Parents and legal guardians are the most important people in a child’s life. Every parent and legal guardian knows that parenting can be difficult at times, even more so when you have moved to a new country. There are many organizations and resources that may help parents and legal guardians and their children, here are some of them:
Brighter Futures Coalition of St. John’s and District Inc.
The Brighter Futures Coalition of St. John’s and District Inc. promotes the healthy birth, growth, and development of young children from birth to age 6. The Coalition offers programs in St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Paradise, and on Bell Island, in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, community centres, Health and Community Services, St. John’s Region, schools, the City of Mount Pearl; and Memorial University of Newfoundland. Together, the partners offer community-based programming to help parents meet their own needs and the needs of their children. Programs and services include play groups, pregnancy-support programs, parenting programs and workshops, computer and written literacy programs, baby groups, and peer-support groups.
Exploits Valley Child Care – YMCA
The Exploits Valley YMCA is dedicated and committed to children and families. Their child care programs deliver stimulating learning experiences that will enhance a child’s social, intellectual, physical and emotional development. This enhancement happens throughout a child’s daily routine which encompasses a balance of indoor and outdoor play, as well as active play, rest and quiet time. They partner with families and communities, collaborating with, and supporting one another thereby helping to build stronger communities and creating valuable resources that will assist in providing a positive learning environment and quality care for children.
Family Outreach Resource Centre
Organization for Community Action Initiatives Inc.
(709) 634-2316
Organization for Community Action Initiatives Inc. has developed a full range of programs to promote the well-being of young children. Programs are offered through the main family resource centre in Dunfield Park and through outreach sites at St. Mary’s Church in Curling, All Hallow’s Church in Humbermouth, and at Hilltop and Farmdale Road Community Centres in Corner Brook.
The services offered by the organization include drop-in play, support groups, parenting programs, clothing exchange, pregnancy support, toy lending libraries, community kitchens, and a variety of workshops and courses.
Project staff include the project coordinator, an early childhood education coordinator, a community worker, two early childhood educators, and an administrative assistant. Prenatal nutrition program (CPNP) staff, including a resource mother and an assistant, also work out of the Dunfield Park centre.
Gander Bay Community Action Program for Children Inc.
(709) 676-2396
The Gander Bay Community Action Program for Children Inc. promotes the well-being of young children on the east side of Notre Dame Bay. Programs are offered at six locations in the Gander Bay area: the Riverwood Academy in Wing’s Point, the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Unit at Rodger’s Cove, the Salvation Army Church Hall in Horwood, Ridgewood Academy in Stoneville, Hillview Academy in Norris Arm, and a new location in Carmanville.
Children and their parents are involved in a wide variety of programs and services offered at these sites, including drop-in play, an information and toy library, a book bag program, health and nutrition programs, a clothing repair and exchange, and workshops on parenting, leadership, communication, interview skills, coalition building, and community development. Staff consists of the coordinator, three early childhood educators, and a resource mom for the Healthy Baby Club.
Single Parents Association of NL
(709) 738-3401 | span@spanl.ca
SPAN’s objectives are to help parents help their children, to provide long term peer support and a sense of connectedness, recognizing the unique issues particular to single parenting, and also to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by the single parent family. With a food bank and supporting single parents to access various services such as medical, legal, and financial, etc.
The Child Care Subsidy Program
The Child Care Subsidy Program is an income tested program designed to assist families with the cost of child care fees at regulated child care services. The program enables eligible families to access regulated child care services by eliminating or minimizing cost within available resources.
Nobody’s Perfect
Nobody’s Perfect is a national program that provides parenting education and support to parents of children five years of age and under. It is designed to meet the needs of parents who are young, single, socially or geographically isolated or who have low income or limited formal education.
Parenting Resources Online
There are also a number of resources available on the Internet for parents and legal guardians. They cover various topics to promote the healthy development of children in Canada, from infancy to adolescence. Some of these resources are for all parents, and some are specific to parents who are also new immigrants in Canada.
Related Resources
- Child Care Services Subsidy Program
- Parenting
- Healthy Babies
- Government of Canada Activities and Resources for Parents
- Nobody’s Perfect
- Kids First
- Today’s Parent Magazine
- Parents Canada
- Issues for Immigrant Parents and Their Children
Related Topics in this Guide
- Information for Parents, Children, and Youth: Child Care
- Information for Parents, Children, and Youth: Child Safety
We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this Guide is accurate and up-to-date. If you find any errors or omissions, please contact us.