Honouring the journey from treatment to thriving in the real world.
Few moments are more moving at Pine River Institute (PRI) than graduation — a milestone marking completion of the program’s final phase, Aftercare. It brings together students, families and staff to celebrate resilience, healing and the journey ahead.
“Aftercare became a place where I could talk about my successes and things that I was working on,” said one student speaker, reflecting on the memories evoked by returning to Campus for this year’s celebration.
“It reminds me of the support that I received, the skills that I learned in the program, and how I learned to apply them in the real world during Aftercare. It reminds me that the world is safe and that I can trust the people around me — that they have good intentions — and more importantly, that I can trust myself.”
Building the Foundation for Long Term Success
For Dr. Victoria Creighton, Pine River Institute’s Director of Clinical Training and Family Services, Aftercare is more than a final step — it’s the foundation for lasting change.
“A program is only as good as its Aftercare,” said Dr. Creighton. “It’s where we take all the learnings from the program and support the youth and also their family in parenting and offering the environment that will help their child to continue to launch.”
Aftercare is tailored to the needs of each student and family, lasting anywhere from three to 12 months. It includes:
- Individual, group and family therapy sessions
- Weekly group sessions for both students and families
- Ongoing family and individual support, as needed
- Group connection events for students and workshops for parents/caregivers
Preparing for Life Beyond Campus
Preparation for Aftercare begins while students are still on campus in the Transition phase. This includes:
- Gradually increasing visits home as students and families put their new skills to work together.
- Collaborative development of a “home agreement” between students and their families
- Support in reconnecting with community resources like school, work, therapy, fitness and volunteer opportunities
- Cohort bonding experiences before returning to their home communities, like a 30-kilometre hike to foster connection among the Aftercare student cohort.
“Aftercare is really, really key in helping support the adolescent as they’re transitioning into young adulthood,” said Dr. Creighton.
“As we help a teen work through obstacles, what we’re doing is helping them build a sense of resilience. It’s recognizing that life is not perfect, it’s not easy. Here’s a tough spot — but I have tools, I have skills that I can use to work through the process and learn how to thrive in life rather than be triggered, overwhelmed and stuck.”
Looking Ahead with Hope
That theme of resilience was echoed by a recent graduate who shared her reflections at the ceremony.
“Life outside PRI hasn’t been easy, but work and growth definitely didn’t stop after my transition,” she said. “Things don’t feel scary or as big anymore. They’re hard, but I know how to tackle them and how to move forward.
My life still has hardship. My relationships still have hardship, my family has hardship, my connection with myself has hardship. But it’s all manageable now. And now I know how to move forward. So, I’m so excited for the future.”
Currently, 15 students are enrolled in the Aftercare program, alongside 23 parents and caregivers. The student group is looking forward to an upcoming in-person reconnection event, and more than half of the parents will be participating in the biannual three-day parent workshop this month. PRI’s research and evaluation, tracking data for nearly two decades, demonstrates clearly that for youth and families who complete the Aftercare phase.
Gratitude for Community Support
Pine River Institute is deeply grateful for the generous support of the Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation (AMDF), which helps fund our Aftercare program. We also thank the Hal Jackman Foundation for supporting our family workshops for both current and Aftercare parents and caregivers.