Community Resources
This is a list of community services and resources available in the New Westminster and Tri-Cities region
Resources on this page
Public Health Services
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The Public Health Units have a range of services to promote health, wellness and answer questions about mother, baby, or family health. These services include but are not limited to:
immunizations
pregnancy and early motherhood care
early childhood development
speech therapy
hearing clinics
nutrition
dental care
youth clinics
harm reduction
More information on offerings call or visit your local public health unit: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/Service-Directory/Services/Public-Health-Services/pregnancy-and-early-child-health#.X1-uO5NKix9
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All pregnant moms who live in Fraser Health are encouraged to register for the Best Beginnings program. Provides health services and information to support pregnant women with their pregnancy and for new mothers after the baby is born. The program includes prenatal information, preventative health screening, health promotion, one-on-one support, breastfeeding classes, and referrals to community programs and services as needed.
More information and register here: https://bestbeginnings.fraserhealth.ca/default.aspx
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The Perinatal & Newborn Health Hub (the Hub) is the one-stop portal for perinatal and newborn health information resources, education, and alerts in British Columbia (BC).
More information and register here: www.psbchealthhub.ca
Support Services
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Support for Children with Delayed Development
Share Society offers EI Therapy Services including Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. Depending on your child’s support needs, you may have been referred for one or more of these services. EI Therapists provides services to support your goals for your child and family and helps children to participate in everyday activities.
To access these services, go to https://sharesociety.ca/early-intervention-therapy or see below for more information
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OT’s see children from birth to the start of school with concerns in their self-care skills (dressing, eating, sleeping, toileting…), sensory processing and fine motor skills. OT’s provide consultations at the SHARE centre, preschool/daycare and/or home visits to support your child to become independent in everyday tasks.
Location: SHARE Society and New Westminster Children’s Centre
To access this service go to the SHARE Society website to register online or via phone.
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PT’s see children from birth to the start of school with concerns in their gross motor skills (sitting, crawling, walking…) PT’s provide consultations at the SHARE centre, preschool/daycare and/or home visits to help children improve strength, balance and coordination.
Location: SHARE Society and New Westminster Children’s Centre
To access this service go to the SHARE Society website to register online or via phone.
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SLP’s see children from birth to the start of school with concerns in their communication, social skills and play skills (no babbling, limited words, no understanding of directions, no eye contact...). SLP’s provide consultations at the SHARE centre, preschool/daycare and/or home visits to support your child to communicate and interact with the world around them.
Please note: if your child is eligible for Kindergarten in September 2019, the deadline for referrals to Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy is December 31, 2018.
Location: SHARE Society and New Westminster Children’s Centre
To access this service go to the SHARE Society website to register online or via phone.
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Provides information, support, and resources to individuals with Down Syndrome in BC and their families. Some of the programs offered are: parent support meetings, counselling, resources and information available in different languages, workshops (for an additional cost ranging from $20-$100).
To be a member of LMDSS there is membership fee (starting at $20 a year). New members can apply by filling out the application form.
For more information, visit their website or contact them by phone or email.
Phone: 604-591-2722
Email: info@lmdss.com
Website: www.lmdss.com
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Supporting families by offering assistance, resources, and guidance to access child care and the Affordable Child Care Benefit.
Services to support child care providers and child care workforce in offering inclusive, high-quality, and affordable child care.
Phone: 604-931-3400
Email: ygv.ccrr@bc.ymca.ca
Website: https://www.gv.ymca.ca/ccrr
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For bereaved parents who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss, Empty Cradle extends its sincerest sympathies. Losing a child at any stage is one of life's most devastating experiences. It is not only the loss of a physical presence, but also the loss of the hopes, dreams, and plans created for that child from the moment of knowing they existed.
At Empty Cradle, the depth of this unique grief is truly understood. Every member of the group is either a bereaved parent or someone supporting one. The group meets regularly to share their stories, honour their angel children, and support one another while keeping their memories alive.
Website: www.emptycradle.bc.ca
Phone: 604-525-4349
Email: emptycradlebc@gmail.com
Community Programs
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Westcoast Family Centres Pregnancy Outreach Program is open to pregnant women and women with babies under six months of age. Healthy Babies supports women who need extra help and support and have limited financial resources.
Focuses on: Education, Counselling & Peer Support; Maternal Well-Being; and Newborn Care and Development.
More information: https://www.westcoastfamily.org/healthy-babies-program
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Pacific Post Partum Support Society-- Phone/Text Support; Online Support Groups
Provides a variety of free or low-cost programs for mothers experiencing a difficult pregnancy or postpartum adjustment, including postpartum depression and anxiety (PPD/A). Offer a range of services, depending on the individual's needs.
More information or contact Pacific Post Partum Support Society: http://postpartum.org/
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Pacific Post Partum Support Society-- Phone/Text Support; Online Support Groups
No matter how your baby comes to you, if you are 2SLGBTQIA+ and are experiencing mental health challenges during your pregnancy, postpartum, or during your adoption or surrogacy journey, support is available to you and your family.
This confidential peer support group is led by a queer facilitator who is trained in perinatal mood disorders including postpartum depression and anxiety. If you have a baby 18 months or younger and would like to join us, please contact emily@postpartum.org
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Volunteer-lead discussions/education on breastfeeding/chestfeeding and mothering; monthly topics vary. Opportunity to ask accredited groupleaders questions
For more information, or to find a group near you, click here: https://www.lllc.ca/find-group-british-columbia
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Play is natural to children and helps them explore and learn how the world around them functions and facilitates their social-emotional, physical, and cognitive development. So come and join us for fun filled time where children will explore, learn about themselves and the world around them all through age appropriate activities like storytelling, songs and rhymes, movement and dance. Parents and caregivers will also have an opportunity to meet other families, make new friends and learn about useful community resources. Let's work together to raise happy, healthy and compassionate children. Click here to learn more: https://www.burnabyfamilylife.org/familyresourceprogram
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The Healthy Care Pregnancy Program (HCPP) aims to better support pregnant, postpartum and newly parenting people who use or have used substances. It creates and utilizes formal connections between acute care facilities and community organizations, who are also BCAPOP Program Members. This program was created and is implemented in collaboration with the Provincial Perinatal Substance Use Program, BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, Provincial Health Services Authority.
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Tri-Cities Early Years Services include 4 different programs:
Family Resource Programs
Family Navigation and Outreach
Parent Educational Workshops and Support Groups
Parent Ambassador Program
Learn more: https://www.westcoastfamily.org/earlyyears-tc
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The Program supports families in the Tri-Cities to develop positive and nurturing relationships with their young children as well as to enhance their connections with local community resources.
They offer various programs including:
Nobody’s Perfect Parenting Program
Parent-Child Mother-Goose Program
Multi-lingual Parenting Groups
Referrals to parenting and early childhood development resources
Learn more: https://successbc.ca/earlyyears/services/multicultural-early-childhood-development-mecd/
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Little Words Studio is a warm, inviting community space serving infants, toddlers, and caregivers through creative and interactive programming. From baby sign language and musical play to drop-in storytimes and yoga, their offerings are thoughtfully designed to nurture early bonding, language, and development in a joyful and inclusive environment.
Free Counselling
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Fraser Northwest Division Primary Care Network
Patients with mental health or substance use health needs who would benefit from working with a trained professional can access this free (MSP covered) service. This includes both clinical counselling or system navigation.
To find out more, please click here: https://sharesociety.ca/urgent-access-mental-health-supports
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All-Options offers free counselling to anyone in Canada and US. Uses direct service and social change strategies to promote unconditional, judgment-free support for people in all of their decisions, feelings, and experiences with pregnancy, parenting, abortion, and adoption.
Toll-Free Talkline: 1-888-493-0092
For more information, visit their website: https://www.all-options.org/find-support/
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For resources outside of New West and Tri-Cities, visit the Pathways Community Services directory to select your location here: https://pathwaysbc.ca/community
Free Education Programs/Resources
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Web based app has tips, tools and videos to help you with breastfeeding and more, from pregnancy to your baby's first six months and beyond. Provides information and links to health resources in your community, and helps new moms keep track of your breastfeeding, baby's sleep schedules and diaper changes, and scheduling if you express breast milk or provide alternate feedings.
To register and use the app, click here: https://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/articles/breastfeeding-buddy
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The Flutter Care Pregnancy Health Companion, helps expectant parents to connect with their baby while encouraging fetal movement tracking. It also offers evidence-based education and a place to record symptoms, notes, and experiences.
For more information and to download the free app (currently available for Android only), click here: https://www.fluttercare.com/
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Expecting mothers receive free text messages that will guide them through every week of your pregnancy. Messages are tailored to individual due dates and all of the health information provided is from trustworthy. Mothers will receive text messages to websites and videos on how baby is growing, about important health choices and about how to manage your labour.
More information or to enroll: https://www.smartmomcanada.ca/
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Text messaging program developed by maternal and child health experts that sends you information timed to your baby’s age to help support you as you care for your baby during the first year of life. SmartParent is also your local and online guide to resources and services available to you and your growing baby.
More information or to enroll: https://www.smartparentcanada.ca/
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Looking for trusted information during pregnancy or early parenthood? Perinatal Services BC has launched a new online Pregnancy & Parent Learning Centre. This free resource offers reliable prenatal and parenting education to support you and your growing family.
Click here for more information.
Social / Recreation
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Drop in programs, workshops and parenting groups for all families to find support, strengthen their relationships with their children and their family members, enhance how they feel about their parenting, and build community connection and belonging. Programs are for families with children 0-6 years including grandparents, caregivers, extended and chosen family.
For a list of drop-in locations, and other programs offered, please click here: https://www.newwestfamilies.ca/
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KidsNewWest.ca connects families in New Westminster with other families, community service providers, information, resources and events. http://kidsnewwest.ca/
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Family Place provides various creative and educational play experiences for children 0 -5. This set-up allows children to develop group play skills like sharing, parallel and co-operative play and interaction with a variety of adults.
For more information, click here: https://tcfamilyplace.com/
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Program specifically designed for families with babies. Co-facilitated by SHARE’s Family Support Worker (Early Childhood Development Specialist) and Kinsight’s Infant Development Program Consultant, we aim at creating a relaxed, safe and nurturing environment for parents/caregivers and their baby to meet and grow. Parents learn to sing songs & nursery rhymes, gain knowledge on supporting their baby’s development and parents’ well-being, connect to resources and make friends. For locations and hours, click here: https://sharesociety.ca/early-years-community-parenting-programs
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Parents and children learn songs, rhymes and stories together, enjoy nutritious snacks and connect with other parents. To find out information about a group near you, please click here: https://sharesociety.ca/early-years-community-parenting-programs