Early Years Supports (Pregnancy to School Entry)
- Community Action Program for Children Home Visiting (CAPC): Home visiting program supporting individuals aged 13 to 22 who are pregnant or who have child(ren) under 6 years of age. Health Canada Service/Children's Aid Society
- EarlyON Child and Family Centres: Free drop-in programs for caregivers and children from birth to 6 years old. You can learn and play with your child, meet people or get advice. EarlyON, has a variety of centres across the district such as at local schools, Nipissing First Nation, Dokis First Nation, Military Family Resource Centre, Indigenous Hub and more.
- Family Enrichment: is a free Child and Family Resource Centre that offers programs for both parents/guardians and children. Serving families prenatal to 6 years of age. Parents/guardians may earn high school credits through a partnership with the Nipissing Parry Sound Catholic District School Board / Family Enrichment.
- Family Health Information Line: Offers families and service providers professional advice on pregnancy, breastfeeding, child development, mental health and parenting, along with connections to local supports. Health Unit
- Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC): Home visiting program supporting families who have children up to their transition to school. Health Unit, North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, North Bay Metis Council, Nipissing First Nation, Dokis First Nation
- Infant and Child Development: Infant and Child Development services provide direct, individualized screening, assessment and interventions to identify and support developmental progress. Premature Pathways is a program within the Infant and Child Development program, which is provided to all children born prematurely. Children's Aid Society
- MotherCare: Program offered to mothers who are pregnant or have new infants (up to 2 months post-delivery) are invited to join us during our drop-in hours on Wednesdays for weekly nutritional support. MotherCare Nipissing
- The Basics Nipissing-Parry Sound: Has a variety of tips, videos and resources to support parents in giving their child a great start in life. Applies to all families from all backgrounds based on evidence and science related to children's growth and development with a focus on brain development. The Basics Nipissing-Parry Sound
- Prenatal Class (Online): Learn about pregnancy, labour, birth, breastfeeding and caring for your newborn.
- Triple P Parenting: This group is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the causes of their child's problem behaviours and learn ways to encourage more desirable behaviour. Triple P Level 4/Hands:TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
- Triple P Ontario (virtual seminars): Explore a variety of free virtual group sessions available to parents and caregivers. https://www.triplep-parenting.ca/ont-en/triple-p
School Age Resources & Programs
- Local Schools:
- Before and After School Programs: Where possible, all school boards provide facilities for license childcare providers to offer before, after and alternate day childcare in our schools. Contact your school.
- The Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program: Provides two free servings of fruit and vegetables each week to students (JK to grade 8) from January to June. Contact your school.
- Parent Council: A forum through which parents and other members of school communities can contribute to improving student achievement and school performance. Contact your school.
- Parent Education Conferences: Parents are a key part of their children's learning and of Ontario's success in education, and parent education conferences encourage a wide range of opportunities for parent, guardian and caregiver to engage in their children's learning. Contact your school.
- Ready, Set, School: Prepares children for success in entering Early Learning Kindergarten. Teaches a variety of skills including language, problem solving, numeracy, listening, independence and positive play. EarlyON's and local school boards.
- Student Nutrition Program: The Student Nutrition Program’s objective is to ensure that all children attend school well-nourished and ready to learn. The Ministry of Children and Youth Services through Community Living North Bay allocates funding to assist schools. Contact your school.
- Welcome to Kindergarten: Helps to prepare children for a positive start to their school journey. Parents/caregivers and their children attend orientation sessions at their neighborhood school where they receive early learning and literacy resources and learn how to use them at home. Contact your school.
- Family Health Information Line: Offers families and service providers, professional advice on pregnancy, breastfeeding, child development, mental health and parenting, along with connections to local supports. Health Unit
- Triple P Ontario (virtual seminars): Explore a variety of free virtual group sessions available to parents and caregivers. https://www.triplep-parenting.ca/ont-en/triple-p
- Triple P: This group is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the causes of their child's problem behaviours and learn ways to encourage more desirable behaviour. Triple P Level 4/Hands: TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
Child Development & Inclusion Services
- Infant and Child Development: Infant and Child Development services provide direct, individualized screening, assessment and interventions to identify and support developmental progress. Premature Pathways is a program within the Infant and Child Development program, which is provided to all children born prematurely. Children's Aid Society
- Inclusion Support Services: Resource Consultants offer support to children 0-12 years of age who have a developmental delay or a suspected developmental delay. Resource Consultants focus on the overall growth and development of the child with respect to his/her physical, social, emotional, communication and cognitive needs. Community Living North Bay
- Speech and Language: assessment, treatment and consultation for children and their families. One Kids Place
Health & Development
- Health811: Connect with a Registered Nurse day or night for free, secure confidential health advice. Call 811(TTY: 711) or chat online
- Family Health Information Line: Offers families and providers, professional advice on pregnancy, breastfeeding, child development, mental health and parenting, along with connections to local supports. Health Unit
- Well-child visits: Speak to your local health care provider to discuss your child’s health and development. If you do not have a provider, consider learn more about Health Care Connect & local walk-in clinics
- Enhanced 18-Month well-baby visit: An opportunity to discuss your child development and answer questions parents/caregivers may have about their child. Speak to your local healthcare provider. If no primary care provider, visit: learn more about health care connect & local walk-in clinics
- North East Region Virtual Care Clinic: is a Nurse Practitioner led virtual clinic that works with local health care providers to ensure patients access more timely health care.
Community Events
- Gather & Grow Event: A one day event for families in the early years, from health and wellness to child development, parenting support, literacy, nutrition, and so much more. One Kids Place
- OnTrack Community Health Fair: Screening of a child’s health and development for children ages 18 months to 4 years. Community Living North Bay
Mental Health and Wellness for Children & Youth
- Changing Patterns: A therapeutic group for children who have witnessed domestic violence and their moms, who have experienced that violence. Moms and children meet separately to discuss the aftermath of domestic violence and to experience healthy ways of communicating with family, school and friends. Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing
- Counselling Clinics: Assessment and treatment plans. Goals are identified which lead to improved coping for the child, increased family functioning, increase positive family dynamics, and increased understanding. HANDS:TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
- Mental Health Services: Children’s mental health assessment and treatment services are available to children, youth and their families who are experiencing emotional, social, behavioural, and/or self-regulation difficulties. The therapeutic interventions are evidence based and are tailored to meet the needs of each child/youth and their family. Interventions are time-limited and service intensity varies based on need and agreed upon treatment plan goals. Service may be delivered in office, at home, at school or in the community. Therapists begin with the assumption that families have many strengths and resources and those strengths/resources are used to help child/youth and family to create positive outcomes. HANDS:TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
- Mental Health Assist Program at Schools: School mental health professionals serve a crucial role through initial assessment, crisis response, transitions to and from community services, and ongoing consultation and support in the classroom. Contact your school.
- Walk-in Counselling Clinic: For children and youth (under 18 years), parents and families. Single session with a family therapist to address the child's or youth's mental health concerns. Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am - 7pm at HANDS 391 Oak St. E. Child and Youth Mental Health - Hands: TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
- Child & Youth Mental Health Crisis Line: Call 1-877-287-9072 HANDS: TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
Indigenous Family Supports
- Maternal Child Health: Voluntary program that links families with children (0 to 6 years) to appropriate supports and services in the community and offers screening to identify those at risk Nipissing First Nation
- Primary Care: A collaborative team that will provide both primary and holistic medical care rooted in Indigenous culture and traditions for a combined approach to improving health and outcomes for families of the North Bay Indigenous Hub - Primary Care - North Bay Indigenous Hub
- Traditional Healing Services: Assists Indigenous people in identifying their strengths and identity through shared cultural knowledge and health practices through Traditional & Western views and approaches to health and wellness. Traditional Healing Services - North Bay Indigenous Hub
- Childcare: Embodies Indigenous approaches to childcare and family support by offering safe and welcoming programs that incorporate language, traditional teachings, land-based activities, storytelling, and visits from Elders. Childcare & EarlyON - North Bay Indigenous Hub
- EarlyON: Offers a warm culturally nurturing environment where parents and caregivers can socialize and learn together. Children can engage in early learning and development and skilled child practitioners are available to connect families with additional services. Childcare & EarlyON - North Bay Indigenous Hub
- Family Support Program: Provides holistic support for urban Indigenous families with children aged 0-6 years old North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre
- Prenatal Nutrition: A program designed to enable clients to achieve and maintain optimal nutritional help and has been recently expanded to cover post-natal teachings, pregnant teens, pregnancy prevention, pregnant women living in a violent situations and gestational diabetes. Aboriginal Prenatal Nutrition Program – North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre
- Healthy Children, Healthy Babies Program: Provides prenatal and parenting support to Indigenous families. North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre
- Metis Nation of Ontario, Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program: Provides support to families with children aged 0-6 years old. This includes individual client services and educational workshops. Métis Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program
- Metis Nation of Ontario, Canada Pre-Natal Nutrition Program: Offers support to all pregnant people or families with infants aged 0-6 months with a Metis focus. Canada Pre-Natal Nutrition Program | Health and Wellness
- Metis Nation of Ontario, Community Action Program for Children: Supports families with children aged 0-6 years old in our community with a Metis focus. Community Action Program for Children | Programs & Services
- Indigenous Children Wellness Program: Promotes positive development and life choices for Urban Indigenous children aged 7-14 who have experienced violence. Offers a variety of support including one to one, group activities and family circles. Indigenous Children’s Wellness Program – North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre
- Talk 4 Healing: 24/7 help, support and resources for Indigenous Women. Services available in 14 languages by phone, text or live chat box. Talk4Healing - Beendigen
- Hope for Wellness Helpline: Immediate counselling and crisis support available 24/7 to all Indigenous people across Canada by phone or online chat. Home - Hope for Wellness Helpline
Crisis & Emergency Services for Children and Youth
If you need help now, call 9-1-1 or contact a crisis intervention service.
- Child and Youth Crisis Line: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis and require support, please call 24/7 answering service 1-844-287-9072 HANDS:TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Free, confidential professional counseling, information, and referrals for mental health and addictions services.
- Text: TALK to 686868 (English) or TEXTO to 686868 (French)
- Live chat counselling: www.kidshelpphone.ca
- More information on mental health services including adult mental health service visit: Health Unit
Crisis & Emergency Services for Parents/Caregivers and Families
If you need help now, call 9-1-1 or contact a crisis intervention service.
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: A safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Get Help 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline
- Adult mental health crisis services (full directory) available: Mental health services - Health Unit
- Food Banks:
- Shelters:
- Ontario - ShelterSafe