Healthy Babies Healthy Children
A child's early years - from before birth to age six - are very important. Healthy babies are more likely to develop into healthy children, and healthy children are more likely to grow up to be healthy teenagers and healthy adults.
That's the purpose of Ontario's Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program - to help children get a healthy start in life. The program does this by helping infants and children up to age six and their families through:

• screening and assessments to see if there are any risks that could affect a child's healthy development and referrals to community programs and services.
• supports for new parents.
• help in finding community programs and resources on all kinds of subjects such as: breastfeeding, nutrition and health services, parenting programs and family literacy programs.
  

Special needs
Photo of mother and childSpecial needs All children and youth deserve to have a healthy, happy childhood and a chance to be the best they can. Some need extra help because they have one or more problems relating to their:

• physical health
• emotional health
• behaviour
• development
• mental health.

The Ontario government provides and funds many special programs and services to help these children and their families.

Developmental Disabilities
The Ministry of Community and Social Services funds many services and supports to children and youth with developmental disabilities and their families. Most services are delivered through community-based agencies.

• respite care (in-home and outside the home)
• specialized community supports to help children with developmental disabilities live in their communities
• residential services