Kids First

Vision

All children enjoy a good start in life and are nurtured and supported by caring families and communities. Supports and services are provided through partnerships between families, communities, service organizations and governments.

KidsFirst is a program for families who have children under the age of five or are expecting a child. The goals are to help families become the best parents they can be and to have the healthiest children possible.

KidsFirst is divided into 2 program areas:

1. KidsFirst Targeted
Families and prenatal women who live in Nipawin or Northern Saskatchewan may be referred for services by community agencies and organizations, health professionals, friends and family. Some women choose to refer themselves.  As well, the family may be referred after they complete the In-Hospital Birth Questionnaire.

 In-Hospital Birth Questionnaire- In Saskatchewan, parents are asked to answer a questionnaire while in hospital for the birth of their baby. This is to ensure that parents and babies receive the best possible care right from the start.

KidsFirst  Targeted enhances knowledge, provides support, and builds on family strengths. This is done through weekly home visits, mental health and addictions counseling, parent support groups and learning opportunities for children and families.

*All referrals including those from the in hospital birth questionnaire will be assessed for eligibility using an in-depth assessment.

2. KidsFirst Regional

If you do not live in Nipawin or northern Saskatchewan, your information from the In-hospital birth questionnaire will be shared with your local public health or community health nurse. It will give her an idea of what supports or information you may need when she visits you and baby at home. She will tell you about other local parent/ child programs and services that you may wish to access.

Regional and community totals from all In-hospital birth questionnaires will be shared with community, regional and provincial partners for planning around the overall needs of early childhood and young families. Individual identifying information (ie. name, hospitalization number) is confidential and not shared for this purpose.

Who to contact in Kelsey Trail Health Region?
Myrna Soonias - KidsFirst Regional Community Developer
Phone:  (306) 873-8289
E-mail: msoonias@kthr.sk.ca

Who to contact in the Town of Nipawin?
Jan Wiebe – KidsFirst  Targeted Program Manager
Phone:   (306) 862-6222
E-mail:   wiebe.janice@nesd.ca
 
Who to contact in Northern Saskatchewan?
Rebecca Clark - KidsFirst Program Manager
Phone:  (306) 425-8033
 rebecca.clark@sasktel.net

Visit the website for KidsFirst contacts across Saskatchewan.
http:www.education.gov.sk.ca/KidsFirst