Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program

The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) is an ongoing federal initiative to help local community organizations address the needs of at risk pregnant women. The CPNP was announced in July 1994.

More than 10% of babies born in Canada every year are estimated to be at risk by virtue of the mother's poor health and nutrition. Approximately 41,000 of 400,000 annual births are considered "at risk".

The program targets AT RISK WOMEN who are:

• pregnant adolescents
• sexually active
• pregnant women who abuse alcohol or other substances
• pregnant women living in violent situations
• off-reserve Aboriginal women
• refugees

The Alberta/Northwest Territories Region's Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program is delivered by community based programs which offer a variety of services to improve birth outcomes with at risk women. These services include nutritional counselling, food supplements, education, referral to other services, and counselling on lifestyle issues such as alcohol abuse and other factors including stress and family violence.

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program Projects Directory Online

The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program Projects Directory Online offers a complete listing of CPNP Projects across Canada. Maps, sponsor name, project title and project description are available for Alberta and Northwest Territories.

Guiding Principles:

• MOTHERS AND BABIES FIRST
  The health and well being of the mother and baby are most important in planning, developing and carrying out every program.
• STRENGTHENING AND SUPPORTING FAMILIES
  Mothers and fathers have the main responsibility for the care and development of their children. This is traditionally supported by relatives, friends and neighbours. However, other parts of Canadian society; agencies, employers, organized labour, educators, voluntary community organizations and governments share the responsibility for raising children through their support of parents and families.
• EQUITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
  Programs are to be sensitive to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Canadian families.
• PARTNERSHIPS:
  Partnerships, including parents, family members, communities, governments and service providers are essential in developing effective and co-ordinated prevention and early intervention programs;
• COMMUNITY-BASED:
  The community is the focus for decision making and action. Together, families and community groups have a key role in the planning, design, implementation and evaluation of programs supported by CPNP funds.
• FLEXIBILITY:
  Programs must be flexible so they can respond to different needs in each community and to the changing needs and conditions of women and children in those communities.

Federal funds are provided to support community programs or services that address the needs of these women. Long term funding decisions are based on the monitoring and evaluation of the programs or services developed through project initiatives.

Projects supported by CPNP funds must:

• promote the health of pregnant women, new parents and babies up to six months of age;
• be based in communities where women are at highest risk, as identified through government and community consultations;
• meet identified community needs and not duplicate existing services;
• demonstrate strong community support and a coordinated, collaborative approach to the delivery of services to women;
• be appropriate to the culture and language of participants;
• focus health promotion efforts on the whole family;
• promote community and professional partnerships by involving parents, community groups and professionals;
• encourage the involvement of pregnant women and new mothers using community unique approaches;
• take place in community based locations such as public housing, community centres, friendship centres, store fronts, and schools. Programs may need to be mobile to provide services in the home or workplace; and
• include a strong evaluation component which demonstrates a plan for developing and sharing knowledge and expertise.

Evaluation

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program projects participate in an ongoing national evaluation. In addition, more detailed regional evaluations have been conducted in Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

For more information about the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, please contact:

Alberta/Northwest Territories Regional Office office at:
Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program
Healthy Children and Youth
Public Health Agency of Canada
#620 - 220 4 Avenue S.E.
Calgary AB T2G 4X3
Tel: (403) 292 6714
Fax: (403) 292 6696:
e-mail: ab_nwt@phac-aspc.gc.ca

National Office:
Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program
Community Based Programs Section
Childhood & Youth Division
Public Health Agency of Canada
9th Floor, Jeanne Mance Building
Tunney's Pasture, A.L.: 10909C2
Ottawa, ON K1A 1B4
Tel: (613) 957-3956