Community Services
Community services are valuable allies in reaching children and families from diverse backgrounds and circumstances – often including those who can benefit the most from information and resources to support a healthy childhood.
Community services includes many settings such as local non-profit organizations, child care centres, libraries, and faith-based or cultural organizations. They often run programs and offer services that reach new families, newcomers to Canada, and families who face health challenges. This makes them an integral partner in providing information and access to healthy options.
What can community services do?
- Distribute and distribute Live 5-2-1-0 resources to children and families (e.g., Live 5-2-1-0 Fact Sheets [in multiple languages], stickers, colouring sheets, and Tip Sheets for Families)
- Include the Live 5-2-1-0 message and tips in their communications (e.g., newsletter, social media, website)
- Implement a healthy drink policy (i.e., our centre/facility does not serve any sugary drinks and requests parents do not pack any in their children’s snacks and lunches)
- Integrate the teaching and promotion of the Live 5-2-1-0 message into children and family programs
- Connect families to other programs and services in the community that support healthy behaviours
- Organize a community challenge – this can be a great way to bring people together and motivate them to try something new. One example is the Live 5-2-1-0 Challenge, a bingo style activity card that groups can work on together
- Start a community kitchen – teaching families basic kitchen skills can help them cook healthy meals for themselves and save money. These kitchens can also be an opportunity to learn more about nutrition, make new connections, and help kids engage with food in a positive manner
- Download our Checklist of Ideas for Sharing and Supporting Live 5-2-1-0 - Community Services
How are partners in the business sector using Live 5-2-1-0 resources?
The following is a list of examples of how different communities have used the Live 5-2-1-0 resources and tools available for download from the Live 5-2-1-0 Resource Hub:
"I plan to share with parents in our drop in play groups we host, and Mother Goose sessions we offer. We also provide resources to childcare providers and early childhood educators."
Lower Mainland community
"Locating resources for early childhood education course, but will implement in my family daycare."
Northern community
"Hoping to share these at our events as our community is so multicultural, and it’s nice for participants to have games from their home countries included in this type of publication."
Fraser Valley community
"The flyer will be inserted inside the children’s books that we will be giving away to children and parents who attend the Active Stories drop-in program."
Interior community
"I am a Scout Leader and we are focusing on Health & Wellness over the next couple of meetings. This info will be fun and interesting to share with our youth – ages 11-14."
Fraser Valley community
"I am an ECD coordinator and will be using the resources for promoting Unplug and Play!"
Interior Health community
"I am planning on incorporating the Live 5-2-1-0 message into my day camps this summer."
Fraser Valley community
"With Syrian Newcomer families in a family literacy program."
Fraser Valley community
"I am a para professional working for a well-known local non-profit child development centre. Our agency is working with the city to create educational YouTube videos for parents and the topic I will be covering is healthy screen habits for 2-5 year olds. I am very pleased to use this [Sleep] infographic as a part of the presentation. Thanks Live 5-2-1-0!"
Lower Mainland community
"We will use these resources in the Girls Got Game after-school program for newcomer girls aged 9-13 to teach them about healthy lifestyle choices they can and should make."
Lower Mainland community
How are community services supporting Live 5-2-1-0?
The following is a list of examples of how stakeholders in different communities have implemented action in their sector to support Live 5-2-1-0:
- Delta integrated the Live 5-2-1-0 message into their Local Immigrant Partnership (LIP) health plan package which they distribute to newcomers, and Live 5-2-1-0 messaging was included in health information packages provided to newcomers in Nanaimo.
- Live 5-2-1-0 resources are often distributed to licensed childcare facilities in New Westminster.
- Public health nurses from Fraser Health created a Live 5-2-1-0 ‘Spin the Wheel’ which is used at various community events in the Lower Mainland to promote the message.
- Leaders from the Stó:lō Service Agency and Chilliwack’s Division of Family Practice’s Healthy Kids Initiative adapted the Live 5-2-1-0 message to create a Live 5-2-1-0 Medicine Wheel for children to use to track their efforts in building daily healthy habits. This resource can be downloaded from our Resources Hub.
