$500K from Province will support healthy child development in Oakville, Milton, Burlington

A program that supports new parents in Burlington, Oakville, Milton and Halton Hills just got an influx of more than half-a-million dollars.

The province is increasing funding in the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program to better support child development and family well-being in Halton. The program connects vulnerable families to key prevention, early identification and intervention services.

“With an additional $508,180 directed towards the Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program in Halton, we are reinforcing our commitment to the health and future of our community’s children,” said Effie J. Triantafilopoulos, MPP for Oakville North -Burlington.

“This investment ensures vulnerable families receive the critical support they need for the healthy growth and development of their children, laying a strong foundation for their future.”

The free program is delivered through local public health units and offers home visits to families at risk for challenges affecting healthy child development, starting from the prenatal stage through to the child’s transition to school. It also provides universal screening for families after the birth of their babies.

Nearly 30 per cent of children in Ontario have at least one developmental vulnerability at school entry that could pose a risk to their lifelong health, learning and behaviour.

In 2022-23, more than 93,000 newborns and their families were screened for risks that could compromise their healthy development, and almost 7,000 families received home visiting intervention from nurses and/or lay home visitors.

The Infant Child Development Program provides home-based early intervention services from birth to school entry for families of children with a developmental disability and/or risk for developmental delay. The program is often the first program accessed by families with children with special needs.

Young Parent Services programs offer a range of community-based services for pregnant and parenting youth to optimize healthy growth, development and well-being for young parents and their children and support them to realize their potential.