Early Childhood Initiatives

The Early Childhood Initiatives (ECI) program combines Public Health, Family and Community Services, and Mental Health Services to help ensure children age 0-5 have the best opportunity to thrive and to successfully meet the many learning challenges they face as they enter the public school system.

The overall goal is to help parents give their children the best start in life so that when children reach kindergarten they are ready to achieve their potential.

When required, ECI services may be provided even before a child is born. Expectant mothers who are most at risk for health problems that may impact their own health and that of their unborn child are eligible for ECI services. These services include prenatal education, home visits by a Public Health nurse and/or nutritionist, and provision of nutrition supplements.

Public Health nurses and hospital maternity nursing staff assess all new mothers and their infants. Based on these assessment results, mothers and infants identified as moderate-to-high risk for developmental delay are offered additional ECI services. These priority families may receive postnatal intervention services such as home visits, parent education, counseling, and nutrition supplements.

At age 3.5 years, all children are encouraged to attend the 3.5 Year Old Health Clinic where Public Health Nurses offer screening for growth and developmental milestones and information related to the healthy development of young children.

Participation is voluntary for all services and there is no cost. Individuals may self-refer. For information about the program, call a number listed below.

For more information about our regional programs and services:

• For our Upper Valley locations (Plaster Rock, Perth-Andover, Nackawic, Bath and Woodstock) call: 1-888-829-6444
• For our Lower Valley locations ( Fredericton, Boiestown, Doaktown, Chipman, Stanley, Harvey, McAdam, Minto and Oromocto) call: (506) 453-5200