Parenting resources

• bc211 - Free phone line to provide information on community, government and social services in BC
• 811 / HealthLink BC - Free phone line, website and mobile app for non-emergency health information and advice in BC
• HealthLink BC on pregnancy and birth - Online information to help you through the stages of pregnancy and birth

• Public health nurses - Available to help you before and after the birth of your baby through telephone or in-person
• SmartMom - Prenatal education program that sends evidence-based information tailored to your stage of pregnancy. You'll receive helpful text messages with links, phone numbers and videos about fetal growth, options for screening in pregnancy, and preparation for labour and delivery from sources you can trust. Enrolling in SmartMom is free, but depending on your mobile phone plan, your mobile phone service provider (carrier) may charge you to receive/send text messages or browse website links when not connected to WiFi.
• VCH Healthiest Babies Possible (HBP) Program - Nutrition counselling, health education, food access and social support to pregnant women facing challenging life circumstances in Vancouver or Richmond.
• Sheway program - Located in the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver for pregnant women and women with infants under 18 months with drug or alcohol issues.
• Maternity Services - Maternity care and support for pregnant women and their families
• Our Special Journey: Pregnancy Passport - Booklet to help track your progress and prepare for your baby
• Baby's Best Chance - Parents' handbook to prepare you for the birth of your baby and the first six months
• BC Association of Family Resources Program - Parent/child interactive centres for children 0–6 years
• Financial Help For Pregnancy - 2 page resource listing potential financial support programs for pregnant individuals in BC

Youth pregnancy supports

• Youth health clinics - Access emergency contraception, free or low-cost birth control options, pregnancy testing and counselling options for youth
• Youth Pregnancy and Parenting Program (YPPP) - Free program for pregnant women age 24 and under living in Vancouver or Richmond. Read the YPPP brochure.
• Nurse-Family Partnership - Free program for women age 24 years or younger having their first baby during pregnancy and after the child is born up to two years of age

• Child health clinics - Public health nurses can provide immunizations, checks growth and development and provides health information for children up to the age of five. 
• Toddler's First Steps – Guide to help parents create a stimulating, safe environment for their child from six months old up to 36 months old
• VCH dental health services for children - Prevention and early intervention services for children 1-5 years to prevent early childhood dental disease
• VCH speech and language services - Supporting children aged 0-5 years reach their full speech, language, and communication potential
• VCH audiology services - Comprehensive hearing services to children age 0-19 years
• BC Early Hearing Program - Province-wide screening program to check hearing for babies born in BC

If you are finding it difficult to provide healthy, nutritious food for yourself or your family due to low income, please consider the following resources:

Across VCH 

• Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society - Providing healthy food to those in need. Learn about children's programs available. Call 604-876-3601 if you are unsure where your local food bank is located
• Food Banks BC - Represents 100 food banks across the province
• Single Parent Food Bank

North Shore (North & West Vancouver)

• North Vancouver Harvest Project
• Vancouver Food Bank

Powell River 

• Powell River Food Bank

Richmond

• Richmond Food Bank Society
• Healthiest Babies Possible (HBP) - Provides nutrition counselling, health education, food access and social support to pregnant women facing challenging life circumstances

Sea to Sky

• Squamish Helping Hands
• Whistler Food Bank
• Pemberton Food Bank

Sunshine Coast

• Sunshine Coast Community Services 
• Good Food Box - Monthly discounted vegetable and fruit box for $15 for Sunshine Coast residents
• Onestraw Society - Helping people access and engage in a local, resilient, sustainable food system
• Pender Harbour Outreach Healthy Meals - Home-cooked meals delivered from Secret Cove to Egmont for $10/meal
• Pender Harbour Food Bank - Free groceries every second Monday from noon to 12:30 p.m.
• Salvation Army - Food programs such as free hot lunch and monthly food box available
• St. Bart's Food Bank - "No-barrier" Food Band days for everyone in need
• Sunshine Coast Community Services Food Bank - Food distribution for community members on a weekly basis

Vancouver

• Vancouver Food Bank
• Healthiest Babies Possible (HBP) - Provides nutrition counselling, health education, food access and social support to pregnant women facing challenging life circumstances
• Sheway - Pregnancy Outreach Program (P.O.P.) located in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver supporting pregnant women and women with infants, who are dealing with drug and alcohol issues.

North Shore (North & West Vancouver)

• VCH Public Health Prevention Services - North Shore Contacts - Overview and contact information for VCH prevention services on the North Shore
• North Shore: Free (or low cost) things to do with your baby & child - Guide produced by North Shore Community Resources updated seasonally
• North Shore Community Resources - Provides a variety of child care and parenting resources and programs

Powell River

• Family Friendly Powell River - Interactive events calendar highlighting family-friendly events in Powell River

Richmond

• Richmond parent and child resources 
• Breastfeeding spaces in Richmond
• Pregnancy and parenting - Richmond's guide to services - Directory of free and paid resources in Richmond
• Richmond Children First - Community initiative to foster innovative strategies to support children and families
• Richmond Kids - Programs, events and articles for kids 0 to 6 and their families

Sea to Sky

• Sea to Sky Kids - Access early years supports and community services in the Sea to Sky Corridor

Sunshine Coast

• Sunshine Coast Bellies and Babies - Prenatal Nutrition Drop-in for pregnant mothers and mothers with babies 0-1 year
• Sunshine Coast Community Services - Programs supporting pregnancy, new parents, caregivers, children and youth

Vancouver

• Public health newborn resources - Vancouver
• Association of Neighbourhood Houses - Offers childcare services in eight Neighbourhood Houses
• City of Vancouver - Resources for parents, caregivers and childcare providers
• Vancouver Community Centres - 24 community centres offering recreational, social, and cultural activities including family resources and activities
• Vancouver Family Connections - Centralized resource for accessing family related services
• Vancouver Public Libraries - Family programs such as story times, classes and workshops that support learning and reading
• Vancouver School Board StrongStart Early Learning Centres - Free drop-in program for children ages 0-5 that emphasizes learning through play, language and positive social interactions
• Vancouver Society of Children's Centres - Child care services and family resource programs in Downtown Vancouver
• Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre - Tools and resources to help families find quality child care in Vancouver
• YMCA of Greater Vancouver - Helping families get the support they need, be healthy and connect with the community