Brantford, ON – As families get ready for a new school year, Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH) reminds parents and caregivers that health should be part of every back-to-school checklist. Simple preventive measures can help reduce illness, support well-being, and ensure students are ready to make the most of the school year ahead.
- Keep your child's immunizations up to date
- Make sure your child is up to date on their immunizations and that their records have been reported to Grand Erie Public Health. Parents and caregivers are responsible for reporting vaccines their child receives from a healthcare provider.
- Book regular health checkups
- Schedule regular eye exams, dental checkups, and development screenings to help identify any possible concerns.
- Children and youth aged 19 and under are eligible for a free comprehensive eye exam every 12 months through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). GEPH partners with local Lions Clubs volunteers to provide vision screening for junior kindergarten students in identified schools across the GEPH region.
- Starting in kindergarten, registered dental hygienists from GEPH visit elementary schools throughout the school year to provide dental screenings to students in select grades. Children and youth 17 years of age and under may also be eligible for Healthy Smiles Ontario (HSO), a provincial program that provides free preventive, routine and emergency dental services to eligible families. Learn more at geph.ca/dental.
- Parents or caregivers that have concerns or notice delays with their child’s development or milestones should reach out to a primary care provider or GEPH’s Family Line to speak with a public health nurse. Learn more at geph.ca/hgd.
- Build healthy habits for the school year
- Help your child stay active by walking, wheeling, or biking to school, when possible, to help support their physical and mental health.
- Pack balanced school lunches including vegetables and fruit, protein-rich foods, and whole grains. Add new foods alongside familiar choices. Remember to pack a water bottle.
- Help prevent illness by encouraging your child to wash their hands often, cover their mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, and staying home when they are sick.
Parents and caregivers can learn more about these back-to-school tips and more on our website geph.ca/schoolpublichealth.
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“Back-to-school is a great time for families to check in on their children's health and well-being. Making sure immunizations are up to date, booking regular health checkups, and building healthy daily routines can help set students up for a successful school year.”
– Terri-Lynn Ovens, Manager, School Health, Grand Erie Public Health
Grand Erie Public Health
As one of Ontario’s public health units, we are determined defenders of community health. Our public health focus on prevention, protection, and promotion contributes to healthier outcomes across Brantford, Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk.
We are unshakeable in our commitment to being a trusted and authentic source of public health knowledge, guided by the Health Protection and Promotion Act and the Ontario Public Health Standards. We safeguard the well-being of everyone – no matter who they are or where they come from.