Children's Services
Over 1,700 children receive subsidized child care through the Children's Services Department. The Department completes: fee assessments for parents requesting subsidy, purchase of service agreements with not-for-profit and profit centres, and the administration of funding to Child Care Special Needs Resourcing, a Child Care Resource Centre, and Wage Subsidies.
The Department operates "Coronation Park Day Nursery" (CPDN) and its satellite programs in Sarnia, which are licensed to provide childcare for 199 children, aged zero to 11 years. Childcare is available for full fee paying parents, as well as subsidized care for parents who are working, attending school or re-training. Some special needs children are also enrolled at CPDN, as it continues to work on its accreditation as a "High Scope Program".
Child Health is promoted by programs, such as Healthy Babies, Healthy Children, which aim to increase the percentage of children who meet physical, cognitive, communicative and psychosocial developmental milestones. Goals include increasing the number of infants breast-fed, reducing the incidence of dental disease; increasing the access and use of community supports and increasing parenting ability in high-risk families. Infant care and feeding is taught in postnatal classes, "Parent and Baby Drop-ins", telephone counselling and home visits. Parenting issues are discussed in groups with eight different parenting series available. The dental component, under the direction of a dental consultant, conducts dental screening in high-risk schools and works with families to get the needed treatment.
Report_Card_-_Childrens_Services_in_Lambton.pdf