Where parents go to get in the know – Ottawa Public Health launches new online parenting initiative

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) launched a new interactive web portal today to help parents access relevant, reliable and local parenting information online.

The Parenting in Ottawa portal was developed in response to the increasing use of the web to find information, support and community resources. Research shows that a large majority of parents are using online channels to find information and to stay connected with other parents. Parenting in Ottawa is designed to cover everything from planning for a family to getting through the teenage years.

“This newly launched Parenting in Ottawa portal will complement many of the services already offered to Ottawa parents,” said Councillor Shad Qadri, Chair of the Ottawa Board of Health. “Ottawa Public Health is a national leader in providing timely and relevant online health information to residents, and this new tool is a great addition to their toolbox.”

Parenting in Ottawa provides access to credible, evidence-based information in easy-to-navigate formats. Parents and families will learn about local community resources and events and be able to connect virtually with experts from various organizations. Furthermore, parents will also have access to the recently launched and very popular Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page; where parents can interact live with other parents and with a Public Health Nurse weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“For parents, each stage in a child’s development has new rewards, but also new challenges. We wanted to create an online space that supports all parents, is highly interactive and is easy to use,” said Sherry Nigro, Manager of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Ottawa Public Health. “Another of our objectives is to connect people with local community resources.”

“As a first-time mom, I’m always looking for great parenting and health-related advice. The Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page provides a reliable resource to parents in Ottawa,” said Sara Zahiri, active user of the Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page. “It’s nice to have a local resource that parents can depend on to get accurate, current information on parenting issues.”

This web portal will provide access to parenting information on subjects such as:

 * 
pregnancy

 * 
breastfeeding

 * 
the growth and development of your child

 * 
mental health

 * 
when to worry, when not to

 * 
healthy eating

 * 
immunization

 * 
how to talk to your child and teen about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

 * 
how to talk to your child and teen about puberty and sexuality

 * 
community services for your family

For more information on pregnancy and parenting, please visit ParentinginOttawa

.com

or call the OPH Information Line at 613-580-6744 . You can also follow OPH on Twitter , Facebook and Tumblr .