CPRI stands for the Child and Parent Resource Institute. Our mission is to provide specialized, trauma-responsive mental health and developmental services to achieve best possible outcomes for Ontario's children and youth.
Our services include Assessment, Consultation, Treatment, Research and Education.
We work with your local community services, building on what they have already done. We use evidence based practice and adapt our approach to the unique needs of your child.
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Services Offered
Attachment Consultation and Education Service (ACES) ACES stands for Attachment Consultation and Education Service. We serve children from birth up to and including age 12 who are suspected of having an attachment disturbance or disorder. The attachment and relationship functioning of children in our clinic has been impacted by a history of early negative life events that may include but are not limited to neglect, abuse, parent illness or loss, multiple moves, or disruptions such as hospitalizations and institutionalization.
We work together with caregivers and community service providers and offer assessment, consultation, and education to help better understand the child and the parent-child struggles. Services are individualized to meet the unique needs of the child and family and may include: * Comprehensive Assessment (Psychology/Social Work/Pediatrics) * Comprehensive relational assessments and video-mediated feedback * Clinical and system consultations * Circle of Security Parent Course for kinship, adoptive and foster parents * Child Trauma Group for children age 8-12 with history of complex trauma and their caregivers * Attachment-focused/trauma-informed behavioural support and consultation * Training, resources, and workshops for caregivers or professionals * Community capacity building and training
Autism Spectrum Disorders Clinic Clinicians of the ASD Clinic meet with children/youth and families to review current concerns (diagnostic, symptoms) and to make sure that information is accurate and up to date. This helps clinicians to make decisions about what services might be helpful.
If a child already has an ASD diagnosis, we may have a Clinical Consult Appointment in which we will meet with the child or youth and their family to review their history and current concerns. Usually this will be done by a psychiatrist and case management coordinator, but other workers may be involved if needed. Clinicians will suggest the service options they think might be appropriate and helpful.
Depending on your child's needs, service options might include: * Individualized services may be available to help children/youth, families and/or community service providers to understand and deal with a child/youth's significant problem behaviours (that is, behaviours that cause risk or damage to others and/or the environment), such as self injury, aggression, or destruction.
The Brake Shop We start by inviting your family to a "Coming in the Garage" initial appointment. During this time a clinician will provide information about "Leaky Brakes" in a child-friendly format. This appointment will also introduce your family to the Brake Shop Clinic and the various services we offer. From here, a specialized assessment may be completed and a treatment plan developed based on your child and family's individual strengths and needs.
Dual Diagnosis Program We serve children and youth age 0 to 18 with an intellectual disability or global developmental delay and a severe psychiatric or behaviour problem. Your child's issues are serious enough that they are causing major problems at home, school, or the community. We are a tertiary service providing consultation and short term service to children and youth whose needs are more than their own community can meet.
Our first step is assessment. Clinicians from our team will meet with you and your child to listen to your concerns and assess their needs.
After the assessment, we will make a treatment plan based on your child's unique needs. This could include: * Assessments by other clinicians on the team or in your home community * Consultation with community service providers * Education about your child's needs in the context of his/her abilities, mental health and behavioural presentation * Group treatment (such as Triple P Stepping Stones program) * Individual or family treatment
General Clinic Services We serve children and youth age 0 to 18 whose complex emotional or behavioural needs are greater than services in their own community can meet. There may be questions from your community professionals around diagnostic clarification or medication management, or your child's issues are serious enough that they are causing problems at home, school, or the community.
Intellectual Disabilities & Emotional Disorders: Adaptive Strategies (IDEAS) We assess children and youth and offer services to them and their families, schools, and community partners. We also offer community education seminars and workshops for parents, educators, and professionals supporting these children and youth.
The first step is often a consultation with our Psychiatrist or Psychologist to help decide what next steps, such as further assessment, are needed. These assessments may involve our Psychometrist, Social Worker, Community Behaviour Consultant, Occupational Therapist or Speech Language Pathologist. Parents may be invited to our parenting sessions while waiting for other services. We meet with the family and community supports to discuss our information and recommendations.
Treatment can include both individual and group work. Some of our services are: * IDEAS on Anxiety Parenting Information Sessions * Children's Relaxation Group * Individual therapy * Individual parenting consultation * Training and consultation with community supports
Mood Disorders Clinic We serve children and youth age 6 to 18 without an intellectual disability with a mood disorder that is causing problems at school or home. For children with an intellectual disability, see the IDEAS Team. We are a tertiary service that serves children and youth whose needs exceed the services available in the community.
Our first step is to talk to you and your child so our psychologist can determine the possibility of a mood disorder and make sure the Mood Disorders Clinic is the right service. If there is a likelihood of a mood disorder, we will do a full assessment, talking to you, your child, and community partners.
Our team will consult with community partners and develop a treatment and safety plan. Services might include: * Psychoeducation for children and youth * Appointments with psychiatrist for medications and treatment * School consultation * Parent education * Support from other clinicians as needed
Pratten One Complex Care Program We offer specialized assessment and treatment services to children and youth from birth to 18 years of age with complex medical fragility and/or technology dependence. The children on this unit may present with cerebral palsy, genetic syndromes, feeding difficulties, neurological disorders and associated developmental delays.
Selective Mutism Program Our program assesses children and youth with selective mutism, a form of childhood anxiety. The child is able to speak but does not speak in certain situations, like at school, because of his or her anxiety.
Sexual Behaviours Team We help children and youth up to age 18 with sexual behaviour problems. Children and youth develop in many ways, but lots of things might affect a child's/youth's sexual development, leading to some concerning sexual behaviour. For example, sexual behaviours become a problem if they are harmful to the child/youth or others, occur between children/youth of very different ages or developmental levels, or take the place of typical childhood activities. We believe that concerning sexual behaviour can serve a number of functions for children and youth, so understanding the behaviour and how and why it is occurring is important. If these behaviours can't be managed or redirected by caregivers' typical strategies, the child/youth may need the help of our team.
Fees and Payment
Services are free.
This is a registered charity
Services Offered To: Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.