EarlyON Child and Family Centres

Waterloo Region and the City of Stratford

On-Site Services

Our EarlyON Team Can Help.

Parenting and caring for children and youth is not always easy. Often parents and caregivers have many questions and trying to find the right person and community agency to talk to can sometimes be overwhelming. We have included some of our local community partners below, and we encourage you to call us at 519-741-8585 ext. 3001 or email us at earlyyearsinfo@ymcathreerivers.org to talk with an EarlyON professional. We can support you with the information or referral resources you are looking for.

Find an On-Site Service Near You

Onsite Services at EarlyON in Waterloo Region

Connect with our community partners while attending an EarlyON location. The list of current Onsite Community Partners is below. Use the drop-down above to find dates, times and locations.

Breastfeeding Buddies – Me Breastfeed

In this two hour class, we will talk about What to Expect In The First Seven Days of Breastfeeding Your Baby, Why Is Breastfeeding Important, Strategies For Nursing Your Baby and Parenting Resources in Waterloo Region. Connect with families that are due around the same time as you and learn about our ‘We Are Breastfeeding’ drop in classes for after baby arrives. See a live nursing demonstration and ask all of your questions. To register for this class and to learn more about Breastfeeding Buddies, click here.

Early Years and Child Care Navigators

Connect with an Early Years and Child Care Navigator, who will provide support in your journey. EYCC Navigators help families who may be experiencing barriers find and access child care and early learning services in Waterloo Region. To book your appointment, click here.

KidsAbility Intake Appointments

KidsAbility is a SmartStart Hub for Waterloo Region and provides a range of therapy services to children and youth aged birth to 18 (or until age 21 if attending a publicly funded school in our area). This can include (but is not limited to) Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Social Work. As a SmartStart Hub, KidsAbility supports and connects families with concerns related to their child’s development and day-to-day functioning.

To ensure your child is connected with the right supports, we offer intake appointments provided by Intake Social Workers from KidsAbility onsite at our EarlyON locations. These appointments typically last around 45 minutes and concentrate on screening your child’s development and exploring any concerns you may have. KidsAbility Intake Social Workers will work closely with you and your family during this session to pinpoint the services that best align with your child’s needs.

**Please note- this is not a therapy assessment. If your child is already connected with KidsAbility’s services, the team may be able to support in exploring additional community resources & supports. Please be aware however, this appointment will not impact or change the status of your services with KidsAbility** To book your appointment, click here.

​Monarch House Screening Clinics

At these clinics, Board-Certified Behaviour Analysts® and speech-language pathologists will meet with you and your child for 15-30 minutes. Early identification for delays in developmental milestones is critical which is why Monarch House offers developmental screening clinics – free of charge. They will use screening tools such as the LookSee checklist to identify areas for education or need for follow-up in brief consultations. Each appointment will be a maximum of 30 minutes. Please book an individual appointment time slot for each child. The parent or legal guardian must attend the appointment with the child. Please click here, to book your appointment.

Public Health Neighbourhood Nurses

Public Health neighbourhood nurses meet people where they are. They support people in spaces where they are comfortable. They help people navigate their health care needs and connect to community support. The nurses specialize in helping people who often experience barriers to health care. Services are free, and a health card is not needed.

They provide access to many public health services and supports, including:

  • Vaccines – The nurses can give vaccines and help you figure out which vaccines you need.
  • Sexual health – Get counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Nurses can help you with emergency contraception and access to birth control.
  • Harm reduction –  Nurses can provide supplies for safer drug use. They can also connect you to information about treatment and support.
  • Mental health – Connect to mental health supports and peer help groups in your community.
  • Prenatal health – Nurses provide advice and connections to health supports during pregnancy.
  • Breastfeeding – Get practical information about feeding babies and connection to ongoing support.
  • Childhood development – Nurses can help you identify development concerns for your child.  They can connect you with community organizations for support.
  • Dental health – Nurses can help you figure out if you are eligible for dental coverage. They can provide information on dental care options.

Email phnnt@regionofwaterloo.ca or call 519-575-4400 ext. 5897 for more information. 

Quick Response Counselling (Woolwich Counselling Centre)

Quick Response provides children and youth up to the age of 18, and/or their families, a brief consultation and counselling session to help you to feel connected and supported quickly. After the consultation, you will leave with a plan including strategies and possible referrals to other supports or services. Quick Response at Woolwich Counselling Centre is offered through a partnership with Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health.

Please book an individual appointment time slot for each family unit.  Please click here to book your Quick Response Consultation.  Children/youth ages 12 or over may attend the appointment on their own or with their parent or legal guardian. Youth must be 16 years of age or older to enter EarlyON without an adult.  The parent or legal guardian for children ages 11 and under may attend with or without their child. 

Special Needs Resourcing

Drop in to an EarlyON Centre and spend time talking with Early Learning Resource Consultants from Special Needs Resourcing (SNR)! They will provide valuable resources and talk about ways to support the children in your care, especially where you have concerns. They will have a resource table, and will be available to answer your questions regarding child development. Each visit they will also come prepared to share resources through conversation on a topic related to their monthly newsletter. Sign up for their newsletter here.

​Talk with an EarlyON Professional

Our EarlyON team is here for you.  We can support you with the information or referral resources you are looking for.

Do you have questions about your child’s development? Are you looking for local resources or evidence-based information? Do you want to talk about parenting strategies? Book a conversation (mornings, afternoons, and evenings) with an EarlyON professional. You can use this link to request your appointment and we will follow up with you as early as the next business day to confirm a time and platform. Appointments will be held at EarlyON locations. Virtual appointments occur via telephone, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams.

​Waterloo Region Family Network

This service focuses on supporting all families impacted by special needs; with or without a diagnosis. Waterloo Region Family Network supports families in making connections and navigating community resources in Waterloo Region. They aim to support you in making informed decisions for your family. Learn more by visiting their website. Each appointment with Waterloo Region Family Network Family Resource Coach will be 30 minutes. The appointment must be made and attended by a family member of the child. Please click here to book your appointment. If the dates and times are not working for you, you are welcome to connect with the Family Resource Coach directly for other options. A KEyON account is required to attend the EarlyON location. Accounts can be created on arrival.