Prevention Speech

The Community Health Speech-Language Program provides services for children from birth to 5 years of age who have or who are at risk of communication delays. It is a single-discipline program with services provided by speech-language pathologists. Depending on the region, services may also be provided in conjunction with communication health assistants.

Children are able to access speech-language services through Community Health until they are eligible for kindergarten entry by their year of birth. Once children are eligible for kindergarten, publicly-funded speech-language services can be accessed through the school. 

Note that in some regions, children who have ongoing physiotherapy and/or occupational therapy needs are seen for services by different programs, where their speech-language support is provided in conjunction with services from other disciplines. If your child may benefit from ongoing multidisciplinary support, please contact the referral site in your region (listed below) for more information, and to see whether a referral to a different program is required.

Services 

The services offered by the Community Health Speech-Language Program vary by region depending on the population and needs of the community served. Services may include (but are not limited to): 

• assessments
• general parent coaching
• parent education/capacity-building workshops
• consultations
• progress monitoring
• play-based intervention
• individual therapy 
• small group therapy
• home practice programs
• virtual services

Referrals

The Community Health Speech-Language Program has open referrals. This means that parents may refer their child directly. A referral from a community professional/partner is not required, though they are also accepted when submitted with parent permission.

Examples of community professionals/partners that may submit or help support a referral might include: physicians, nurse practitioners, public health nurses, audiologists, infant development consultants, supported child development workers, daycare/preschool providers, Aboriginal Infant Development Program staff, or anyone else that supports the child and family.

Referrals can be submitted by contacting the most appropriate region listed below. Referrals may be completed by phone or by sending a completed referral form by fax or regular mail.