All Babies Count (ABC)

Program Summary

ABC is a FREE weekly prenatal nutrition program funded by the Public Heath Agency of Canada for women who need extra support during their pregnancy!

The ABC Programs serve prenatal women living in York Region. Programs are offered in Newmarket, Keswick, Richmond Hill and Markham. If you do not live in or near these communities, go to www.worthyourweight.ca to find a program near you.

The purpose of ABC is to increase the prevalence of healthy birth outcomes for women and their child. We do this by educating women on a variety of prenatal and nutrition topics. We partner with Public Health Nurses from York Region Public Health and a Nutrition Educator who come in biweekly to teach subjects including breastfeeding, labour and delivery, newborn care, healthy eating during pregnancy, feeding your baby healthy baby food, and cooking nutritious meals on a budget. The ABC program runs a monthly cooking in the kitchen session, where moms are in the kitchen cooking themselves and are taught basic cooking skills.

The ABC program is an excellent way for moms to meet other moms who are in similar situations as they are. Many friendships begin at ABC because of the welcoming and interactive environment that is created by our program coordinators. It is a perfect way to learn about your pregnancy, while meeting new friends!

Program Supports

• A Group Counsellor is on site biweekly to assist with accessing community resources
• A healthy snack and recipes are given out every week so moms can try cooking at home
• We provide take home bags biweekly, which include milk and eggs
• Child-minding is available at each site for older siblings
• Transportation is provided for those who really need it
• Mandarin interpreters are on site weekly at sites that require one
• Participants are allowed to stay in the program until their baby is 4-6 months old.

Resources

• Nutrition Information
• Additional Prenatal Supports Available in York Region
• Call Health Connection 1-800-361-5653 for health information, education and counselling

Locations

Newmarket
Monday 1:00-3:30pm
Rose of Sharon, 361 Eagle St, Newmarket, ON, L3Y 1K5
Tel: (905)853-5514 ext 237; Toll Free: 1-877-516-3715

Markham
Tuesday 10:30am-1:00pm
The Olive Branch Community Church, 175 Anderson Avenue, Markham, ON, L6E 1A4
905-868-0519

Keswick
Thursday 10:00am-12:30pm
Maple Hill Baptist Church, 215 Glenwoods Ave, Keswick, ON, L4P 2W6
905-853-5514 xt 237 or 289-383-5790

Richmond Hill
Wednesday 1:00pm-3:30pm
EarlyON Centre, 10610 Bayview Ave, Richmond Hill, ON, L4C 3N8
905-868-4362

**Funding for this program is provided (in part) by the Government of Canada. The opinions expressed in the publication are those of Rose of Sharon and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Government of Canada.**