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Healthy Babies Healthy Children |
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Healthy Babies Healthy Children is a prevention/early intervention initiative designed to help families promote healthy child development and help their children achieve their full potential.
Introduced in 1998 by the Ontario government, Healthy Babies Healthy Children is a province-wide program funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
Program Goals
The goals of Healthy Babies Healthy Children are:
- To promote optimal physical, cognitive, communicative and psychosocial development in children through a system of effective prevention and early intervention services for families.
- To act as a catalyst for a coordinated, effective, integrated system of services and supports for healthy child development and family well being through the development of a network of service providers and participation in community planning activities.
Program Components/Activities
The Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program delivers a number of service components:
- Screening/Assessment
Families with children (prenatal to age 6) are screened for any risks to
child development.
Screening and assessment can occur:
- Prenatally
- In the postpartum period
- During early childhood (up to age 6)
- Prenatal Support Services
Public Health Nurses within the HBHC Prenatal and the Homeless At Risk
Prenatal (HARP) services provide one-to-one visits to pregnant women
who are:
- 19 years and under
- 20 - 24 years old with developmental delays
- Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
The goal for this population is to increase accessibility to prenatal care, to provide counselling and support, and to link to community resources.
- Postpartum Support Services
Birth to 6 weeks
Public Health Nurses provide telephone assessment, counselling and information on community resources to families with newborns, within 48 hours of hospital discharge. Home visits are provided to consenting families identified as needing support to make a healthy adjustment in the first few weeks of life.
- HBHC Home Visiting Service
6 weeks to 6 years
Public Health Nurses and Family Home Visitors provide home visiting to
identified families whose children are at risk of poor development. This service supports families who would benefit from learning more about
growth and development, positive parenting and community resources.
- Referrals and/or Recommendations
Families receiving HBHC home visiting services are referred to appropriate programs and services available in the community. Families who do not meet the criteria for HBHC home visiting services are also referred to other community programs and services.
- Service Coordination
Families in the HBHC home visiting service have a designated service coordinator to ensure they receive appropriate, integrated, needs-based, coordinated services that build on their strengths.
- System-level Service Integration
HBHC acts as a catalyst for a coordinated, effective, integrated system of services and supports for families through participation in networks of service providers and in community planning activities.
Making a Referral
For more information or to refer a client, please call
Toronto Health Connection
416-338-7600
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
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