Scroll for more information on the following resources:
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BCAPOP Pregnancy Hub
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Boys and Girls Club – Children's Programs
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Boy's and Girls Club – Family Programs
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Canadian Mental Health Association: Confident Parents, Thriving Kids Program
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Child Care Resource and Referral Center and Kamloops Early Years Center
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Child Development Programs
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Cloth for a Cause
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Family Programs
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Interior Community Services
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Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society – Family Services
BCAPOP Pregnancy Hub
Registration is free to all pregnant, postpartum and newly parenting people with infants up to 12 months old who are residents of British Columbia. The Pregnancy HUB is a 12-month online perinatal program that offers participants unlimited access to local pregnancy outreach program and service referrals, an online library full of evidence-based information, a monthly newsletter, and access to online programming on topics related to pregnancy and early parenting such as:
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prenatal series and prenatal in a day class
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infant feeding support groups and classes
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parenting courses
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wellness and support groups
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pregnancy after loss classes
For more information about BCAPOP's Pregnancy Hub, contact:
Hayley Bentley, Program Coordinator
hayley@pregnancyhub.org or info@pregnancyhub.org
Boys and Girls Club- Children's Programs
The Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops provides many programs for children and youth. These include After school Programming, Little Kids Club, Power Start, Nights Alive, Youth Drop-in and more! Check out the website for more details. Address: 150 Wood Street, Kamloops BC, V2B 2P2, John Tod Centre Main Club
Children’s Recreation & Development Programs
After School Programming in 4 Locations (Northshore, Brock, Lower Sahali, Barnhartvale)
Provides social recreational after school programming for children ages 5 to 12 in a safe & engaging space. The staff work hard to improve the self-esteem of each child by introducing them to exciting and new activities, positive role models, and a welcoming space to share with family & friends.
Full-day care provided on Professional Development Days at the John Tod Club.
Little Club Kids
We offer full-day childcare for children ages 0-36 months and 3-5 years in a warm and loving environment where they can reach their full potential. Our staff help each child feel good about themselves and consistently strive to meet their physical, intellectual, and emotional needs. Homemade, nutritious snacks and meals are provided, and children participate in a wide variety of structured and free-play activities.
Power Start
FREE PROGRAM. Our friendly and caring staff & volunteers pick children up from their homes on school day mornings and safely drive them to school. Once at school, children are fed a nutritious breakfast and receive help with preparing for the school day. When school begins, children go to their classrooms ready to learn with a healthy snack for recess. Children who take part in this program may be experiencing challenges with food sustainability or getting to school on time. Power Start is a free community program. Transportation, breakfast, a recess snack, and school day preparation are provided.
How to Register: Please obtain a referral from your child's school principal if attending one of the five schools.
Locations: AE Perry, Arthur Hatton, Kay Bingham, Parkcrest, Summit (no transportation at Summit at this time)
Circle of Friends
Circle of Friends provides a safe place for children between 6 and 12-years-old to talk with others and navigate the stages and pain of loss. “Loss” is defined as separation or divorce, the death of a loved one, loss of a pet, moving, changing schools, and/or peer challenges. Children are supported with identifying healthy coping strategies to manage their feelings and frustrations as they move through their daily lives at home, school, and in the community.
Boy's and Girls Club- Family Programs
The Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops provides various family and parent based programs. These include Circle of Security, Connect Parent, Friday Family night and more! Check out the website for more details.
Address: 150 Wood Street, Kamloops BC, V2B 2P2, John Tod Centre Main Club
Circle of Security
FREE PROGRAM. At times, all parents feel lost or without a clue about what our child might need from us. Imagine what it might feel like if you were able to make sense of what your child was really asking from you. The Circle of Security® Parenting™ program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened. Facilitators work with parents and caregivers to help them to Understand their child’s emotional world by learning to read emotional needs, support their child’s ability to successfully manage emotions, enhance the development of their child’s self-esteem, honour the innate wisdom and desire for their child to be secure. The program meets once weekly for 8 consecutive weeks. Dinner and childcare are provided.
Connect Parent
FREE PROGRAM. CONNECT© is a strength- and evidence-based group program for parents and caregivers of pre-teens and teens who struggle with behavior challenges and mental health issues. The program focuses on attachment needs, and is consistent with trauma-informed practice, to promote social, emotional, and behavioral adjustment. Parents are taught helpful parenting approaches they can apply across a broad range of situations and relational contexts. The program runs weekly for 9 weeks. Dinner is provided.
Friday Family Night
FREE PROGRAM. Every Friday night, families in our community are welcome to gather for a delicious, homemade meal and a variety of social recreational activities. The program helps families develop support networks and positive relationships in an inclusive environment. This program is open to families with children under the age of 19. Homemade, nutritious dinner is provided and each week there is a new family activity planned.
Canadian Mental Health Association: Confident Parents, Thriving Kids Program
Confident Parents, Thriving Kids is a family-focused phone-based coaching service effective in reducing mild to moderate behavioural problems and promoting healthy child development in children ages 3-12. Through a series of 6 to 14 weekly coaching sessions, along with exercises and workbooks, trained coaches empower parents and/or caregivers to learn effective skills and techniques that support social skills and cooperation in their child. These techniques are proven to prevent, reduce and reverse the development of mild to moderate behavior problems that create challenges at home, school and in social settings. Confident Parents: Thriving Kids is offered at no cost to BC families, and coaches are available to speak with parents during day, evening, and weekend hours to meet each family’s needs. If you are interested in Confident Parents: Thriving Kids, please talk to your family doctor or pediatrician to request a referral.
Address: 651 Victoria Street. Kamloops, BC. V2C 2B3
Phone: 250-374-0440
Child Care Resource and Referral Center and Kamloops Early Years Center
Provides support, resources, and referral for childcare providers and families. Services for parents include information about childcare and the Affordable Child Care Benefit (ACCB), help finding childcare, referral to community resources, and educational opportunities. Serves Ashcroft, Barriere, Cache Creek, Chase, Clearwater, Clinton, Kamloops, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Lytton, and Merritt. Funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development .
Address: 150 Wood Street John Tod Center Y
Some Programs Include:
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Interactive Drop –In Centre
Staff have been working hard at giving the centre a new look and feel. Families can enjoy free play, a reading corner, arts and crafts, circle time and access to the gym for lots of movement.
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Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program
Nobody’s Perfect is a facilitated parenting program for parents of children from birth to age five. The groups are FREE and VOLUNTARY and are run by a trained group of facilitators. Nobody’s Perfect has proven to be an effective program for parents/guardians who may need access to resources of help or support from others. The program is currently offered through Zoom in a safe and confidential space. Nobody’s Perfect has been successful and used by many parents, including newcomers to Canada and Indigenous parents.
How to Register: Call 250-376-4771
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Baby Time (Newborn to New-Walking)
Connect with other parents and learn fun songs, rhymes and stories while giving your baby a chance to explore language, learning and play! *Drop-in welcome!
FINDING CHILD CARE
Looking for child care in Kamloops or outlying areas but don't know where to start? We can help. We've got up-to-date resources, referrals, and information on child care options near you.
Children’s Therapy and Family Resource Centre (Thompson Nicola Family Resource Society)
Provides therapy services for children with special needs up to age 19, and support for children, their families, and the community. Services include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy; early intervention; and family education and support. Individuals can self-refer online if their child is under 5 and if they are in school, the referrals usually go through the school. Also offers Autism and provincial outreach programs. Serves Kamloops and surrounding areas (Ashcroft, Blue River, Cache Creek, Chase, Clinton, Lillooet, Logan Lake, Lytton, and Merritt).
Address: 801 McGill Road. Kamloops, BC. V2C 6R1
Phone : 250-371-4100
Infant Development Program – Kamloops – Provided by: Kamloops Infant Development Society (KIDS)
Family-centered program for children from birth to age three who have or are at risk of having a developmental delay. Supports parents to understand and respond to children’s needs. Home-based services include home visits, developmental assessment, gross motor screening, infant massage, and referral to other community services. Also offers a toy and resource library. Open referral. Funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD).
Address: 801 McGill Rd. Kamloops, BC. V2C 0C8
Aboriginal Supported Child Development (ASCD)
Enables Indigenous children up to age six who require extra supports to be included in childcare settings and communities. Designed to ensure cultural safety and cultural sensitivity for Aboriginal children and families. Supports children in the areas of physical, cognitive, communicative, social/emotional, and behavioural development.
Serves the seven Secwepemc communities in and around the Kamloops area: Cstalen (Adams Lake Band), Pellt’iq’t (Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band), Simpcw (North Thompson Indian Band), Sk’atsin (Neskonlith Indian Band), Skeetchestn Indian Band, St’uctesmc (Bonaparte Indian Band), and Tk’emlups (Kamloops Indian Band).
Aboriginal Supported Child Development (ASCD)
Family-centered program for Indigenous children from birth to age three who have or are at risk of having a developmental delay. Supports parents to understand and respond to children’s needs. Services are delivered in culturally sensitive and meaningful ways. Home-based services include home visits, activity planning, developmental assessment and family needs assessment, and referral to other community services. Referral accepted from self or other. Serves Kamloops as well as Chase, Heffley Creek, and Westwold. Funded by the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centers and Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
Secwepemc Child & Family Services
300 Chilcotin Road, Kamloops, BC, V2H 1G3
P: 250-314-9669
Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family and Community Services
707 Tranquille Road, Kamloops, BC, V2B 3J1
P: 250-554-9486
Cloth for a Cause
Provides loan packages of cloth diapers for families in need within Canada.
Assist low-income families, at-risk parents, families with special needs and any other families in need for whom the cost of supplying diapers for their children imposes a hardship.
Parent-Child Group Programs- Provided by: Thompson-Nicola Regional Library (TNRL)
There are many different group programs for parents and their young children which focuses on rhymes, songs, crafting, and stories together. Several schedules are available per day between Monday to Friday. One registration per family is required via eventbrite.
Downtown Library Address: 465 Victoria Street #100. Kamloops, BC. V2C 2A9 T: 250-372-7323
North Kamloops Library Address: 693 Tranquille Rd, Kamloops, BC V2B 3H7 T: 250-554-1124
StrongStart BC Programs
StrongStart BC programs provide rich learning environments designed for early learning development – language, physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. Qualified early childhood educators lead learning activities where children find opportunities to make friends and interact with others of similar ages. Participate with your young child (aged birth to five) in play-based early learning activities – including stories, music, and art. At no cost to families, this early learning drop-in program helps prepare children for success in Kindergarten.
AE Perry StrongStart- 1380 Sherbrooke Ave • 250-376-6224
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Arthur Hatton StrongStart- 315 Chestnut Ave • 250-376-7217
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Beattie Elementary StrongStart- 492 McGill Road • 250-374-0608
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Marion Schilling StrongStart- 2200 Park Dr • 250-372-2027
8:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Hopewell Pregnancy Care Centre and Clinic
Perinatal Outreach Program: This is peer support service aimed at helping women, and their families, prepare for the birth of their child, and their first year of life. Each client in the program is paired up with one of our client advocates who guides provides support and education to help them through their pregnancy and parenting journey. Pregnant and parenting (1st year) families can self-refer. Appointments are available Monday–Friday from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Blessings Boutiques: These boutiques offer free, gently used baby, children’s, and maternity items for those in need. We have three boutiques for families to browse: Newborn to 24 months, Size 2-6T, as well as Women’s & Maternity clothing. Initial intakes require an appointment. Appointments are not necessary after the initial intake.
Address: 429 Tranquille Road. Kamloops, BC. V2B 3G9
T: 250-376-4646, dial 2 to make an appointment
Interior Community Services
Interior Community Services is a registered Charitable CARF accredited social service organization providing support, early intervention and crisis intervention programs, counselling and subsidized housing for children, youth, families and seniors. They have over 50 programs that reach 32 different communities in the interior of BC. ICS has many programs that focus on child development, parenting, and family preservation. Some examples include The Parenting, Attachment & Individual Development (P.A.I.D) program, Early Connections, The Family Service program, Mind over Madder, Adoption permanency, and many more. Check out the links below for more information.
Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society- Family Services
KAFS was established in 1972 and is a charitable organization with a status free open-door policy. We encourage everyone to drop into our location, meet our friendly staff and learn more about our programs. The Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society is dedicated to empowering the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities of Kamloops and surrounding areas. Our Mission is to provide culturally appropriate programs and inclusive services that meet the needs of urban Indigenous people to become healthier, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. KAFS has multiple programs for children and families. Address: 125 Palm Street. Kamloops, BC. V2B 8J7. Some Examples include:
Early Childhood Development (ECD)
The workers provide in-home and in-office support for families that have children aged 0-6 years. ECD helps connect families who may feel alone and who have little support within their community. By hosting events, lunches, and workshops they encourage people to meet new friends and expand their circles of support.
Some of the services provided are individual counseling, family support, cultural awareness and information to families, social workers and other aboriginal community service providers, culturally appropriate activities, Pre and postnatal nutritional support, Nutritional counseling, special events days, new moms support group and much more.
Healthy Beginnings
Works directly with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal families with children from birth to age six who are living in conditions of risk. Focus is on improving health and social development. Offers a five-week series on learning infant massage. Services are available in Ashcroft, Barriere, Cache Creek, and Kamloops. Program is offered in partnership with Interior Community Services and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) as a Community Action Program for Children (CAPC).
Family Preservation Program
Provides free support services that are culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal children, youth, and their families in terms of child protection and guardianship. Services include individual and family counselling, family court advocacy, parenting workshops, crisis intervention, and in-home and office visits. A seven-week parenting program offers training that includes traditional parenting, communication, and appropriate discipline.
Outreach Support Worker
An outreach support worker provides free support services to help develop strong and healthy families. Aim is to increase healthy birth outcomes, enhance parenting skills, and support child development. Services include in-home support, teaching appropriate parenting skills, and behavior management. Contact Amy Lucciano for more information at fampres.ecd@kafs.ca.