Interior Health Public Health 

Kamloops Public Health Services - 519 Clumbia Street Kamloops BC V2C 2T8 - Phone: 250-851-7300
Kamloops Downtown Health Centre - #36- 450 Landsdowne Street Kamloops BC V2C 1Y3 - Phone: 250-851-7954
www.interiorhealth.ca

1. Public Health Nursing - Serving ages 0-6

Kamloops Breastfeeding Centre - Drop-in information and hands-on help for breastfeeding moms
          Hours - Mondays 1:00-4:00pm
                      Thursdays 9:00am - 12:00pm
          Location: Kamloops Downtown Health Centre

Next Steps - Drop-in group available up to 5 years of age and facilitated by a public health nurse
        Hours - Fridays 1:00-2:20pm
        Location - Kamloops Public Health Unit - 519 Columbia St.

Public Health Nurse (PHN) Follow Up - Phone contact with all new parents after discharge from PHMC and home visits as required by a PHN

Nursing Support Services (NSS) - Assists parents and caregivers to help children with special needs lead active, healthy lives in their communities which facilitating safe, consistent care and approproate health supports

2. Child Health Clinics
Clinic visits with Public Health Nurses for general health and development assessment and information along with provision of routine childhood immunizations.

3. Public Health Vision Screening Program
Three year old and kindergarten vision screening - BC Ministry of Health Living and Sport Vision Screening Program. The goal of the provincial vision screening program is universal vision screening of 3 year olds and/or kindergarten children

Vision screening is a simple test used to indicate whether possible visual defects (amblyopia, strabismus, refractive errors) exist. This screening does not result in a definative diagnosis but merely indicates the need for further testing by vision professionals. Children's eye exams are covered by MSP.

4. Public Health Speech and Language Services
Phone: 250-851-7355
Serving birth to school entry children

A a full range of speech and language services for preschool age children which include: group intervention, individual intervention, parent training, consultation and assessments.

You would want to consult a Speech Language Pathologist if your child:
    - Is difficult to understand compared to their peers
    - Is slow to say words (less than 10 words by 18-20 months)
    - Is not putting words together by two years of age (about 200 words by 2 1/2)
    - Has a hearing impairment
    - Mispronounces many sounds after age 3
    - Stutters
    - Has a cleft lip or palette
    - Leaves out words or mixes up sentences
    - Cannot follow directions

Our services encourage parent/caregiver participation to help you feel comfortable helping your child improve their skills. Intervention services may take place in the family home, daycare or preschool or in-clinic. Parent referrals are encouraged.

5. Audiology

6. Dental – Lift the Lip Clinics
Dental Public Health Program offers clinics in communities throughout the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap to help prevent Early Childhood Cavities

This is a training session for parents with children 1 – 3 years of age
Session is FREE and includes:

1. Learning about Early Childhood Cavities
2. Learning a technique for checking your child’s teeth
3. Counselling on dental behaviours that may put your child at risk
4. A screening to see if your child would benefit from fluoride varnish applications