The Grey Bruce Health Unit wants more funding for it’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children program.
The Public Health Unit is looking for increased funding through the Ontario Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Medical Officer of Health Doctor Hazel Lynn says they are asking for extended funding to help with their family programs.
Doctor Lynn says rather than starting a whole new poverty reduction program, they could allocate funds to their Healthy Babies Healthy Children program.
The program was created to help high risk families in the area.
Fifty one percent of families in Healthy Babies Healthy Children have or are experiencing domestic violence.
Sixty Eight percent of families in the program are involved with the Children’s Aid Society.
Doctor Lynn says they hope with continued education they can break the cycle.
Public Health Nurses work with parents to educate them on nutritious food choices, healthy pregnancies, and children’s growth and development.
Thirty percent of clients in Grey Bruce are identified as “at-risk” compared to the provincial standard of 12 percent.
Without proper funding the program will have to scale back the program, and reduce services for 60 to 80 families.
The Health Unit has sent a letter to the Premier of Ontario, Minister of Health Promotion and Minister of Children and Youth Services asking for cooperation.
