At some point in your pregnancy, or after the birth of your baby, you, your health care provider or your nurse may feel a need for the assistance of a social worker. A social worker can help you with:

Emotional support

  • If you feel unusual stress from your relationship with your partner, family or co-wrokers
  • If you have a history of significant losses or feel anxious during birth
  • If you have a history of depression and/or feel symptoms of anxiety or depression
  • If you are concerned about developing postpartum depression


Issues of abuse

  • If you are being abused (physically, sexually, verbally or emotionally) by your partner or someone else
  • If you and/or your partner have concerns about alcohol or drug abuse
     

Issues of adoption or agency involvement

  • You may be considering, or have decided on, private adoption, adoption through the Children's Aid Society, Catholic Children's Aid Society or Jewish Family and Child Service.


Housing, finance and special needs

  • If you may need information and direction about housing resources for yourself and your baby
  • If you need information about resources to secure financial assistance for yourself and your baby

For more assistance in these areas, please call 416-756-6290 and leave a clear message including the spelling of you name and a phone number where you can be reached.

Are you pregnant and are you:

  • New to Canada (here less than three (3) years) and having your first baby here
  • 21 years of age and under
  • Facing challenging life situations

You may be eligible for Healthy Babies Healthy Children, a free home-visiting program that supports you and your family with:

  • Having a healthy pregnancy
  • Developing a positive relationship with your child
  • Promoting your child's growth and development

Get more information! Or call Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Need a family doctor? Check out these links!

NYGH Family Medicine Teaching Unit 
CPSO Doctor Search 
Health Care Connect

Are you pregnant and in your teens or early 20s?

Young Parent Prenatal Program is a weekly prenatal program that provides group-based and individual support and education from public health nurses and registered dietitians in collaboration with community partners.

Get more information or call Toronto Public Health: 416-338-7600
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Free parent programs to help you learn about:

  • Adjusting to parenthood
  • Infant nutrition
  • Growth and development
  • Caring for a sick child
  • Keeping your child safe

Learn more about free parenting groups offered by the City of Toronto.

Are you facing a challenging life situation?

  • Hunger during pregnancy
  • Recent arrival to Canada
  • Difficulty accessing health care
  • Previous preterm or low weight births

Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) is a weekly prenatal program that provides group-based and individual support and education from public health nurses and registered dietitians in collaboration with community partners. Learn more about CPNP.

Are you on Ontario Works?

Apply for the Pregnancy and Breastfeeding and Nutritional Allowance!

This allowance may provide you or a family member with either:

  • $40 a month to assist with the costs of a regular diet, or
  • $50 a month to assist with the costs of a non-dairy diet if you are lactose intolerant

Are you having trouble affording food and staples?

Visit North York Harvest Food Bank, because everyone should have enough food.