Dr. Jean Clinton
McMaster University and Offord Centre for Child Studies

[Presentation in PDF]

This presentation will provide an overview of infant neurodevelopment and what is being done in Ontario to promote infant and child mental health.

Jaynane Burning-Fields
Niagara Regional Native Centre

This session will provide an overview of First Nation perspectives on child development. It will share information about developmental targets and how parents support reaching these targets. The session will help service providers to develop their skills for working with First Nation families that have young children and to understand Aboriginal perspectives on nurturing the development of children.

Dr. Michelle Mottola
Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and R. Samuel McLaughlin Foundation - Exercise and Pregnancy Laboratory at the University of Western Ontario

[Presentation in PDF]

Dr. Mottola will discuss the current Canadian guidelines for exercise during pregnancy and postpartum (PARmed-X for Pregnancy; www.csep.ca) and the importance of physical activity among women of childbearing age. Physical inactivity during pregnancy and postpartum may be potential pathways for obesity development through excessive pregnancy weight gain and postpartum weight retention. Promotion of active living and how to overcome potential barriers to physical activity during this time period will also be discussed. Participants will learn to use the Canadian guidelines to promote physical activity in pregnant and postpartum women to help them exercise safely.

Wendy Burgoyne
Best Start Resource Centre

By the time a woman knows she is pregnant, it is too late to prevent many birth defects. Over the last 10 years there have been a growing number of local, regional, and provincial initiatives in Ontario to encourage men and women to assess and improve their health prior to conception. This session will highlight the results of a recent Best Start Resource Centre survey of the general public in Ontario concerning awareness, intentions, and behaviour related to preconception health. The session will discuss changes over the last 6 years, and implications to program planning.

Diane Finkle
Consultant for the Best Start Resource Centre

[Presentation in PDF]

Linking early child development and chronic disease is part of a long-term strategy that can offer a dramatic return on our investment in the health of Canadians. Policies and programs that promote quality learning experiences and positive relationships for children can have a huge impact on long term health. This presentation will show how early child development is closely linked to risk factors for chronic disease (i.e., poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, smoking and environmental tobacco smoke, etc.). The speaker will present a realistic picture of the challenges that are already faced by both individuals and communities on this subject and provide recommendations for decision-makers about how to address these challenges.

Dr. Carol Crill Russell
Invest in Kids

[Presentation in PDF]

Invest in Kids completed a year's study of "vital communities" - where parents of young children feel supported in their role. They commissioned a literature review, conducted key informant interviews and focus groups, then fielded a national survey of 3000 parents about what they need to feel supported in their role as a parent. Invest in kids found parenthood triggers a search for "community" in parents' physical neighbourhoods. But there is an alarming gap between parents' ideal community and daily reality. This presentation shares the important insights gained through this project and concludes with strategies practitioners can implement to improve our support for parents.

Wendy McNalley and Nadira Rambritch
Health Canada

[Presentation in PDF]

Wendy has been a Product Safety Officer with the Federal Department of Health Canada for 32 years. Prior to her current position, she was with the Federal Consumer Fraud Protection Division of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Guelph.

Nadira graduated from the University of Toronto acquiring a Hon BSc. in 2002 with a major in human biology and a minor in animal physiology and history. She began her career with the Public Service as a student customs officer at Pearson International Airport and continued her career working in various government departments. Prior to joining Health Canada she was a Passport Examiner at the Scarborough Passport Office and most recently she worked for the Canada Border Services Agency as a Customs Inspector at the International Mail Processing Centre.

Nadira and Wendy’s areas of expertise include enforcement of the Hazardous Products Act, which regulates consumer products regarding chemical, flammable and mechanical hazards; investigation of non-regulated issues; recommendations for policy development; and providing product safety information to consumers, industry, other government agencies, associations, private laboratories, and the media.

Jacquie Maund
Ontario Campaign 2000

[Presentation in PDF]

This presentation will provide the latest statistics on child and family poverty in Ontario. It will address some of the reasons why the Ontario child poverty rate remains high. The speaker will summarize what Campaign 2000 is calling for from federal and provincial Government to address child and family poverty, and will give an update on the Poverty Reduction Strategy promised by Ontario Liberal Government. The presentation will talk about public advocacy to end child poverty - challenges and successes - and will provide some examples of actions that the audience (service providers) can take in their communities, with the media, and with politicians. Campaign 2000 hopes to achieve increased understanding of the role that service providers can play in advocating for change, and commitment by the audience to follow through and take action.

Dr. Jean Clinton
McMaster University and Offord Centre for Child Studies

[Presentation in PDF]

This concurrent session will provide an in-depth analysis of infant neurodevelopment and information for service providers about how to promote infant and child mental health in their work.

Dr. Patricia Mousmanis
Ontario College of Family Physicians

[Presentation in PDF]

This presentation will highlight research in the Early Years and clinical strategies to improve outcomes for families with young children. In particular, the 18 month well child visit will be discussed in detail with three different cases to show how to approach this important opportunity for developmental surveillance. Evidence based guidelines developed by the Ontario College of Family Physicians and the Ontario Medical Association and specific clinical tools (Rourke Baby Record, Nippissing, CHAT/M-CHAT, Nutrition guidelines) will be reviewed and discussed in an interactive workshop. This session will be of particular use to those practitioners working with pregnant women and young families as preventative strategies to optimize attachment and child development will be reviewed.

Dr. Diane Meschino
University of Toronto, Women's College Hospital (WCH), Sunnybrook HSC, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Hiltrud Dawson
Best Start Resource Centre

[Presentation in PDF]

Dr. Diane Meschino and Hiltrud Dawson will discuss the development of the new resource "Perinatal Mood Disorders: an Interdisciplinary Training Video" with participants and how it can be used in practice to provide education to a multi-disciplinary audience. A train the trainer session will follow using the video along with the facilitator's guide.

Donna Launslager
Multiple Births Canada

[Related journal article in PDF]

Expecting and parenting multiples is different from that of a singleton pregnancy and parenthood. Multiple births are associated with substantial medical, health care, socio-emotional, developmental, educational, and economic consequences for both families and society. The session aims to advise how best to help families prepare for and successfully respond to the demands of multiple pregnancy and the first 6 years after the birth of twins, triplets, or more. Donna will highlight that preparation should include education of the special aspects of multiple pregnancy and parenting using multiples-focused resources on infant care and feeding, child development, advice on securing help, and support. The session presentation and handouts are available at www.multiplebirthscanada.org. 

Laurie-Ann Staniforth
First Words

This concurrent session will provide an overview of normal child language development in bilingual or multilingual environments. Bilingualism in the context of language delay or disorder will also be discussed. This session will include practical considerations for service providers such as issues to consider and how to work with and support bi- and multilingual children and families.

Wendy McNalley and Nadira Rambritch
Health Canada

[Presentation in PDF]

Wendy has been a Product Safety Officer with the Federal Department of Health Canada for 32 years. Prior to her current position, she was with the Federal Consumer Fraud Protection Division of Consumer and Corporate Affairs. She has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Guelph. 

Nadira graduated from the University of Toronto acquiring a Hon BSc. in 2002 with a major in human biology and a minor in animal physiology and history. She began her career with the Public Service as a student customs officer at Pearson International Airport and continued her career working in various government departments. Prior to joining Health Canada she was a Passport Examiner at the Scarborough Passport Office and most recently she worked for the Canada Border Services Agency as a Customs Inspector at the International Mail Processing Centre. 

Nadira and Wendy’s areas of expertise include enforcement of the Hazardous Products Act, which regulates consumer products regarding chemical, flammable and mechanical hazards; investigation of non-regulated issues; recommendations for policy development; and providing product safety information to consumers, industry, other government agencies, associations, private laboratories, and the media.

Dr. Renato Natale
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada

Dr. Renato Natale will discuss “A Birthing Strategy for Canada” as a multi-faceted way to address obstetrical care shortages, to implement collaborative care models for pre- and post-natal care, and to look at ways of providing optimal care in urban, remote, rural, and aboriginal communities. The presentation will include information about this national effort and the implications for service providers.

 

 

Louise Choquette
Best Start Resource Centre

Saleha Bismilla
Toronto Public Health

[Presentation in PDF]

The changing demographics of Ontario have an impact for service providers such as nurses, physicians, midwives, and community workers who work in reproductive health. Women from diverse cultural backgrounds may have different needs and expectations when accessing health services. Service providers should be sensitive to these needs and can help women and their partners to prepare for having a baby in Ontario. The Best Start Resource Centre has recently created a manual on this topic and will be presenting the findings. Real-life scenarios will be described and the possible solutions discussed. This session will help you support newcomer women and their partners in the prenatal, labour and delivery, and postnatal phases of their lives.

Tammy MacKenzie
Jean Tweed Centre

[Presentation in PDF]

This presentation will provide participants with best practice information and effective strategies in caring for women who are using substances during pregnancy. Several key principles that can be integrated into clinical approaches will be discussed along with the therapeutic relationship. The effects of substance use on both the mother and child will also be discussed within the context of engaging women into service.

Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt
University of Ottawa, McMaster University, and Offord Centre for Child Studies

In this session Dr. Vaillancourt will talk about the origins of aggression and the factors associated with aggressive behaviour in young children. She will also provide information about what is 'normal' aggression and what is 'abnormal' aggression and will offer strategies for service providers regarding how to address aggression in preschoolers.

Rachel Epstein
Sherbourne Health Centre

[Presentation in PDF]

This presentation will explore the overarching question: What does it mean to be a LGBTQ or queer positive professional? The presentation will address some of the challenges facing LGBTQ parents and their children in light of the current social, cultural, and political context, and will offer some practical suggestions for making services more welcoming to LGBTQ families. The presenter encourages participants to ask questions and to view this as an opportunity for reflection, learning, and dialogue.

Dr. Nick Kates
McMaster University, Hamilton Family Health Team, and the Quality Improvement and Innovation Partnership

This concurrent session will provide an overview of the role of family health teams (FHTs), opportunities for FHTs to develop programs promoting the wellbeing of children, and connections that can be established between FHTs and other programs and services for children in the community. Presenters from FHTs will discuss the lessons they have learned and advice they would provide to assist community service providers and family health teams in working together to support families and children.

Jess Rogers and Wanita Livingstone
Centre for Effective Practice and Haliburton Highland FHT
[Presentation in PDF]

Jason Bandey and Heather Kane
Stratford FHT
[Presentation in PDF]

Mel Krass
Niagara Falls FHT
[Presentation 1 in PDF]
[Presentation 2 in PDF]

Tracy Hussey and Peggy Carter-Arrowsmith
Hamilton FHT
[Presentation in PDF]

Dr. Donna Lero
Centre for Families, Work and Well-being at the University of Guelph

[Presentation in PDF]

This concurrent session will provide new research information and perspectives on work-life balance, particularly focusing on challenges for parents and the impacts on children. An overview of some effective strategies for achieving work-life integration will be provided at the personal, organizational, and societal levels. The session will include discussion of how service providers can support families and address some of their own needs.

Nicole Kenton
Public Health Agency of Canada

Julie Voorneveld
Public Health Agency of Canada

[Related report in PDF]

The findings from a decade of evaluation of the Canada Prenatal Nutrition (CPNP) program will be presented and reflected upon. Evaluation findings on program reach, impact, best practice, and cost-effectiveness will be discussed. The presenters will also discuss the challenges and complexities encountered when evaluating this national multi-site, community-based program.
This presentation will raise the following questions:

-What do program planners and policy makers want to know?
- What are some of the challenges to answering?
- Despite the challenges, what have we learned after over 12 years of performance measurement and evaluation?
- What are the implications for programming?