When it comes to maternal, child and family health, KDC Health's approach is health and wellness now and for the future for the whole family. 
This family-focused approach supports important areas like:
 
• Healthy relationships
• Sexual health 
• Family planning 
• Healthy pregnancies 
• Optimal birth experiences 
• Parent and guardian health 
• Early childhood development  
• Child safety
 

Maternal, Child and Family Health (MCFH)

Maternal, child and Family Health (MCFH) 

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) is a ​program that is funded through partnerships llike FNHA and builds on community programs already in place. It is a proactive, preventative and strategic approach to promoting good health and development of on-reserve pregnant First Nations women and families with young children and infants. 

A key element of the program is that nurses provide support and services to expecting mothers and mothers of families with young children in our member communites; all while maintaining Culture as a key aspect of the program. The nurses will provide information, support, and connection to other supportive resources that may be useful in supporting community First Nation mothers and families.  

Program objectives include:

  • Increasing First Nations training opportunities for MCH service providers
  • Increasing participation of on-reserve community members in planning and developing services
  • Increasing coordination of services for on-reserve clients, and developing and/or using existing evaluation tools to measure progress using evidence-based models and approaches. 

What is the Prenatal Nutrition Program?

The goal of the Prenatal Nutrition Program is to improve the overall health of mothers and infants by supporting community members to:

  • Eat well, so babies have the best chance to be healthy at birth and throughout their lives
  •  Breastfeed babies for up to two years and beyond
  •  Introduce healthy solid foods at 6 months of age, while continuing breastfeeding

There are also CPNP programs administered through the Public Health Agency of Canada that are offered to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. These programs are often accessed through BC Aboriginal Friendship Centres and BC Pregnancy Outreach Programs.

Why is this important?

Traditionally, we know that everything a pregnant mother surrounds herself with will have an impact on the baby. Healthy food is one important way that a new life can be nurtured to its fullest potential. Extensive research tells us that healthy, nutritious eating supports the long-term health of both mother and baby - and can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes. 

Prenatal Nutrition Program clients include:

  •  Pregnant First Nations
  •  Mothers of infants
  •  Infants up to 24 months of age who live on reserve 
  •  First Nations women of childbearing age on reserve

Making Prenatal Nutrition Yours

Depending on total health funding and community needs Prenatal Nutrition Program could support other family focussed programs such as:

  • Youth cooking program
  • Traditional foods harvest program
  • Community garden 
  • Services that promote maternal and child health
  • Breast feeding a child up to 2 years of age
  • Family planning and support
  • Sexual health
  • Food and cooking education to support woman who could become pregnant
  • Early childhood development
  • Child safety 
  • Optimal birth experience and support
  • Healthy family building relationships

 

 For further information please contact:

Jacey Dick (KDC Community Nurse)

Phone: 250-286-9766 Email: