Parenting Programs and Supports

Connect with a public health nurse

Public health nurses provide free, evidence-based advice and resources for pregnant parents and parents/caregivers with infants and children up to 18 years old.

You can ask questions about:

• having a healthy pregnancy
• breastfeeding, introducing solids and healthy eating
• managing the transition to parenthood
• your child's growth and development
• positive parenting strategies and how to deal with challenging behaviours
• child, youth and parent mental health
• child/teen substance use
• teen behaviour and communication

Prenatal programs

Engaging and interactive free online prenatal classes are available to parents-to-be or support persons who are residents of Halton. Learn about pregnancy, labour and birth, breastfeeding, newborn care, and Halton resources/supports at your own pace, using a computer or mobile device.

An additional free 1.5-hour live virtual prenatal breastfeeding class is also available to help parents learn how to get breastfeeding off to a great start, discover local supports, and have your questions answered by a public health nurse.

Learn more and register for prenatal programs  

Halton Breastfeeding Connection – parent-to-parent phone support

The Halton Breastfeeding Connection is a volunteer program that provides free parent-to-parent telephone support for expectant and breastfeeding parents. Our trained volunteers are local parents who have breastfed a minimum of 4 months, and offer support, share information and encouragement around breastfeeding.

Triple P Online

Triple P Online is a Triple P – Positive Parenting Program® for parents/caregivers of children aged 2-16. It is an online, evidence-based program you can complete in your own time in the comfort of your home. There are two versions of the online program:

• for parents/caregivers of children aged 2-12 (available in English, Dutch/Flemish, French, German, Arabic, Spanish)
• for parents/caregivers of children aged 10-16 (available in English and Spanish)

All parents/caregivers can benefit from parenting programs like Triple P Online.

Triple P Online can help you:

• strengthen your relationship with your child
• build your parenting skills and confidence
• develop realistic expectations of your children and yourself
• encourage positive behaviour
• learn proven strategies to help manage and decrease challenging behaviour
• create a supportive, healthy family environment
• teach your child the skills they need to get along with others
• take care of yourself as a parent/caregiver

How to register for Triple P Online

If you live in Halton region, you can register for Triple P Online for free by calling 311 or emailing haltonparents@halton.ca.

Once registered with HaltonParents, you'll receive an email with a code to access the program. You will have access to the program for a year.

Ready, Set, Go! Preparing your child for kindergarten

Help your child feel excited and ready for their first day of school. Ready, Set, Go! offers quick tips, checklists, and family-friendly resources to make the transition to school smooth and fun for your family. On this page you’ll find:

• kindergarten readiness checklists
• tips for encouraging toileting and independence skills
• how to check if your child’s development is on track
• ideas for building healthy habits and daily routines
• suggestions for packing healthy snacks and lunches
• ways to support your child’s social and emotional growth
• guidance on screen time and the importance of play
• helpful online resources for families

Healthy Babies, Healthy Children (HBHC)

Being a parent can be exciting and challenging. You may have questions about feeding your child or want to learn more about your child’s development and behaviour. Ontario’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children (HBHC) program, offered by the Halton Region Health Department, provides parents to be and families with young children who are in need of extra support with home visits by public health nurses and trained family visitors.

HBHC provides parents with information and guidance on how to:

• have a healthy pregnancy
• feed their child
• help their child learn and grow
• keep their child safe
• build a positive relationship with their child
• take care of their health and well-being
• connect with services and supports in their community

Families can receive visits by a public health nurse and a family visitor. The visits are done in your home or at a place and time that works best for you and your family. You can decide what you would like to work on because you know your family best. Public health nurses are registered nurses who work in the community. They are skilled in health teaching and can help families build solutions to challenges they may be facing. They can also help connect you to the services you may need. Family visitors work closely with public health nurses to support parents with young children and share ideas and activities that can help families promote their child’s development.

To learn more about HBHC call 311 and ask to speak to a public health nurse.

Halton Prenatal Nutrition Program (HPNP)

Do you want to learn how to improve your health and the health of your baby? Halton's Prenatal Nutrition Program (HPNP) is free and runs year round. Come out weekly and enjoy a healthy meal in a friendly environment, surrounded by other pregnant and new parents looking to learn and meet new friends.

Parenting Support Group

Are you pregnant or have a baby that is not yet crawling? Are you looking to meet others while getting support adjusting to being a parent? Join this weekly program to learn about taking care of yourself and your baby in an inclusive and supportive environment. Sessions are led by a Public Health Nurse and an Early Childhood Educator from EarlyON.

This program follows the school calendar (starting the second week of September) and is closed during the December/January holidays, spring/summer breaks and all statutory holidays. For more information, please call 311. Registration is not required.

Location

Starting October 2, 2025:

• Halton Hills Public Library-Acton Branch, Acton (Halton Hills) (Google Maps link)
• Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Kids & Me drop-in neighbourhood groups

Kids & Me is a free weekly 1.5-hour parenting and early learning drop-in program for families with babies or children up to 6 years of age. You and your child can make new friends, enjoy playing with other children and get extra support if needed.

Kids & Me is more than just a regular drop-in program as it follows a routine with a time for play, snacks, and stories. This gives children an opportunity to practice moving from one activity to another. The program is run by a Public Health Nurse, Early Childhood Educator, Child Development Consultant, and a Librarian. You can ask parenting questions about things like healthy eating, growth and development, speech and language, sleep, and routines. You can also get help connecting to community programs and services.

The aim of this program is to support you as a parent and to help your child learn, play with other children, and follow routines to get them ready for childcare or school.

Locations

These drop-in programs follow the school calendar (starting the second week of September) and are closed during the December/January holidays, spring/summer breaks and all statutory holidays. Call 311 for more information. Registration is not required.

Make the Connection Online Parenting Program Research Partnership

Halton Region Public Health partnered with the University of Ottawa in a research study to evaluate the new online version of the Make the Connection (MTC) program. The goal of MTC is to help improve parent-child relationships and build secure attachments for parents and caregivers of children 0-36 months of age. The recruitment for the study is now complete and registration for the research study is closed.

If you would still like to access the program, please visit the Make the Connection website (external link).