Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) is a long-term home visiting program provided by Public Health Nurses and Family Home Visitors. HBHC Public Health Nurses are registered nurses who specialize in child health and development. Family Home Visitors (FHVs) are experienced parents who have received extra training to support families with young children. Our FHVs come from many different cultural groups and may be able to provide service in the client’s preferred language.
The program is free, voluntary and clients do not require an OHIP card in order to receive service.
Clients who are referred to the HBHC program must provide consent for service.
The Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program provides services to families in the prenatal period and to families with children in their early years (birth up until a child’s third birthday). Children can enter the HBHC program up until their third birthday.
To be eligible for HBHC services the client must be
The client must also meet one or more of the following criteria:
In order to meet the needs of Toronto’s diverse and vulnerable populations, Toronto Public Health provides two additional targeted services under the HBHC program.
Homeless At Risk Prenatal (HARP) is a community visiting program that strives to promote positive prenatal and birth outcomes in homeless, transient pregnant women with multiple and complex health and social needs such as addictions, mental health issues and child protection services involvement. This service is provided by Public Health Nurses.
Nurse-Family Partnership ® (NFP) is an evidence-based home visiting program for young women (24 years old and under), experiencing their first pregnancy (first parenting experience), who are less than 29 weeks pregnant and experiencing financial stressors. This service is provided by Public Health Nurses.