Healthy Families, Healthy Babies
To make an appointment
Be referred by a professional or a member of your family, or call Public Health
The Healthy Families, Healthy Babies program is a confidential, voluntary service in the form of home visits. This service is primarily intended for women experiencing their first pregnancy and for families welcoming their first child and residing in New Brunswick.
Children don’t come with an instruction manual. Some parts of raising children come naturally and others have to be learned. If you need extra support with your new baby or young family, the Healthy Families, Healthy Babies program offers these services, such as:
- Home visits before and after birth
- Coupons for milk and vitamins
- Healthy Toddler Assessment
Eligible families can have a nurse and dietitian visit them at home before delivery and a nurse visit them after the child's birth.
Depending on your needs, a nurse and/or dietician can support you before and after the birth of your baby to give them the best possible start in life. Here are the categories of support offered depending on families’ needs:
- Fetal development and health;
- Mother's health;
- Child development and health;
- Healthy lifestyle for families;
- Use of available social and community support services.
Your health during pregnancy and your baby's health in the first few years of life form a solid foundation for the future. Parents have a major responsibility in taking mutual care of their health and the health of their children. Prenatal information and support can help parents build a healthy family life and meet the early challenges of parenthood.
How do I request home visits?
To find out if you qualify, call yourlocal Public Health office.
You can also be directed to these services by a:
- Friend or family member;
- Health care worker;
- Professional or organization.
Home visits after birth – postnatal visits
A public health nurse will visit you at the hospital or call you at home after delivery. The purpose of this visit or call is to determine which services meet your needs.
How to request home visits
To find out if you qualify, call your local Public Health office.
You can also be directed to these services by a:
- Public health nurse, who determines the eligibility of each newborn during a hospital visit or by telephone call;
- Friend or family member;
- Health care worker;
- Professional or organization.
A Healthy Toddler Assessment is offered to all New Brunswick children aged 18 to 24 months. It aims to assess and support the healthy growth and development of young children and their families.
Your child will be invited to have the assessment based on the process that your local Public Health office follows.
During the assessment, the Public Health nurse:
- Checks the child's growth and development;
- Offers advice on nutrition, safety and vaccines;
- Answers parents' questions;
- Refers the child and/or parent to other professionals or services as appropriate.
To make an appointment or for more information, contact your local Public Health office.
