The Family Centres are a gathering place for all families who seek the healthy development of their young children.
30 Years of Helping Families
Family Centres are rooted in the Prescott-Russell region and for over 30 years we have been a gateway to resources dedicated to supporting families with children aged 0-6. We offer a variety of services and programs to meet families' needs, as well as fun activities that foster children's development. All our programs are bilingual and offered free of charge to Prescott-Russell families.
Our Main Services
Parental Support
The Family Centres provide valuable support to parents at every stage of their parenting journey. We understand that raising children can be bot rewarding and challenging, and we are here to support you every step of the way.
Whether you are a new parent seeking advice on infant and toddler sleep or simply looking for resources to enhance your parenting knowledge, our team of educators is here to help.
Educational and Recreational Activities
Learning through play is crucial for the cognitive, social, emotional and physical development of young children, as it offers an engaging approach to education that aligns with the natural way children learn. Our educators are highly creative and imaginative, offering stimulating activities tailored to the children’s age.
Workshops
We offer workshops led by our educators and/or community partners on various family and childcare topics, such as the introduction to solid foods, child development (0-3 years), language stimulation, healthy sleep habits, and more.
Meet and Mingle
The Family Centres facilitate meetings between parents to create support networks and share parenting experiences.
Explore our magazine
With our babysteps magazine, we cover topics that come up again and again in our discussions with the parents of the babies and toddlers who visit our Family Centres.
Where to find us
A Full Program
Our educators develop a monthly activity calendar that includes a variety of activities tailored to different ages and interests, providing learning, socialization, and fun opportunities for children and families.
They also organize special events to celebrate holidays and educational outings. To get an overview of our planned activities for the current month, click on one of the buttons below.
View our Calendars
Testimonial from a Program Participant
"The Family Centre gives us the opportunity to go to a familiar place that accepts us with our differences. I've been taking part in the groups and activities offered for 6 years. It's definitely beneficial for us. I like the fact that they offer a program to support children and parents in preparing for school integration. The Family Centre is a safe environment where educators encourage children to be unique and learn while having fun."
- Parent
Our Programs
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With the support of the Community Funds from Centraide United Way and donations from the community, we can assist families facing financial adversity with children from birth to 2 years old by providing the following supplies for free: infant formula, diapers, wet wipes, and baby vitamins. Eligible families meet with an educator every month to receive these supplies.
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This program is dedicated to the social integration of children aged 3 to 4, encouraging the development of social, emotional, and communication skills. It serves as a first learning step to prepare your little ones for social environments beyond the family or daycare setting.
General Objectives
→ Develop Communication Skills: Encourage children to use language to express their needs, thoughts, and emotions appropriately.
→ Enhance Social Skills: Help children learn to share, take turns, cooperate with others, and resolve conflicts.
→ Promote Empathy and Understanding: Make children aware of others' emotions and develop their ability to react with empathy.
→ Foster Autonomy and Self-Confidence: Encourage children to undertake tasks independently and make simple decisions, thereby strengthening their sense of competence and self-esteem.
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A school readiness program designed to help children aged 3 to 4 transition smoothly and positively from the home environment to the school setting. The program is offered in certain schools and Family Centres.
General Objectives
→ Socio-Emotional Development: Encourage social skills, empathy, emotional management, and autonomy.
→ Cognitive Skills: Stimulate curiosity, problem-solving, memory, and concentration.
→ Academic Preparation: Introduce the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics in a playful manner.
→ Motor Skills: Enhance fine and gross motor skills through various physical activities.
→ Personal Autonomy: Encourage independence in daily tasks and managing personal belongings.
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Zumbini is an early development program designed for children aged 0-4 and their parents. It combines music, dance and musical instruments in an interactive experience designed to foster toddlers' motor, social and emotional development. The program is offered in 10 educational and playful sessions, providing a safe and stimulating environment where children can explore movement and music while strengthening their bond with their parents. Sessions encourage the active participation of children and their parents, creating moments of shared pleasure and complicity.
Certification is required to offer this program. For the moment, only Ms. Stéphanie Piché of the Embrun Family Centre is certified as an instructor, and participants love their experience.
You would like to see a Zumbini session in action? Please click here.
Additional Services
Thanks to its network of well-established partners in Prescott-Russell, Maisons de la famille provides parents in the community with resources that contribute to the well-being of their children.
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Spend one on one time with a public health nurse at the Hawkesbury and Embun Family Centres. Their team can answer questions about you and your child’s health and offer support regarding:
→ Growth and development
→ Breastfeeding
→ Nutrition
→ Mental health
→ Positive parenting strategies
→ Fluoride varnish treatment
→ Speech therapy
For more information: click here.
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A volunteer instructor visits the Rockland Family Centre every month. She shares information and leads discussions on breastfeeding. Topics covered in these meetings include the benefits of breastfeeding, the birth and arrival of the baby in the family, tips to avoid difficulties, nutrition, and weaning.
To learn more about the services of La Leche League, click here.
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A counsellor is available at the Family Centres in Embrun and Hawkesbury to offer workshops and consultations on the prevention of sexual abuse among young children and to support parents in answering their children's questions about body development. Through play, songs, crafts, and discussions tailored to preschool-aged children, the counsellor addresses the following topics:
→ Emotions, respecting one's body, good and bad secrets, and more
→ Techniques to build a safe environment week by week
→ Tools for your child
→ Relaxation exercises
→ Techniques to develop a trusting relationship with your child
→ Language to properly educate your child about their intimate body parts
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Screening and Assessments: Educators provide parents with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) screening tool based on the child's age. They then prepare a report for the parents that contains the results of the tool according to the different domains of the child's development.
Advice and Guidance: After the screening, families receive a report with personalized advice and recommendations for activities or specific supports.
Workshops and Educational Programs: Educators can recommend workshops or programs to parents that may meet their child's needs.
Early Interventions and Therapies: Depending on the needs, educators can refer parents to specialized services such as speech therapy, physiotherapy, and psychoeducation.
Our educators are available to answer any questions you may have about your child's development. Concerned about the importance of supporting Prescott-Russell families, Groupe Action offers a wide range of resources.
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Parents with concerns about their child's social and behavioral development can call on the services of a certified educator. For the time being, this service is offered only through the Embrun Family Centre by educator Stéphanie Piché.
Services offered
Behavioral assessment: Discussion with parents and child to understand the child's behaviors, emotions and social interactions.
Behavioral support program: The educator writes a report suggesting techniques or activities to improve social skills, communication and the parent-child relationship.