Hosted by the Best Start Resource Centre team, the 2009 annual conference addresses preconception through to child health and explores sessions relevant to your work and areas of interest. Acquire the latest information, learn innovative strategies and programs, and meet new colleagues.
Some highlights of the conference include:
PRECONFERENCE (February 23, 2009)
Circles of Influence: Integrating the Determinants of Health in Maternal and Child Health Planning
This session will help those working in the field of maternal and child health planning to increase their understanding of the role of the broad determinants of health and what we can do about them. Through a combination of presentations, stories and experiential exercises, participants will share ideas on how to coordinate our efforts across sectors to effect positive change for healthy child development.
Highlights of this day will include:
- Principal address by Dr. Pete Sarsfield, former Medical Officer of Health and CEO, Northwestern Health Unit, writer and environmental health physician
- Latest research on the determinants of health from the World Health Organization.
- Introduction of new planning tool called Primer to Action.
- Practical exercises to help us share and connect our own circles of influence.
Promotion of Healthy Weights in the Early Years
Childhood obesity has become a serious concern in Canada and has heightened attention to the importance of physical activity in the early years. Join our preconference session to learn more about promoting healthy weights in children and the launch of the provincial campaign on Physical Activity in the Early Years. Details about the agenda and speakers to follow.
MAIN CONFERENCE (February 24-25, 2009)
KEYNOTES
The First 'R': Relationships. The Key Role of Relationships in Infant and Child Brain Development. How does love build brains and what is Ontario doing about it?
Dr. Jean Clinton, McMaster University and Offord Centre for Child Studies
Ending Child Poverty in Ontario: Where are we at and what can we do?
Jacquie Maund, Ontario Campaign 2000
Prenatal Health / National Birthing Strategy
Dr. Renato Natale, The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Taking Stock after a Decade of Evaluation of the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) Planning
Nicole Kenton, Public Health Agency of Canada; Julie Voorneveld, Public Health Agency of Canada
OTHER SESSION TOPICS
Topics that delegates can choose from:
o First Nation Perspectives on Child Development
o Prenatal Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention
o Preconception Health in Ontario
o Early Child Development and Chronic Disease Prevention
o Vital Communities, Vital Support
(what parents need to feel supported in their role)
o Safety Issues for Children's Products and Recall
Information for Service Providers Strategies for
o Service Providers: Promoting Infant and Child Mental Health
o 18 Month Well Baby Visit
o Providing Interdisciplinary Education on Perinatal Mood Disorders
o Helping Families to Prepare for Multiple-Birth Children
o Child Language Development in Bilingual or Multilingual Environments
o Giving Birth in a New Land
o Engaging and Supporting Pregnant Women Who Use
Substances:Principles and Interventions
o Bullying and the Early Years
o Queering the Family Tree: Welcoming LGBTQ Parents
and their Children
o Building Links Between Family Health Teams (FHTs) and
Community Programs and Services for Children
o Work / Life Balance – A Personal Issue and a Public Concer
Register by January 16, 2009 to take advantage of the early bird special of $250.00 for the conference (Feb. 24-25) and $125 for the preconference (Feb. 23). Regular registration fees of $300 for the conference and $150 for the preconference apply after January 16, 2009. Student rates are also available.
