Healthy Start site opens in Bolton

Peel Public Health, in partnership with the Best Start Health Coalition in Peel, is pleased to announce the opening of a new Healthy Start site in Caledon. The site will operate as a drop-in program every Thursday between 1-3 p.m.

A special celebration of the opening is taking place Thursday, Nov. 22, between 1:30 and 3 p.m.

"In recent years we've become aware of the high numbers of young, pregnant women in this region who are isolated, financially challenged and living in difficult circumstances," said Rita Caprara, reproductive health supervisor with the Region of Peel. "We know that without the proper education and support, these women have a greater likelihood of delivering low birth weight babies and those babies face an increased risk of developmental and physical health problems."

Located at the Caledon Parent-Child Centre/Ontario Early Years Centre in Bolton, the new location will function in the same manner as other Healthy Start programs currently operating in Mississauga, Brampton and Malton but with a unique focus on both teens and young women. When they attend the program, the women will receive a healthy snack, prenatal vitamins and food vouchers. They will also learn about healthy pregnancy and nutrition, labour and delivery, breastfeeding and how to care for a newborn baby.

"By far the most beneficial part of the program is the opportunity it creates for a social support network at a time when the women may be very isolated," Caprara added.

For more information on the Caledon Healthy Start site, call 905-799-7700 or visit the Web site, www.peelregion.ca/health.