Nova Scotia CPNP Projects

The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) funds eight projects in Nova Scotia, all based in small towns or rural communities. Seven are based in family resource centres that receive funding through the Community Action Program for Children (CAPC). Groups funded through CPNP provide a variety of food supplements for pregnant women, including milk and juice. While some project groups visit pregnant women in their homes, others bring women together in small groups.

• Baby Building Club - Sydney
• Cumberland Prenatal Nutrition Program - Amherst
• Digby County Prenatal Nutrition Program - Digby County
• E'Pit Nuji Ilmuet (Woman Advisor) - Truro
• Great Beginnings - Canning
• Kids First Prenatal Nutrition Program - Antigonish - Guysborough
• Preston and Area Prenatal Nutrition Program - East Preston
• Support to New Mothers and Their Infants Program - Spryfield

Baby Building Club

Organization:	Cape Breton Family Place
Telephone:	(902) 562-5616 ext: 222

Description:

Baby Building Club, a project of the Cape Breton Family Place, includes a network of family resource centres throughout Cape Breton Island. They offer a comprehensive prenatal program in three of the four counties to improve the health of babies by increasing access to healthy food, promoting breastfeeding, and reducing the isolation of young mothers in Sydney. Weekly education and support sessions are offered for pregnant women, especially teens, off-reserve Aboriginal women, and Black women. These sessions promote breastfeeding and address issues such as family violence, smoking, drinking, and drug abuse.

Cumberland Prenatal Nutrition Program

Organization:	Maggie's Place
Internet Site:	www.maggiesplace.ca

Description:

The Cumberland Prenatal Nutrition Program is a project of Maggie's Place. Staff work with pregnant women, especially those who are young, unemployed, on municipal assistance, or working for low wages. The program provides food supplements and encourages women to participate in the Basic Shelf Food Experience, a program also offered in the high school, which increases skill and awareness about healthy eating and lifestyle choices.

Through CPNP, Maggie's Place improves the nutrition of young and low-income women living in isolated rural areas, teaches them nutrition, creates support networks, and helps these women make positive lifestyle changes. To encourage full participation, the centre covers child care and transportation costs.

Digby County Prenatal Nutrition Program

Organization:	Digby County Family Resource Centre
Telephone:	(902) 245-6464

Description:

The Digby County Prenatal Nutrition Program is a project of the Digby Family Resource Centre whose goal is to improve the nutritional health of teens and low-income women from Acadian, Black, and rural fishing communities in Digby County. Staff provide the following culturally and linguistically appropriate services: nutrition counselling, home visits, a workshop series, food supplements, a warm-line, and food baskets.

The program increases support, reduces substance abuse, reduces rates of low birth weight and birth defects, increases rates of breastfeeding, and maintains cultural diversity. Transportation and child care are provided for participants.

E'Pit Nuji Ilmuet (Woman Advisor)

Organization:	Native Council of Nova Scotia
Telephone:	(902) 895-1738

Description:

E'Pit Nuji Ilmuet (Woman Advisor) is a project of the Native Council of Nova Scotia that provides culturally and linguistically appropriate programming for young or low-income Aboriginal women who are pregnant, enabling them to make informed decisions about pregnancy, child birth, and parenting. The project aims to reduce substance abuse and improve nutritional intake during pregnancy and lactation, promote and protect breastfeeding, and reduce the rate of low birth weight babies. Prenatal education is provided through home visits, workshops, and a bus that delivers resources throughout the region. Public health nurses and nutritionists offer general information sessions to promote nutrition, medical care, and breastfeeding.

Great Beginnings

Organization:	Great Beginnings: Annapolis Valley-Hants Prenatal and Postnatal Support Programs
Telephone:	(902) 582-1375

Description:

Great Beginnings is a project of the Annapolis Valley Hants Prenatal Nutrition Program with centres in Canning, Kennetcook, and Kentville. The project operates an outreach program for pregnant women, especially young women and those living in isolation or poverty. Trained outreach workers provide support, training and food supplements, and promote breastfeeding.

A working group of partners made up of participant representatives, nutritionists, and key professionals from other related fields recommends effective ways to identify and involve low-income women.

Kids First Prenatal Nutrition Program

Organization:	Kids First
Internet Site:	www.kids1st.ca

Description:

The Kids First Prenatal Nutrition Program is a project located in Antigonish and Guysborough counties whose goal is to create a positive support program for low-income, geographically isolated pregnant women and young mothers and their babies. The program promotes the health of mothers, infants, and pregnant women by enhancing prenatal and infant nutrition through home visits, food supplements, individual counselling, and breastfeeding support. The program also offers the following services: a prenatal education program, smoking cessation groups, a maternity and infant clothing exchange, and a resource lending library that includes books, videos, and breast-pumps for nursing mothers. The project has mobilized broad-based community support and developed partnerships with Community Services and a regional breastfeeding network.

Preston and Area Prenatal Nutrition Program

Organization:	East Preston Day Care Centre
Telephone:	(902) 462-7266

Description:

The Preston and Area Prenatal Nutrition Program is a project of the East Preston Day Care Centre designed to benefit low-income pregnant adolescents and women at risk of abuse in and around East Preston, a Black community in the Halifax Regional Municipality. The goals of the project are to enhance self-esteem, assist women to recognize abuse in their relationships, and increase knowledge about nutrition.

The centre provides the following programs and services: a Collective Kitchen, a self-esteem support group, individual and group nutrition counselling, workshops on breastfeeding, and a resource library with culturally appropriate educational material. To facilitate participation, child care and transportation to the centre are provided.

Support to New Mothers and Their Infants Program

Organization:	Home of the Guardian Angel Single Parent Centre
Telephone:	(902) 479-3031

Description:

Support to New Mothers and Their Infants Program is a project of the Home of the Guardian Angel Single Parent Centre. The Single Parent Centre, located in Spryfield, has a long history of supporting low-income and single-parent families with young children. The program supports new mothers by increasing their feelings of competence, reducing isolation and stress, and improving both their health and that of their infants. The safe and respectful environment is fully inclusive of all participants. Parents are encouraged to help plan and deliver the services and activities, which include infant massage, infant home visits, and nutrition support.