Huron Perth public health has received a funding boost under Ontario’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children program, which connects vulnerable families to key prevention, early identification and intervention services.
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The local health unit received a total of $101,281, which is part of $11.7 million in additional provincial funding for healthy child development programs across Ontario. This includes increases of $8.6 million for the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program, $1.4 million for the Infant Child Development program and $1.8 million for the Young Parent Services programs.
“Our partnership with the Huron Perth public health unit will generate supports in the spirit of healthy families and children,” said Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson in a release.
“Because of the importance of a healthy start for children, I encourage people to contact the public health unit for more information,” Thompson added.
The Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program is free and delivered through local public health units. The program 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.
According to the province, around 30 per cent of children in Ontario have at least one developmental vulnerability when they enter school that could pose a risk to their lifelong health, learning and behavior. In 2022-23, more than 93,000 newborns and their families were screened for risks, and 7,000 families received home visiting intervention.
In 2022, Huron Perth public health provided services to 64 families under the Healthy Babies Healthy Children program while the Mother and Young Child Clinic served 1,161 clients.
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