Services delivered: Healthy Babies Healthy Children program

Component: Healthy Child Development

Legislation: Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990 Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017

Service description

Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) provides prevention, early identification, and intervention services to families of newborns and young children with risks to healthy child development. HBHC offers universal screening to all families just after their babies are born.

People served

HBHC provides services to families during the prenatal period and to families with children from birth until transition to school.

Program/service features

Delivered by Public Health Units, HBHC offers screening, targeted assessment, intervention services and referrals which includes connecting families with community resources and local support systems and/or through home visiting services from Public Health Nurses, Family Home Visitors, and other professionals.

Specific service provided

The following program components must be delivered in accordance with the HBHC Protocol:

• service and system integration
• access to information and resources
• early identification and intervention screening
• assessment
• blended home visiting services
• service coordination
• referral to/from community services
• research
• evaluation

Services are child and family-centred and support the diverse needs of families in a way that is culturally safe, and promotes equity, anti-racism, and anti-oppression.

Program goals

The goal of HBHC is to optimize newborn and child healthy growth and development and reduce health inequities for families receiving services.

Ministry expectations

HBHC is managed in accordance with the:

• Healthy Babies Healthy Children Protocol, 2018, as described in the Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services and Accountability
• HBHC Guidance Document, 2012 or any subsequent updated versions (or any other supporting policy documents provided by the ministry)

Program targets

• 10% of births will receive a prenatal screen
• 80% of births will receive a postpartum screen
• 5% of eligible children will receive an Early Childhood Screen
• 80% of families identified with risk, and consenting to service, receive a postpartum IDA Contact within 48 hours of being discharged from birth admission
• 70% of families, who received IDA Contact, and consenting to service, have a completed In-Depth Assessment
• 80% of families confirmed with risk using the In-Depth Assessment, and consenting to service, receive Blended Home Visiting Services
• At least 50% of families who confirmed with risk will have a Family Service Plan initiated

Reporting requirements

Service and financial data will be reported into Transfer Payment Ontario at an Interim and Final period, informed by IRSS Monitoring Reports. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates.