A free and confidential service
Offices are located in Brooks, Medicine Hat, Bow Island and Oyen

Serving new families

Healthy Start is an in-home support service provided to families with a newborn or those expecting their first child.

Family support workers visit and share ways to care for baby that will help a newborn get a healthy start in life.

Benefits

• Gain valuable knowledge and build parenting strengths.
• Develop a strong, trusting relationship with your child.
• Gather information about other available community resources.
• Meet other parents and share valuable ideas.

It’s for you

This program is for families referred by public health nursing.

Involvement is voluntary.

There is no fee.

If the program is full, families will receive assistance in finding other helpful opportunities.

Healthy Start program

Families who join Healthy Start receive:

• Regular, personal visits at home.
• Visits that fit family schedule.
• Child health and development information.
• Activities that provide fun and learning.
• Tips on family well-being.
• Help identifying other valuable services.
• Opportunities to share experiences.

Parents are saying

“I just have more knowledge about babies and being a good mom and role model.”

“I feel a lot more confident in everything I do. I have better understanding of my child’s mental, emotional and physical state and how to deal with my child.”

“In this program I learn everything about keeping the baby healthy. My ability and confidence grows.”

“I am able to play more actively with my child. I have learned a lot more about his development and his moods.”

“I have found that I can deal with my child better when he’s being difficult. He has timeouts and I have time to cool down when I get mad at him.”

Is Healthy Start for you?

Because babies don’t arrive with sets of instructions, Healthy Start is here to help. Healthy Start is for you and your baby. It is all done between you and your Family Support Worker. Parents and professionals work together in a relaxed, home-based setting avoiding the need to arrange baby sitting or transportation to appointments.

 Healthy Start is a joint venture: