What it’s like to stay overnight at CPRI

You can make your room at the Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI) just like your room at home. You can bring pictures, your own pillow or anything that reminds you of home and makes you feel more comfortable.

You can talk to the counsellors or call home any time

If you feel homesick, we encourage you to talk to any one of our counsellors and they will try to help you feel better. You can also call home any time you want!

There’s lots of activities and other kids

There’s lots to do here! You can participate in recreational activities, do crafts, watch TV, go outside and even learn some new skills. We have a special place for kids called Harmony Hall where there are fun things to do such as play musical instruments, video games, and crafts. Other kids will be at CPRI so you might even make new friends!

You’ll still go to school

You will continue to go to school while you are at CPRI. We have an elementary school called Madeleine Hardy on our property and a high school right next to us called St. Thomas Aquinas.

You’ll have food to eat

We think the food is pretty good at CPRI, but if you don’t like something, have allergies, or can’t eat certain food, just talk to your counsellor and we will make sure you get other things to eat.

We don’t have to tell people you’re here

It’s hard to ask for help, but if you choose to come to CPRI we will ask for your permission or “consent” to be here. If we need to involve other people to help you, we will explain that to you and ask for your permission. We won’t tell anyone you are here if you don’t want us to.

Your first visit to CPRI

Bring your questions, a toy or book and a snack

Before you come to CPRI for the first time, it’s a good idea to make and bring a list of all the questions you have or anything you are worried about. It’s also a good idea to bring something to read or play with and a snack in case you have to wait for a little while.

Check in when you get here

Your first stop when you get to CPRI will probably be a building called Crombie where you go to check in.

Talk to the doctor

Often the doctor will want to talk with everyone, including your parents or caregiver. Sometimes the doctor will want to speak with just you, but you can always ask if you want your parent (or caregiver) to come with you.

Meeting at your house, school or on the phone

You don’t have to come to CPRI for all your appointments. Sometimes you will have phone call appointments or video chats over the internet. People from your team may also come see you at home or at school and they may want to meet with your teachers at your school. You can ask us about this at your first appointment.

Your treatment

You will meet lots of helpful adults while you are at CPRI. Besides doctors, you will meet nurses and people with titles like:

  • social worker
  • child and youth worker
  • therapist

You will also meet teachers, college and university students and lots of other people as well.

These people will need to ask you questions, maybe a lot of them. If you need to take a break from answering questions, or you don’t want to answer something, let an adult know. You don’t have to answer anything you don’t want to.

Taking medicine

Many kids who come here don’t take medicine. If your doctor wants you to take medicine, you will be able to ask them any questions you want. You can also talk to your parent(s) or caregiver about how you feel. You can read more about medications.

Getting better is different for everyone

Getting better means something different for everyone. We help all kids set goals and then we work together to meet those goals. We will work with you to determine if it would be helpful to live with us for a little while, or if we can help you in your home community by having conversations with you and your family, your teachers, your doctor and other people who have been helping you.