Referrals to pregnancy and parenting programs

The Healthy Babies Healthy Children program is a home visiting program, delivered by public health nurses, that helps children get a healthy start in life by supporting expectant parents and families with children up to school entry through:

• Screening and assessments to identify any needs that could affect a child’s healthy development.
• Providing information and support on having a healthy pregnancy and birth.
• Supporting new parents as they adjust to the parenting role and connect with their baby.
• Helping families find community programs or resources on various subjects such as breastfeeding, parenting, nutrition and health services, and family literacy programs.

The Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program is a home visiting program where a public health nurse visits young, first-time parents during their pregnancy and the first two years of their child’s life. The program can help parents have a healthy pregnancy, a healthy baby, and continue to meet their education and work goals.

To qualify for the Nurse-Family Partnership program, individuals must be:

• 24 years of age or younger
• Pregnant with their first child or preparing to parent for the first-time
• Pregnant 28 weeks or less (the earlier in their pregnancy, the better!)
• Experiencing limited support or limited access to resources (socioeconomic challenges)

Both Healthy Babies Healthy Children and Nurse-Family Partnership are free, confidential, and voluntary programs for families that qualify. 

If participants are not eligible for the Nurse-Family Partnership program, they may be eligible for the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program.

To refer to the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program or the Nurse-Family Partnership program:

• Complete the online referral form here
• Have your client self-refer by completing the online referral form here.

Southeast Public Health offers Steps to Wellness, a program using components of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for pregnant and new mothers with babies up to 12 months of age, who have been feeling depressed, down, or anxious. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an effective prevention strategy that targets thinking errors, negative emotions, and behaviours. It focuses on the interaction of thoughts, emotions and behaviours and has been found to be beneficial in reducing depressive or anxious symptoms associated with perinatal mood disorders (PMD). 

The Steps to Wellness program is a free, nine-week, online, group-based series where participants meet weekly in a virtual group setting with public health nurses to learn skills, strategies, and tools to help them manage their symptoms of perinatal mood disorders. The Steps to Wellness program is beneficial to mothers and their families. Those struggling with perinatal mood disorders are not alone, they are not to blame, and with help, they can get better. 

If you have a client who is pregnant or in the postpartum period who is experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety, please refer them to our Steps to Wellness program by completing the referral form or encourage your client to self-refer here.

At Southeast Public Health, we offer infant feeding support to those who are breastfeeding, chestfeeding, or using any other feeding method. Support is provided over the phone or in-person by appointment at one of our public health offices or service sites.

During an in-person appointment, a lactation consultant or public health nurse with special training in infant feeding will check how feeding is going, answer the client’s questions, and give them tips to make feeding easier. Clients will learn to recognize their baby’s feeding cues, how to tell if their baby is getting enough milk, and ways to manage common feeding challenges. Getting help early can build their confidence and support their baby’s healthy growth.

Visit our infant feeding supports page to refer a client for infant feeding support. Support is provided Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

After hours or weekend support?

Contact Health811: Call 811 or 1-866-797-0000 or chat online for 24/7 access to lactation expertise, breastfeeding support, and local service referrals.

Bump to Baby online prenatal program

Bump to Baby is an all-in-one prenatal program designed to support and guide your client on their parenting journey.

The program is an online course that includes videos and quizzes. Clients can complete the program at their own pace.

If you have a client who is pregnant, encourage them to register for Bump to Baby. For more information, visit our prenatal classes page.

Prenatal breastfeeding information session

Do you have a client who is pregnant, planning to breastfeed, and looking for answers to breastfeeding questions before their baby arrives? These free prenatal breastfeeding information sessions will help your client feel more prepared and get off to a smooth start.

Clients will learn where to go for support, important skills, and have their questions answered by a public health nurse. Exclusive breastfeeding is important for a baby’s health and development—we are here to help your clients achieve their breastfeeding goals. If you have a client who is pregnant and planning to breastfeed, encourage them to register for an upcoming prenatal breastfeeding information session. For more information, visit our prenatal classes page.