Kootenay Kids is a community based nonprofit society focusing on the early years. Our programs serve the needs of children, parents, and caregivers through education, support, and childcare centres. Kootenay Kids provides services and programs designed to help parents give their children the best start possible.

The Family Place

The goal of the Family Place is to provide support to all parents, parents to be, children and childcare providers. It offers a change of setting – a place away from the routines at home where you and your child can play and have fun together. The Family Place offers support, information and a chance to meet other parents and children.

Life After Birth Postpartum

Assisting parents to make the transition to parenthood during the first year, offering one-to-one phone contact, one-to-one help and breastfeeding support, weekly mothers’ drop-in group, home support right after birth and a post-partum adjustment support group.

Community Action Program for Children (CAPC)

CAPC provides long term funding to community coalitions to deliver programs that address the health and development of children (0 – 6 years) who are living in conditions of risk. It recognizes that communities have the ability to identify and respond to the needs of children and places a strong emphasis on partnerships and community capacity building.

Pregnancy Outreach Program

This program is designed to assist pregnant women to have healthier babies. The program includes support during the postpartum period up to six months, offers food vouchers and vitamins, individual support and weekly meetings with free lunch. Additional Pregnancy Outreach is provided in Kaslo.

Care to Learn Children’s Centre

Care to Learn Children’s Centre offers daycare for infants, toddlers and preschool age children. The centre has two licensed daycare programs: a twelve space infant and toddler program and a twenty space 3 – 5 years program, making it a family friendly facility.

Pediatric Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy

This program assesses and treats children where there are concerns regarding physical, sensory, behavioural and cognitive development. Treatment is provided in a community setting such as a home, daycare or clinic and is funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

This program provides developmental assessments, ongoing therapy for children and professional advice for parents. Referrals to our services can come from a doctor, public health official, teacher, or parents can contact us directly if they have concerns about their child.

Aboriginal Early Intervention Program

Little Robes is a program for families and children ages 0 – 6 whose heritage is First Nations, Métis or Inuit with an aim to promote healthy babies and preschoolers. It is an initiative of Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Child and Family Services and Kootenay Kids.

West Kootenay Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR)

The CCRR provides training opportunities for care providers and parents, childcare referrals, tips on choosing quality childcare, resource library and networking opportunities. Recruitment of License Not Required care providers as well as support and training for Licensed Family Daycare and other licensed and informal child care programs. Services are available outside of Nelson by Outreach Resource van.

Interior Regional Child Care Resource and Referral

The Regional CCRR program provides coordination, direction and guidance to 13 CCRR programs in the Interior Region from Williams Lake through the Okanagan and Kootenays.

Contact Information

Phone: 352-6678

Website: www.kootenaykids.ca