Resources
Below are resources that may help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Wellness and Distress Resources
CDC Manage Anxiety and Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreak
CDC has created a guideline for anyone and everyone that could be experiencing distress during the outbreak and how to manage anxiety and stress.
Canada Suicide Prevention Service
If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, the Canada Suicide Prevention Service is available 24/7 for voice and 4pm to 12am ET for text. Call 1-833-456-4566 or text ‘Start’ to 45645.
Crisis Text Line
Free, 24/7 texting service is accessible immediately to youth anywhere in Canada by texting Connect to 686868 to reach a Crisis Responder on any text/SMS enabled cell phone.
Canadian Women’s Foundation
If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual violence, assault or abuse, the Canadian Women’s Foundation has created a list of shelters and services specific to provinces and territories that help women, girls, and gender-diverse people.
ShelterSafe
For women and children seeking safety from violence and abuse, ShelterSafe is an online source to quickly identify a shelter in a specific geographic area along with its 24-hour emergency phone number.
Wellness Together Canada
Wellness Together Canada provides tools and resources to help get Canadians back on track. These include modules for addressing low mood, worry, substance use, social isolation and relationship issues.
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Canadian COVID-19 Resources
Government of Canada Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Information
Updates on the situation across Canada, including current cases, the risk to Canadians, and travel advisories, as well as information on symptoms, prevention and treatment, and printable resources and downloads.
Coronavirus Symptom Self- Assessment Tool and Treatment
Evaluate any and all current symptoms you may be facing with a self-assessment tool. Treatments and other safety precautions in regards to symptoms are additionally listed.
Novel Coronavirus Information Line
It all begins with A toll-free phone line providing information to Canadians about COVID-19. Dial 1-833-784-4397.
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Parental COVID-19 Resources
Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP)
The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) provides funding to community groups to help to improve the health of pregnant women, new mothers and their babies, who face challenges that put their health at risk.
Kids & COVID-19
Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has created guidance to help adults have conversations with children about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.
La Leche League Canada
La Leche League Canada is a registered non profit that provides mother-to-mother/parent-to-parent/peer support for pregnant women, new parents and beyond. Accredited to give detailed training program and have access to current scientific and legal information to help support others.
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Child Health/Development Resources
Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding
The Canadian Pediatric Society has combined various amounts of information for parents looking to learn about breastfeeding. Information on how to properly store breast milk, using donor milk, knowing if your baby is feeding well, etc. is readily available.
Infant Care
Health Canada’s infant care page takes a look at developmental & health information that can give parents a head start in learning about nutrition, bottles, pacifiers and infant formula.
Community-based Supports for Parents
The Canadian Pediatric Society has a province-based list focusing on community supports for parents. These community supports can offer workshops or interventions.
Breastfeeding Tips
The Public Health Agency of Canada offers valuable tips for successful breasting feeding. This is an important introduction to breastfeeding for new parents.
Infant Feeding
Complied information on understanding the importance of nutrition for healthy term infants. This read, complied by Health Canada, Canadian Pediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada, and Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, gives important recommendations for infants from 6 to 24 months.
A Parent’s Guide to Vaccination
This comprehensive guide can overcome some of the anxiety that parents might feel when it comes to getting their child vaccinated. This guide can address all your concerns before booking your child’s first vaccination.
Zero to Three
This is a resource that helps parents learn what skills or behaviours they can expect to see from birth to three years. Parenting tips and playtime activities that can support development are also described.
Healthy Children
Development in social, cognitive, and physical skills are explained. There are also guides for parents to help them assess if their children may be experiencing delays in development and understand when to consult a health care provider.
CDC Milestones
Developmental milestones are broken down with accompanying videos and illustrations to help parents determine what stage their child is at.
The Hanen Cente
Hanen provides helpful information about when to be concerned and what you can do to help your child learn language.
Talk Box, from Alberta Health Services
A parent’s guide to creating language rich-environments, with ideas and activities that encourage language development for children.
10 Tips for parents of young children who communicate without words
Adapted from the Hanen guidebook, “It Takes Two to Talk”.
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ASQ Resources for Child Development
Activities for Infants 12-16 Months Old
This activity sheet includes activities to support personal-social, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and communication skill development.
ASQ-3 Activities for 1 year
Try these fun and easy activities with your 1-year-old—a great way to have fun together and encourage your child’s healthy development.
ASQ:SE-2 Activities for 1 year
This is an activity sheet outlining how to support the social-emotional development of your 1-year-old child.
Activities for Children 24-30 Months Old
Explore this list of activities that will support your child’s skill development, including ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2 activities, resources for language development, and information about developmental screening.
Developmental Screening: Answers from an Early Childhood Expert
Dr. Jane Squires, co-developer of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ®), answers common questions about developmental screening.
Developmental Milestones for Toddlers: ASQ Article
As your toddler grows, so too will their skills, interests, and personalities. This article can help you understand what to expect in your one- and two-year olds.
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Pregnancy Loss Resources
Parents Orphelins
Extensive information on dealing with pregnancy loss and infant loss in both French and English. Along with support for grieving parents and siblings, the site also provides ways grandparents can be a part of the grieving and healing process.
Miscarriage Support
Miscarriage Support is a support page that provides general information on pregnancy loss and infant loss. This site offers extensive coverage on ways to manage grief and how to support loved ones (and even coworkers) through the emotional strain of miscarriage.
Return to Zero: H.O.P.E.
Return to Zero: H. O. P. E. provides a step-by-step guide on how to navigate pregnancy and infant loss, from the moment a person is at the hospital to finding support in the grieving and recovery process. Information on what to do at the Hospital is available in various languages, including Portuguese, Russian, German and Turkish.
Baby’s Breath Canada
Information and support for those dealing with infant loss through stillbirth or SIDS.