Services delivered: Indigenous Healthy Babies Healthy Children

Component: IHWS – Promotion and Prevention

Legislation: Ministry of Community and Social Services Act

Service objectives

• Support families in celebrating and honoring new and young life in Indigenous communities
• Foster healing and support healthy child development, maternal health and improved access to services to reduce health inequities for Indigenous families
• Assist Indigenous families to provide the best opportunities for healthy development using a wholistic, culturally responsive and strengths-based approach
• Connect Indigenous families with resources, referrals and/or services to address their needs, such as family violence services

Service description

• The IHBHC Program provides culturally responsive prevention and early intervention supports and services to Indigenous families with children from prenatal to 6 years of age
• The heart of IHBHC programming is preparation for parenting (preconception component), getting ready for the birth of the baby, (prenatal care), and taking care of the baby and family unit (postnatal care)
• The IHBHC community workers are a valuable asset to families and communities as they have knowledge of child growth and development, are aware of the resources available in the community and are able to connect families with services and supports to address their needs
• IHBHC programming is delivered using a culturally responsive approach through the following primary components
  • Home and family/1-on-1 visits
  • Early identification
  • Screening
  • Family support plan
  • Service coordination and referrals
  • Advocacy

People served

• Indigenous families with children from prenatal to 6 years of age
• The program is voluntary and open to any Indigenous family that requests the service

Program / Service Features

The program/services contracted by the Ministry will reflect the following features

• All activities and services are culturally responsive, unique to each community/ organization
• Programming and services are strengths-based and reflect the individual and/or family’s needs

Specific services provided may include

Client-specific services

• client-specific services are provided to those identified within the family unit, including the caregiver(s) and their child(ren)
• A client is each individual person (e.g., mother, father, or child) who receives services from IHWS-funded programs and for whom case-records or service notes are kept. Each client must have a unique client identifier (e.g., client ID number)
• Home visiting is the only mandatory requirement for funding. The services provided during a home visit may be accessed outside of the home depending on the need of the individual and/or community. These services could be accessed in office, in another community location, and/or virtually/remotely
  
  Home and family visiting activities and services may include
  • Perform intake and gather information
  • Identify family strengths and needs
  • Develop a family support plan (if needed), which may include the use of cultural and wholistic approaches like the Medicine Wheel and ceremonies and incorporate the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the individual(s) and/or family
  • Provide family with support, as per the family support plan
  • Provide information and education
  • Provide post-natal contact (as appropriate)
  • Developmental screening, such as recording the baby’s weight (as able and appropriate)
  • Support with form completion
  • Referrals to other services and supports

Service coordination may include

• Providing advocacy and support with appointments or consultations with other service providers, as requested by the individual and/or family
• Performing case management/case conferencing
• Connecting with other relevant programs/services
• Some programs may also provide transportation and supplies to families as able and available, such as diapers, formula, food boxes, clothing, toys/games, traditional medicines, etc.

Group activities

• Activities are provided in a group-based setting with the goal of improving the health of Indigenous peoples by
  • Providing focused education and information
  • Promoting positive change in values, attitudes, and behaviors
  • Fostering healing and enabling individuals, families and communities to achieve and enjoy a healthy and balanced life
• Group activities may include, but are not limited to
  • Cultural activities (e.g., ceremonies like Naming, Walking Out and Welcoming Ceremonies, teachings, medicine walks, medicine picking, access to Elders and Knowledge Holders, spirit painting, storytelling, traditional crafts)
  • Workshops (e.g., prenatal/postnatal care, parenting, nutrition, child development, family planning, healthy sexuality and relationships, self- care, post-partum depression, lactation, intergenerational trauma, baby food making, FASD, anger management, stress management, family violence)
  • Healing/cultural teaching circles and/or support groups
  • Fitness and/or recreational activities (e.g., dancing, jigging, gardening, children’s playgroups)
  • Land-based activities (e.g., canoeing, berry picking, hunting, trapping)

Community outreach, engagement & relationship building

• Community outreach, engagement and relationship building activities are offered to the community-at-large and/or other organizations and oriented towards building awareness and improving Indigenous health and wellness
• Activities may include
  • Public presentations, including in schools (e.g., teen parenting, healthy sexuality and relationships, FASD)
  • Public awareness and education campaigns
  • Promotion of the IHBHC program and services provided
  • Organizing or participating in community, health and wellness fairs or events (e.g., pow-wows, feasts, back-to-school events)
  • Participating in local committees, as appropriate
  • Outreach, networking and relationship-building with health and social service organizations and other community partners

Reporting requirements

The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.