Resource

Parenting resources

family at home with their children having breakfast together

Pregnancy, childbirth and new parenthood bring physical and emotional changes. Knowing where you can get information and support can make these changes easier to handle.

General online resources

  • bc211 - Free phone line to provide information on community, government and social services in BC
  • 811 / HealthLink BC - Free phone line, website and mobile app for non-emergency health information and advice in BC
  • HealthLink BC on pregnancy and birth - Online information to help you through the stages of pregnancy and birth

Pregnancy & new baby supports

  • Public health nurses - Available to help you before and after the birth of your baby through telephone or in-person
  • SmartParentPrenatal and parenting support program that sends evidence-based information via text messaging to help guide you through pregnancy and your baby's first year of life. Enrolling in SmartParent is free, but depending on your mobile phone plan, your mobile phone service provider (carrier) may charge you to receive/send text messages or browse website links when not connected to WiFi.'
  • VCH Healthiest Babies Possible (HBP) Program - Nutrition counselling, health education, food access and social support to pregnant women facing challenging life circumstances in Vancouver or Richmond.
  • Sheway program - Located in the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver for pregnant women and women with infants under 18 months with drug or alcohol issues.
  • Maternity Services - Maternity care and support for pregnant women and their families
  • Our Special Journey: Pregnancy Passport - Booklet to help track your progress and prepare for your baby
  • Baby's Best Chance - Parents' handbook to prepare you for the birth of your baby and the first six months
  • BC Association of Family Resources Program - Parent/child interactive centres for children 0–6 years
  • Financial Help For Pregnancy - 2 page resource listing potential financial support programs for pregnant individuals in BC

Youth pregnancy supports

Infant and young children supports

  • Child health clinics - Public health nurses can provide immunizations, checks growth and development and provides health information for children up to the age of five. 
  • Toddler's First Steps – Guide to help parents create a stimulating, safe environment for their child from six months old up to 36 months old
  • VCH dental health services for children - Prevention and early intervention services for children 1-5 years to prevent early childhood dental disease
  • VCH speech and language services - Supporting children aged 0-5 years reach their full speech, language, and communication potential
  • VCH audiology services - Comprehensive hearing services to children age 0-19 years
  • BC Early Hearing Program - Province-wide screening program to check hearing for babies born in BC

Food bank & food related services

If you are finding it difficult to provide healthy, nutritious food for yourself or your family due to low income, please consider the following resources:

Across VCH 

North Shore (North & West Vancouver)

Powell River 

Richmond

Sea to Sky

Sunshine Coast

Vancouver

  • Vancouver Food Bank
  • Healthiest Babies Possible (HBP) - Provides nutrition counselling, health education, food access and social support to pregnant women facing challenging life circumstances
  • Sheway - Pregnancy Outreach Program (P.O.P.) located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver supporting pregnant women and women with infants, who are dealing with drug and alcohol issues.

Community resources

North Shore (North & West Vancouver)

Powell River

Richmond

Sea to Sky

  • Sea to Sky Kids - Access early years supports and community services in the Sea to Sky Corridor

Sunshine Coast

Vancouver

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