CECASN Initiatives
The Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs at Lakehead University is focused on generating, disseminating and applying knowledge about children and adolescents and their well-being. Our research specializes in the areas of mental health, addictions, education, and youth justice. We strive to improve access to useful information for those who need it most, particularly individuals and organizations in northern and rural communities.
Our Centre is involved in strength-based research in educational environments, mental health settings, addiction treatment centres, and youth justice facilities. We strive to develop collaborative relationships with schools and agencies in order to facilitate improvements in the emotional, social, behavioural and academic functioning of students, children and youth.
The Centre of Excellence defines children with special needs as all children and adolescents who require additional public or private resources beyond those normally required to support healthy development. This definition includes children and adolescents who require additional resources because of exceptional gifts and talents, physical, sensory, cognitive and learning challenges, mental health issues as well as problems due to societal, cultural, linguistic or family factors.
For more information about the Centre’s activities and services, please contact coespecialneeds@lakeheadu.ca