The Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program (AHBHC) is part of a province-wide network of prevention and early intervention services for families. The AHBHC program is an attempt to provide a system to identify children at risk for mental, physical, social and emotional problems before they start.

Services we provide include universal screening at birth for all new-borns, Family home visitors, Prenatal screening; Early identification.

Highlights of Program:

• Screenings and assessments during pregnancy to ensure help is provided early
  
• All newborn babies are screened in hospitals
  
• Program includes children up to age six
  
• Acknowledges that children can become “at risk” at any time because of changes in family circumstances or problems at new stages of development
  

Components

Screening and assessments help to identify families and children who could benefit from the program.

Network of Services

The Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program makes use of existing services in the province and community. Advocacy, support and information are given to families who are identified as at risk or who request the service.

Health Services Coordinator

The coordinators provide support linking clients to community resources, services and programs that meet their needs. Also provide ongoing support to families by telephone contact and home visiting.

Lay Home Visitors

Family Visitors are people from the community who have parenting experience and who can relate to or communicate with the families they visit. They are trained in supporting families and promoting child development. They work with families to build on their strength, develop their parenting skills and help them connect to community resources.

Supporting families and children

All families having a baby need some support. The Aboriginal Healthy Babies and Healthy Children Program is an important
way to ensure that children get the best start in life.

The health services sites are:

Kenora – Kenora Métis Council
Dryden – Northwest Métis Council
Fort Frances - Sunset Country Métis
Thunder Bay – Thunder Bay Métis Council
Timmins - Métis Nation of Ontario
North Bay – North Bay Métis Council
Maynooth - Baptistse Lake Métis Council
Midland - Georgian Bay Métis Council
Toronto - Toronto Métis Council
Windsor – Windsor Métis Community Council
Sudbury – Sudbury Métis Council
Welland - Welland Metis Council
Ottawa - Ottawa Metis Council