Impact Statements

How Do Best Start Health Coalition in Peel’s (BSHCP) Programs Impact the Health of Expectant Women and Teens In Need and their Unborn Babies?

By Helping to Reduce the Incidence of Low Birth Weight Babies…

A newborn baby weighing less than 5.5 lbs is at a much greater risk of death, disease and disability, has much higher hospitalization rates and is more likely to experience chronic disease and/or acute illnesses in adulthood than a baby over 5.5 lbs. The risk of low birth weight is substantially higher among women with low incomes.
Best Start Health Coalition in Peel (BSHCP) programs work with expectant women and teens in need to help ensure they have babies with healthy birth weights.

By Helping to Reduce the Incidence of Premature Babies Born (before 37 completed weeks of gestation)… 

It costs an average of $118,000 to look after premature infants weighing less than 750 grams or about 1.5 pounds. (Associated Press) Low birth weight in Canada is now the principle risk factor associated with infant mortality. Pre-term births account for approximately 75-85% of all perinatal mortality in Canada.
Best Start Health Coalition in Peel (BSHCP) programs work with expectant women and teens in need to provide preventative and early intervention strategies to ensure their babies are born full-term.

By Preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD’s)…

An estimated one in 100 Canadian babies -- about 4,000 a year -- is born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Children presently living in Canada with FASD will cost the system $300 - $600 billion!   
Best Start Health Coalition in Peel (BSHCP) programs work with expectant women and teens in need to eliminate drinking during pregnancy and reduce the rate of FASD’s.

By Eliminating Smoking…

Pregnant women and mothers of young children, in particular those with low income and education, have the highest smoking rates. Smoking is directly related to acute and chronic disease in adults and children.  
Best Start Health Coalition in Peel programs work with expectant women and teens in need to ensure the best possible healthiest pregnancies, improved health and development for their babies by encouraging smoke-free environments.

By Promoting Positive Parenting and Mental Health…

Children of mothers with limited parenting skills, especially teen mothers, are at greater risk for mental health problems. Mental health problems among children and youth are predicted to increase substantially over the next 15 years, and are important precursors of adult mental health disorders.Upwards of $30 billion a year is lost to the Canadian economy annually due to mental health and addictions problems.
Best Start Health Coalition in Peel (BSHCP) programs work with expectant women and teens in need to prepare them for the birth and care of their babies, increase parenting confidence,  knowledge and support, and decrease parental stress.

By Reducing Obesity Through Breastfeeding…

Newborns who are breastfed for the first six months of life are dramatically less likely to become obese during childhood and youth than formula-fed babies. Obesity can lead to conditions such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases.
Best Start Health Coalition in Peel (BSHCP) programs work with expectant women and teens in need to initiate and continue breastfeeding for the first six months of life and beyond.

By Increasing Food Security and Proper Nutrition …

Proper nutrition is essential during pregnancy and inadequate nourishment can adversely affect the overall health of both mother and her future baby. However, many families live in poverty, making them more likely to develop serious health risks including limited physical, mental, and social growth, and are at increased risk of being involved with the child welfare system.
Best Start Health Coalition in Peel (BSHCP) programs work with vulnerable families in need to access, cook and eat nutritious food, provide prenatal nutritional supplements and prenatal nutrition education.