Programs that prepare expectant mothers for childbirth and provide health care services for mothers and infants during pregnancy and following birth.

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A federally-funded program that helps improve the health of pregnant individuals, new parents and their babies who face challenges such as poverty, teen pregnancy, social and geographic isolation, substance use or family violence. The program seeks to increase the number of babies born at a healthy weight, and to ensure culturally sensitive prenatal support for indigenous individuals and recent immigrants. Activities may include nutrition counselling, prenatal vitamins, food and food coupons, food preparation training, counselling in prenatal health and lifestyle, and education and support on breastfeeding, infant care and child development.

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Programs staffed by nurses or other trained professionals or volunteers that visit the homes of eligible parents during pregnancy and early infancy to help the individual improve their personal health and development during the prenatal period and learn to care for the child following birth. The visits encourage good nutrition; and provide information regarding danger signs in pregnancy, preparation for labour and delivery, breastfeeding and other feeding options, baby supplies, basic infant care, newborn behaviours and child development. They help to ensure that infants and toddlers are nurtured, live in a safe environment in and around the home and receive proper health care. Included are programs that focus on low income individuals, pregnant teens, first-time parents, individuals with high risk pregnancies or other special populations as well as those that are more broadly available.

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Programs that teach skills that enable parents to deal constructively and consistently with a broad spectrum of child rearing problems which may include sibling rivalry; school behaviour and performance; poor self-esteem; shyness; drug use; sexual promiscuity; and the whole range of negative, acting-out behaviours including whining, temper tantrums, disobedience, insolence and destructiveness. Some parenting skills development programs utilize a step-by-step approach for managing specific problems and may incorporate application at home of techniques that were discussed and practiced in the classroom setting. Other programs may offer participatory family workshops which provide opportunities for parents and children to learn and practice methods for dealing with one another under the guidance of a trained facilitator. Most training programs teach the parent a particular way of talking and relating to their children that reinforces positive behaviours and communication and decreases negative behaviours while supporting the development of a relationship that is built on fairness, mutual caring and respect.

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