The Indigenous Prenatal Nutrition Program is open to off-reserve Indigenous women of childbearing years, pregnant women, and mothers with children under the age of six months. The program is traditionally based and culturally specific. The program provides nutrition, labor and birth preparation, breastfeeding information and support, parenting skills workshop, and information on pregnancy and baby development.
Program Goal
Improve the health of women and their babies by:
- Increasing the number of babies born at a healthy weight
- Promoting and supporting breastfeeding
Promote and create partnerships within communities to:
- Strengthen community capacity
- Increase support for vulnerable pregnant women and new mothers
Program Objectives
- The objective of the off-reserve Indigenous Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program is to design and deliver community-based, culturally relevant programs for “at-risk” Indigenous women/families living off-reserve to improve the health of mothers/ families and babies.
- CPNP focuses on making off-reserve Indigenous families stronger by encouraging the development, delivery and evaluations of community-based and culturally appropriate services for Indigenous families.
- CPNP will help women/men, mothers/fathers, families and communities increase their knowledge and power by involving them in the design, implementation and decision-making process of the program.
- CPNP will provide support for adequate and nutritious food through community activities.
- CPNP will expand or enhance existing prenatal/ postnatal health programs. CPNP is not intended to duplicate or replace existing programs.
- CPNP will encourage father involvement in CPNP programs as well as the development of fathering initiatives.
Target Group
CPNP program is voluntary and open to any Indigenous and Non-Indigenous families that request the services CPNP – prenatal to 6 months of age (possible extension up to 1 year).
Services Offered
- Prenatal & Postnatal Education
- Nutrition Programs
- Infant Development
- Recreation Programs
- Parenting Programs
- Breastfeeding Support
- One-on-one Counselling
- Group Sessions
- Advocacy & Support
