Summary of 2023-2024 Results
- The program was offered in 6 different regions in Ontario and welcomed 4 new Program Partners
- 67 programs in total were delivered
- 683 families participated in the Baby Connections
- 698 babies received a complete Baby Connections kit to take home. (Four families with twins received a kit for each baby.)
- Participants included babies between 6-12 months of age, parents, grandparents, families new to Canada and families from equity deserving groups
- The program was also delivered one-on-one by trained Facilitators who implement the Region of Waterloo Public Health’s Healthy Babies Healthy Children program (screens all new births and supports those deemed at high-risk with at-home visits) and the Infant and Child Development program (provides services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at risk of or who are experiencing developmental delay).
Impact
- Data analysis for the 2023-2024 program year is based on the 333 submitted forms, indicating a 49% completion rate. The analysis of the responses clearly shows the impact of the program.
- 99% of participants increased their literacy awareness, with 91% indicating they learned a lot in the program.
- 99% of participants changed their literacy habits after attending the program, with 92% indicating they made many changes.
- 98% of participants feel they are more informed about where to seek help, with 90% indicating they learned a lot about where to seek help.
- 97% parents/caring adults indicated they use the materials from the Baby Connections Kit with their baby at least 1-2 times per week, with 75% indicating they use them daily, multiple times per day.
Our consistent program results provide evidence that the Baby Connections program is effective in increasing parent/guardian, caring adult’s literacy awareness and engagement in meaningful interactions with their baby, which promotes brain development and the development of language and emergent literacy skills. The feedback submitted by parents/caring adults every year, provides further evidence of the importance of the Baby Connections program to families.
Feedback from Parents/Caring Adults
The feedback from the 2023-2024 program has been overwhelmingly positive, with everyone sharing the difference the program has made in how they interact with their babies. Parents/caring adults shared with us that they are reading, singing and playing with their babies more. Enriched bonding is occurring during these meaningful face-to-face interactions and parents/caring adults feel they know more about how to engage with their babies and help them learn.
I have more intention around building literacy skills with my baby. And understanding and confidence as a parent.”
“I really liked the variety of activities and resources and that they were modelled with examples on how to continue using them at home. I have been labelling everything in both languages at the same time. I have been letting (my son) lead reading a book.”
“It was a safe space to learn and play. The take-home books and activities were great, too. The biggest change I made is having literacy around my baby constantly and I’m more aware of my interactions.”
To read the full report, visit: BC2024 – Executive Summary