Our House
What is involved in the criminal background check?
To ensure the safety of all families at the House, all adult family members and overnight guests are required to complete a criminal background check as part of the admissions process. You will be asked to complete an online form. Our decision on your eligibility to stay at the House can only be made after we receive the results.
What if my surgery or appointment gets cancelled?
This happens frequently. Please contact your social worker and ask them to resend another referral form with the new date. Or, ask them to call our Family Services team with the new date. We can always change your expected arrival date in our files, but we must receive confirmation from your social worker.
Are you affiliated with SickKids?
We are not formally affiliated with SickKids, but most of the families in the House have children being treated at SickKids, as well as a few other Toronto hospitals.
Our Family Rooms
Are my family and friends able to stay overnight in the Family Room?
Due to limited space, only primary caregivers are typically able to stay overnight in one of our sleep rooms or sleep pods. If an extended family member or friend is acting as a primary caregiver, then they are able to stay overnight in one of the sleep rooms or sleep pods. As our Family Room at SickKids is open 24 hours a day, we do our best to accommodate extended family members in our lounge area.
Is my child—the patient—able to visit the Family Room?
Because our Family Rooms are a clinical-free space and their purpose is for families to have a place to relax and recharge within the hospital, we ask that patients not use the Family Room.
How much does it cost to use the Family Rooms?
There is no cost to use any of our Family Rooms, thanks to donations to RMHC Toronto.
RMHC Toronto School
How can I volunteer or complete a field placement at RMHC Toronto School?
If you would like to volunteer, please review Current Openings and apply through the RMHC Toronto website. If you would like to complete a field placement, please send an email inquiry including your resume, and details of your placement to rmhcschool@rmhctoronto.ca.
What if my child is unable to attend full-day school?
One-on-one EASEL (Engaging Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) sessions are available for students who do not require, or are unable to participate, in full-day learning. Sessions are 30-45 minutes in length and can occur in-person or virtually.
Will the educators at RMHC Toronto School get in touch with my child’s teacher?
Elementary students
Once a child registers, and consent has been obtained, staff at RMHC Toronto School connect with hometown school staff to obtain information regarding strengths, needs and current curriculum goals. Upon leaving RMHC Toronto, a short-term report or Ontario Report Card (depending on length of stay) is sent to the student’s hometown school indicating progress made in terms of learning skills and curriculum expectations. RMHC Toronto School reports can be filed in students’ records.
Secondary students
Once a child registers, and consent has been obtained, staff at RMHC Toronto School connect with hometown school staff to obtain information regarding current courses and goals. RMHC Toronto School staff collaborate closely with the student’s hometown school throughout their enrolment to ensure progress is made on credits. Upon leaving RMHC Toronto, a summary of a student’s accomplishments is provided to the hometown school.
Donations
Gifts in Kind: I have a question that is not answered here. Who can I contact?
Please email giftsinkind@rmhctoronto.ca.
Gifts in Kind: I would like to give you something that is not on your Wish List. What do I do?
Our Wish List is carefully developed and updated on a regular basis to ensure we are meeting the highest priority needs of the House and the Family Rooms and the families who use our services. Unfortunately, because of storage limitations, we are unable to accept gifts in kind that are not on our Wish List.
Gifts in Kind: Can I get a tour of the House when I drop off my gifts in kind?
Please request a tour when you contact us to book your delivery time. We will do our absolute best to give you a tour when you arrive.
Volunteering
What else should I be thinking about before I apply to volunteer with RMHC Toronto?
Another good question! Take time to think about whether you are able to make the six-month commitment to volunteer with us. If this commitment won’t work with your schedule right now however, please know that we recruit volunteers throughout the year and you can reconnect with us when you have more time.
I am interested in volunteering at RMHC Toronto, but I am also interested in employment opportunities. Do you hire volunteers?
Our Volunteer Engagement team is not involved in the recruitment or hiring of current volunteers within the House or our Family Rooms. Job openings are sent to all of our current volunteers, along with information on how to apply.
I’m a post-secondary student and I would like to do my placement at the House. Am I able to do this?
RMHC Toronto does offer student placements, but not through Volunteer Engagement. For more information about student placements, send your information to info@rmhctoronto.ca. Please indicate in the subject line what your email pertains to.