Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program
The Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program is a free, voluntary home visiting program led by a Public Health Nurse. Mandated by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), the HBHC program aims to improve pregnancy and early childhood development outcomes. The program supports pregnant individuals and families with children from birth to school entry.
In 2024, 3,988 screens were completed for the HBHC program in collaboration with local birthing centers. Accordingly, 803 families received in-home assessments and educational support from a Public Health Nurse. Of these, 363 families continued with the home visiting program to support their parenting goals.
HBHC provides in-home support in the following areas:
- Prenatal Education
- Postpartum and Newborn Care
- Breastfeeding/Infant feeding
- Maternal Health & Wellbeing
- Monitoring and supporting their child's growth and development.
- Newcomer Support
- Access to Community Resources
Prenatal, Postnatal, and Breastfeeding Education Supports
The Healthy Families department delivered perinatal health education to 194 prenatal individuals and supplied prenatal multivitamin supplements to 103 of these women in partnership with Building Blocks for Better Babies.
Other support and initiatives included:
- 220 families attended WECHU’s breastfeeding education class, and 90.56% of survey respondents reported an increase in breastfeeding self-efficacy.
- 262 families received in-person breastfeeding support from a lactation consultant.
- 346 families received growth and development education from a nurse, dietitian, or social worker through WECHU’s partnership with eight EarlyON centres. Almost 95% of survey respondents from the educational sessions with parents of infants reported they now feel more prepared to implement the recommended strategies to support their child’s growth and development.