Healthy Families Information for Health Care Providers

Health care providers play a key role in encouraging health before pregnancy. You can integrate preconception health care into your practice by:

• Helping your patients optimize their health and knowledge before conceiving.
• Educating your patients with chronic conditions on the impact and/or adverse effects the condition or treatment could have on their infant.
• Discussing risks associated with delayed childbearing with patients.
• Using the Preconception Health Care Tool* (developed by the Centre for Effective Practice in partnership with the Ontario College of Family Physicians).

*Health care providers can use the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing code for individual care counselling (K013) to complete the Preconception Health Care Tool with their clients.

Public Health offers a special smoking cessation program for individuals who are pregnant or who have a baby (up to 12 months of age) and want to quit smoking or vaping. If you have a pregnant patient or a new mom who is interested in quitting, we encourage you to complete the online referral form or print the referral form and fax to Public Health at 613-966-1813.

Public Health recognizes the importance of Prenatal Education for expectant parents. We offer FREE online prenatal education. These classes are recommended for parents expecting their first child, as well as anyone looking for a refresher, Clients can learn more about our online prenatal education program and access registration information on our Prenatal Education page.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is now offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for pregnant and new mothers with babies up to 12 months of age, who have been feeling depressed, down, or anxious. CBT has been found to be an effective prevention strategy that targets thinking errors, negative emotions and behaviours. CBT focuses on the interaction of thoughts, emotions and behaviours and has been found to be beneficial as a treatment of Perinatal Mood Disorders – PMD (postpartum depression or anxiety).

The Steps to Wellness program is free and is an effective 9-week, online, group-based CBT series where participants will meet weekly in the virtual group setting with public health nurses to learn skills, strategies and tools to help them manage their depression and anxiety. The Steps to Wellness program will provide women with the skills and tools they need to manage the symptoms of PMD and is of benefit to mothers and their families.

Not sure if your client is experiencing a Perinatal Mood Disorder (depression or anxiety)? Check out the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

HPEPH is pleased to now offer the Nurse-Family Partnership® program. Nurse-Family Partnership® is an evidence-based, home-visiting program with 45 years of research showing significant improvements in the health and lives of first-time parents and their children affected by social and economic inequality.  Home visits start early in pregnancy (before 28 weeks gestation) and continue until the child is two years of age. Goals of the program include improving pregnancy outcomes, child health and development, and families’ economic self-sufficiency. The Nurse-Family Partnership is open to individuals who are:

• 24 years old or younger
• Preparing to parent for the first time
• Early on in their pregnancy (first home visit needs to be completed before 28 weeks gestation to be eligible)
• Experiencing financial hardships or limited resources

*if your client does not meet the eligibility criteria above, consider referring to our Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program below.

Ontario’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program provides home visits by a public health nurse to families with children up to six years of age that may benefit from additional prenatal, postpartum or parenting support. HBHC is a free, confidential and voluntary service for families that qualify for the program.

Public Health Nurses from our Healthy Families team are available to speak with clients by phone or email to answer their questions about infant feeding, parenting, growth and development, and more. Our nurses can also connect clients with other programs and services to help support them as a parent. Call the CARELine at 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, ext. 223. You can also email the CARELine at CARELine@hpeph.ca.

All clients who deliver a baby(ies) are asked for consent (at the hospital) for telephone contact from PHNs on our Healthy Families team. Those who have consented to services will receive postpartum follow-up. The follow-up activities vary depending on the results of the HBHC Screen and the families’ circumstances at the time of the birth of the baby (e.g. midwife assisted birth, parity, breastfeeding difficulties, etc.).

Breastfeeding is natural, but it can take time to learn. Hastings Prince Edward Public Health offers one-to-one support for mothers experiencing challenges with breastfeeding. More information is available on HPEPH’s Breastfeeding Consultations page or clients can call the HPEPH CARELine at 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, ext. 223., for further support with breastfeeding.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is now offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for pregnant and new mothers with babies up to 12 months of age, who have been feeling depressed, down, or anxious. CBT has been found to be an effective prevention strategy that targets thinking errors, negative emotions and behaviours. CBT focuses on the interaction of thoughts, emotions and behaviours and has been found to be beneficial as a treatment of Perinatal Mood Disorders – PMD (postpartum depression or anxiety).

The Steps to Wellness program is free and is an effective 9-week, online, group-based CBT series where participants will meet weekly in the virtual group setting with public health nurses to learn skills, strategies and tools to help them manage their depression and anxiety. The Steps to Wellness program will provide women with the skills and tools they need to manage the symptoms of PMD and is of benefit to mothers and their families.

Not sure if your client is experiencing a Perinatal Mood Disorder (depression or anxiety)? Check out the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).

Public Health Nurses from our Healthy Families team are available to speak with clients by phone or email to answer their questions about infant feeding, parenting, growth and development, and more. Our nurses can also connect clients with other programs and services to help support them as a parent. Call the CARELine at 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, ext. 223. You can also email the CARELine at CARELine@hpeph.ca.

Breastfeeding is natural, but it can take time to learn. Hastings Prince Edward Public Health offers one-to-one support for mothers experiencing challenges with breastfeeding. More information is available on HPEPH’s Breastfeeding Consultations page or clients can call the HPEPH CARELine at 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803, ext. 223., for further support with breastfeeding.

Ontario’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program provides home visits by a public health nurse to families with children up to six years of age that may benefit from additional prenatal, postpartum or parenting support. HBHC is a free, confidential and voluntary service for families that qualify for the program.