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Baseline Expenditures and Activities

Ontario's Early Years Plan

Baseline Expenditures and Activities

Promote Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Infancy

Infant Development           $3,400,000

Eligibility for services to assist children aged zero to three who are at risk of delays in development or diagnosed with a developmental disability will be extended to children up to age five.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome           $1,400,000

This program addresses diagnosis and treatment of fetal alcohol syndrome. Funding supports education and awareness programs and training for workers.

Healthy Babies, Healthy Children          $3,550,000

Building on the success of the Healthy Babies, Healthy Children program, this funding will strengthen key elements of the program.

Support for At-Risk Pregnant Women         $70,000

Funding to expand supports to at-risk and underhoused pregnant women.

Prenatal HIV Testing          $414,000

Funding to develop a comprehensive communications plan to increase awareness of the importance of HIV testing in pregnancy as part of routine prenatal care.

Prenatal and Postnatal Nurse Practitioner Services           $250,000

Nurse practitioners, supported by public health units, will enhance access to prenatal and postnatal services in isolated and underserved areas.

Early Childhood Resource Centre           $500,000

Funding to expand the provincial resource centre which provides information about early child development, nutrition, tobacco reduction and overall healthy pregnancy.

Breastfeeding Promotion           $150,000

Develop and distribute education materials to promote breastfeeding.

Prevention of Neural Tube Defects           $135,000

Develop and distribute education materials and community awareness campaign about the importance of women taking folic acid for healthy infant development during pregnancy.

Electronic Record for Prenatal and Postnatal Health           $135,000

Develop and maintain an electronic version of records.

Improve Parenting and Family Supports

Early Years Challenge Fund           $15,400,000

The Challenge Fund is a matching program that challenges businesses, volunteer and charitable groups to help communities develop new early years programs for all parents and children. The new funding serves to augment the Early Years Challenge Fund.

Learning, Earning & Parenting (Ontario Works)           $1,000,000

The new funding expands LEAP to include all 18-21 year old parents on Ontario Works. The program assists teen parents to complete high school by providing help with tutoring, parenting skills, child care, school expenses and job finding.

Children's Mental Health           $6,900,000

Early identification, intervention and treatment services are being enhanced for children aged zero to six who have or are at risk of developing emotional, behavioural or mental disorders.

Early Years Capital           $6,500,000

A number of capital projects are being funded to support young children and their families.

Healthy Pregnancy and Child Development Promotion         $2,300,000

Funding is being used to strengthen community capacity to support healthy pregnancy and child development.

Funding for Public Education and Awareness           $175,000

Promotion and distribution of materials to support public education relating to early child development and for parents, caregivers and the community.

Community Health Centres           $2,700,000

This program builds on supports to parenting and healthy child development especially in rural, northern, inner-city and culturally diverse areas.

Strengthen Early Childhood Development, Learning and Care

Nutrition Program           $1,000,000

Establish Aboriginal child nutrition programs which include a healthy eating program, nutritional education to parents, breakfast programs and a combined nutrition and parenting skills program.

Ontario Early Years Centres           $30,200,000

The Centres offer a mix of universal supports that address common needs, such as literacy programs, nutrition programs and resources for parents. They also include other targeted services, tailored to the unique needs of local communities, such as supports to children with special needs.

Expansion of Early Literacy Agenda           $5,000,000

This is a program to promote, initiate and develop child and family literacy.

Services for Children with Autism           $20,000,000

Autism programs are being expanded to increase access to early intensive behavioural intervention services for children with autism aged five and under.

Pregnant Women with Addictions           $2,500,000

A program for pregnant women with addictions is being developed to assist in treating addictions.

Injury and Family Abuse Prevention           $4,000,000

This initiative creates safer environments for young children by identifying the factors that contribute to reduced infant and childhood injuries and increasing identification and response to family abuse.

Infant Hearing           $600,000

Public education and awareness to support the Infant Hearing Screening and Communications Development Program.

Sexual Assault Services           $1,440,000

Hospital based services and treatment for children who have been sexually assaulted.

Strengthen Community Supports

Program Effectiveness Measurement           $2,000,000

This investment enables the collection and analysis of data needed to track progress in improving early years programs and undertake future planning.

Child Outcome Measurement           $500,000

In line with recommendations of the Early Years Study and the Provincial Auditor, a system for measuring child outcomes in Ontario is being developed, with a particular focus on children aged zero to six.

Perinatal and Child Health Survey           $2,000,000

Develop a baseline survey that would cover a broad range of perinatal, child growth and development, and child risk behaviour information. The survey would also include dietary intake, height and weight measurements and physical activity.

Listing of Expenditures in Ontario Priority Areas

• Promote Healthy Pregnancy, Birth and Infancy;
• Improve Parenting and Family Supports;
• Strengthen Early Childhood Development, Learning and Care, and;
• Strengthen Community Supports.