About Us

Every child deserves access to mental‑health care — no matter their family’s income.

Calgary has a range of supports for child and youth mental health, but access isn’t equal. Families with lower incomes often face the steepest barriers—whether that’s the cost of private therapy, long waits, accessibility challenges or complex referral pathways. When kids can’t get help early, challenges can escalate, affecting learning, relationships, and long‑term wellbeing. Kids Matter Calgary exists to close that gap.​

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Who we are

Kids Matter Calgary is a grassroots organization formed by a group of friends who recognized that families may not always know how to navigate mental health supports for their children and wanted to help bridge that gap. We have decades of combined experience in education and mental health and have seen firsthand how often children who need counselling most are the ones least able to access it—especially when families are trying to navigate financial strain, system barriers, or limited specialized options.

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What we do

Kids Matter Calgary provides information to families about mental health services available in Calgary. We form collaborative relationships with other organizations and agencies in Calgary and keep up-to-date with supports available. When requested, we also provide information session to groups on what mental health services are available for their children in Calgary.

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When possible, Kids Matter Calgary provides direct counselling support to children from low‑income families, allowing families to choose the registered provider for their child. Your donation helps cover the cost of therapy so kids can receive help sooner, in a setting that fits their needs, and with a therapist who is the right match.

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By funding counselling sessions, we help families:

• Overcome financial barriers to timely mental‑health care

• Access specialized support that may not be readily available through public pathways

• Choose a counsellor who aligns with their child’s needs, culture, comfort level, and area of the city

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Why we do what we do

Calgary continues to see rising mental‑health needs among children and youth. Families report growing levels of stress, anxiety, depression, social isolation, and behavioural challenges—yet many cannot access support when it’s needed. Cost remains one of the biggest barriers, especially for low‑income and equity‑seeking families.

The mental‑health system in Calgary and Alberta is complex. Public services exist, but long wait times, limited availability, and crisis‑focused models often prevent children from receiving consistent, ongoing care. Private counselling offers the fastest access, but it is out of reach for families living near or below the poverty line.

National data reflects the same concern: youth from low‑income neighbourhoods are far more likely to require hospital‑based care because accessible outpatient support is limited. This highlights a significant equity gap—those who need help most often have the least access to it.

Kids Matter Calgary strives to address this gap. By partnering with other community organizations and agencies and providing guidance to families, we hope that families are able to access mental health services that are timely and appropriate. When possible, we provide bursaries to families that may not otherwise be able to access the help that their child needs.