About Attachment Consultation and Education Service (ACES)

Research has shown that exposure to early negative life events can have significant impacts on many areas of a child’s development. These negative life events can include but are not limited to neglect, abuse, parent illness or loss, multiple moves or disruptions such as hospitalizations and institutionalization.

Children and youth who are served in our clinic may show social-emotional and/or behavioural concerns related to these negative life events. Caregivers and/or community service providers typically have significant concerns about the quality or stability of the child-caregiver attachment relationship.

Child and Parent Research Institute (CPRI) works 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 or paediatrics)
  • comprehensive relational assessment
  • clinical and system consultation
  • caregiver education sessions for biological, kinship, adoptive and foster parents and caregivers
  • "Better Together" Child Trauma Group for children age 8 to 14 with history of complex trauma and their caregivers
  • attachment-focused or trauma-informed behavioural support and consultation
  • training, resources and workshops for caregivers or professionals
  • community capacity building and training

Eligibility

The Attachment Consultation and Education Service (ACES) serves children and youth up to age 18 who are suspected of having an attachment disturbance or disorder.

Generally, local services available to support a child/youth in their home community are accessed first before a referral to CPRI is considered. This may include a paediatrician, psychiatrist, or a child & youth mental health/developmental service provider.

How to access services

You can submit an outpatient referral form for this service if you are:

  • the child or youth’s parent
  • the child or youth in need of service
  • a member of the child or youth’s care team (such as doctor, community agency, school, etc.) with the consent of the child or youth, parent/guardian or substitute decision maker

In some communities, outpatient referrals are processed through your local Single Point Access Mechanism.

Learn more about the referral process and access referral forms.

Where appointments are held

Consultation, education and behavioural support may be completed at CPRI, virtually and/or in the community (such as at a child’s or youth's home or school). The best place for appointments is decided based on the child’s or youth's and family's needs and circumstances.

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