Overview

The Applied Research and Education Department at CPRI evaluates programs and conducts research related to children and youth with complex needs (including developmental disabilities, autism and mental health). Areas we focus on to help ensure we provide the best services include:

  • supporting a trauma-informed approach to delivering services
  • evaluating services, including those delivered remotely
  • understanding and supporting medication safety for children and youth with complex needs
  • supporting the engagement of clients and families

The department works to build knowledge in the field by sharing findings through professional publications, conferences and education events. We also work with other ministry partners to support evidence-based decision-making.

Information for families

Applied research and education

Our goal is to support good decisions about practices and services by collecting quality information and sharing information in a helpful way. Our work is always focused on what works best for children, youth and their families, as well as the people providing services.

Benefits of research

The data we collect through research helps us improve our services. We use the data we get from the assessments we do to evaluate how effective our programs and services are and to learn more about children and youth with complex needs in Ontario. CPRI developed a set of child and youth assessment tools in partnership with an international group of researchers and care providers called interRAI. These tools are now used across Ontario and around the world. At CPRI we use these tools in our intake assessment services to help your child get the right service at the right time and in our ongoing services to make sure that treatment is working for your child.

Research also helps us better understand children with complex needs (including developmental disabilities, autism and mental health) in general which will help us improve services in the future. For example, the experiences clients, families, staff and community partners had with clinical services during the pandemic are shared below. CPRI follows strict rules to ensure that all information is collected and shared in ways that protect the privacy of children, families and staff.

If you would like to learn more about the research being conducted at CPRI or would like to become involved in research, contact Melissa Currie, manager of applied research at melissa.currie@ontario.ca.

Information for professionals

Applied research and education

Our applied research focus presents a unique opportunity to conduct “out of the lab” research, approximating real-world conditions. The unique capacity to strategize, research and test internally supports better outcomes for children and youth through:

  • moving research into practice
  • supporting capacity-development in students and clinicians interested in research
  • program evaluation
  • providing input into policy development and practice
  • supporting a client-centred continuum of care within a lifespan approach

Apply as an external researcher

CPRI staff are involved in partnerships with local, provincial, national and international service providers, researchers and policy makers. We welcome applications from external researchers, including students, to partner in conducting research.

At CPRI, all research activities require approval. Your submission must include a completed CPRI Research Agreement and follow the Guidelines for CPRI Research Agreement Submissions.

Approval criteria include:

  • scientific merit
  • absence of burden to participants/clients given other projects underway at CPRI
  • relevance of research to the vision and mandate of CPRI and the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

If you have questions, you may contact Laura Theall, Research Coordinator at laura.theall-honey@ontario.ca

Evaluation results: What people think of remote services:

Remote services evaluation: Report for caregivers and community partners

The COVID-19 pandemic made CPRI change how we deliver services to children and youth with complex needs to keep our clients, families, community partners and staff safe from the virus.

In March 2020, we quickly shifted to delivering many services by phone and video.

In June through November, we surveyed CPRI’s staff, clients, families, and community partners about their experiences with remote services.

We wanted to know: Can CPRI deliver timely and effective tertiary-level inpatient and outpatient services for children/youth remotely?

We learned: Yes. During the pandemic, CPRI continued to deliver timely and effective services. The findings show that remote services will be valuable together with in-person services after the pandemic.

Summary

  • Wait times to first service were shorter
  • Clients and families received services from CPRI longer during the pandemic
  • Families and community partners were thankful for the support. Most said they felt a personal connection with staff and the services met their goals and expectations
  • Staff used phone and video to deliver the best quality services, but they reported many challenges
  • We learned that in-person services may be best for:
    • the first appointment for staff to get to know clients and families
    • clients/families with language and/or technology barriers
    • younger children and those with difficulty taking part through phone or video
    • assessments that need in-person observation, testing, and physical exams
  • Remote services may be best for:
    • some meeting types
    • checking in to provide support to clients and families
    • staying connected with clients and families during treatment

Thank you to all who took part in the survey! If you would like to tell us about your experience with CPRI you can email cpri.admin@ontario.ca.

Using Phone and Video to Help Kids and Families: Report for Children and Youth

The COVID-19 virus made CPRI change the way we meet with kids and families. We talked to kids and families using phone and video more instead of meeting in person to keep everyone safe from the virus.

We needed to find out if meeting by phone and video was good, so we sent surveys to kids, families, and CPRI’s staff.

We learned that it helped to use phone and video during COVID-19:

  • Kids and their families did not have to wait as long to talk with CPRI when we used phone and video
  • Families thanked CPRI for the support and said meeting by phone and video helped them and their kids
  • Staff worked hard to give the best help using phone and video, but sometimes things got in the way, like the video freezing
  • Meeting in person may be best for:
    • the first meeting for staff to get to know kids and families
    • kids and families that do not speak English or do not have phone or video
    • younger kids and those who have a hard time talking on the phone or video
    • when the CPRI staff need to see kids in person to understand their needs
  • Phone and video may be best for:
    • some meetings with families
    • checking in to ask how it’s going with kids and families
    • staying in touch and solving problems

We will see kids in person again when it is safe and use phone and video to stay connected.

If you would like to tell us about your experience with CPRI you can email cpri.admin@ontario.ca.