For almost 30 years now, Sea to Sky Community Services has operated Healthy Pregnancy Outreach Program (HPOP) and for many years it has been the only perinatal drop-in program in the Sea to Sky Corridor.

The program supports prenatal and postpartum parents who may be facing financial and social barriers, as well as caregivers looking to improve the physical and mental health of themselves and their babies. The program provides a safe, inclusive space to meet other parents, access support and resources, enjoy a nutritious meal and pick up healthy ingredients to take home. Discussion groups offer an inclusive and safe space to ask questions and share concerns about childbirth or early parenthood. Guest speakers, mentorship opportunities and professionals answer questions about birth and preparing for new parenthood at each session. One-on-one support is also available.

The connection new parents get through sharing and learning from one another is priceless. However, as participant needs are increasing, so are costs to run this program. Pregnancy and postpartum are transformative times of life that also come with unforeseen challenges and evolution of self. Community support during these transformative times can have a huge impact on the entire family and improve their future overall health. This grant would help us continue to maintain and enhance the quality of this underfunded program.

We are specifically requesting support to provide food for individuals who participate in our HPOP program. The ability to access healthy foods during pregnancy is vital yet it is increasingly challenging during this time when the cost of groceries has risen 6.5% over the past year (Aug 2022 to Aug 2023- Source: BC Consumer price index). The recent Squamish Vital Signs report highlighted that the average monthly cost of a nutritious food basket for a family of 4 in the Sea to Sky area in 2022 was $1441 (which is $130 higher than all of Vancouver Coastal Health Region).