School Programs
Helping young minds bloom and thrive.
We partner with schools to create mentally healthy learning environments where every student can succeed. From individual support to whole-school mental health initiatives, we help young people develop the emotional skills they need to thrive academically and socially.
Compass Day Treatment Program
The Compass Day Treatment Program provides integrated treatment and educational services for students ages 6-17 years experiencing unique challenges that interfere with their ability to succeed at school.
Program Details
Type: School Program
For: Children /Youth
Ages: 6 - 17 years
Fees: Free
Location
The Compass Program is run out of 4 locations:
LCC Upper Paradise Site
LCC Augusta Street Site
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School
Referrals
Referrals to Compass are made by the HWDSB and HWCDSB through Access and System Navigation (ASN).
Together, we’re building a mentally healthy Hamilton.
At Lynwood Charlton Centre, we believe mental health thrives in connection. As Hamilton’s Lead Agency, we unite clinicians, educators, and community partners in a shared mission: to wrap every child and family in a network of support that’s as resilient as it is compassionate.
Together, we’re not just delivering services—we’re building a movement where no one falls through the cracks.
About the Program
In Ontario, schools are the most common place children and youth receive mental health support. And while ideally positioned for mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention services, schools are not ideally suited to provide intensive therapeutic intervention. When students are struggling with mental illness, it’s critical that they receive the types of supports that are offered within a community or healthcare setting.
The Compass Day Treatment Program provides integrated treatment and educational services for students ages 6-17 years experiencing unique challenges that hinder their ability to function within mainstream educational settings.
Helping young minds bloom and thrive.
Compass strives to enhance the partnership and engagement between families and service providers to promote student growth through positive action plans. We assist families in better understanding their child’s difficulties and finding new long-term solutions to tackle the challenges interfering with their child’s academic success.
By creating mentally healthy school environments, offering prevention and early intervention services, and ensuring a safety net for students dealing with mental health concerns, we can play a strong role in helping young minds bloom and thrive.
How We Help
Compass offers a phased sequential approach to treatment with a focus on self-esteem, adaptive skill building, and goal setting. Working with clinicians - and their parents, when appropriate - the student is an active partner in developing and evaluating their individualized goal-orientated treatment plans.
Individual educational strategies, based on academic strengths, weaknesses, and performance levels are developed and implemented for each student.
Clinical support is offered through various evidence-informed practices integrated into a weekly program with individual counselling, and multi-family group therapy sessions.
A dedicated Compass Social Worker to address other struggles such as family dynamics and mental health. (The social worker is also available to the family throughout the summer months.)
Pre-discharge and post-discharge/transitional follow ups to ensure the successful re-integration of the child to school.
Active staff coaching and participation with individual students in their school environments.
Access to an array of clinical resources, including a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Occupational Therapist, FASD Consultant, Clinical Assessments and Measures, and a Complex Needs Consultant.
“If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow.”
Alfie Kohn
Program Details
Compass is a joint service delivered by Lynwood Charlton Centre, the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB), and the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB).
4 Program Locations
6 Programs
54 spots available
Each classroom accepts 6-8 students
Elementary: Ages 6-13
Secondary: Ages 13-17
Transitions: Ages 12-15
-
LCC Augusta Site
121 Augusta Street
Hamilton, ON
L8N 1R5 -
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
1715 Main Street East
Hamilton, ON
L8H 1E3 -
LCC Upper Paradise Site
526 Upper Paradise Street
Hamilton, ON
L9c 5E3 -
Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
1715 Main Street East
Hamilton, ON
L8H 1E3 -
Sir Allan MacNab Secondary School
145 Magnolia Drive
Hamilton, ON
L9C 5P4
How to Access Services
The Compass Day Treatment Program accepts students from the ages of 6 - 17 years old.
Referrals to the program indicate that less intrusive interventions have been exhausted, or that the treatment needs of the student are such that a referral to Compass is the most appropriate option.
Eligibility
Referrals to Compass are made through Access and System Navigation (ASN) by the student’s school board. (HWDSB or HWCDSB)
If you are a parent or caregiver and you would like to access the services of the Compass Program for your child/youth, please contact your child’s school board for more information.