What is CPNP?

The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) is a program that assists communities to develop and enhance programs for at-risk pregnant women in order to improve birth outcomes.

The specific target groups include:

• pregnant women living in poverty,
  
  
• pregnant adolescents
  
  
• youth at risk of becoming pregnant
  
  
• pregnant women who abuse alcohol or other substances
  
  
• pregnant women living in violent situations
  
  
• off-reserve Aboriginals and Inuits
  
  
• recent immigrants and refugees
  
  
• pregnant women living in isolation or not having access to services

The program provides the resources for community-based groups to offer a comprehensive prenatal programs including food supplementation, nutrition counselling, support, education, referral and counselling on lifestyle issues, such as alcohol abuse, stress and family violence. There are 277 CPNP projects in over 680 communities across Canada reaching more than 26,000 women.

For more information, please visit Health Canada online.