good decision making.”
