Healthy Babies Healthy Children Program

Your child's early years, from birth to six years of age, are a critical time for growth and development.  A healthy start for babies increases the likelihood they will develop into healthy children, teenagers and adults.

The Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program (offered prenatally to transition to school) is a provincial public health program overseen by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) and delivered by Ontario Public Health Units (PHUs). The program uses a screening questionnaire - the HBHC Screening Tool - to identify risks that could affect your child's healthy development. Screening is voluntary and consent-based. Eligible families are referred to community programs and services designed to support new parents (e.g. breastfeeding support, home visiting program, nutrition information etc.)

BORN Ontario's Role

BORN Ontario works behind the scenes to make sure public health nurses can access the information they need to contact you and offer services and resources right away. By collaborating with MCCSS, we developed an electronic version of the screen (eHBHC) to enhance the way the information moves from hospitals to public health units. BORN's electronic version eliminates faxing and ensures the eHBHC screen is transmitted in a secure, timely manner. We make sure the right information gets to the right people at the right time so you can get the postpartum help you need.