Item - 2020.HL22.2

The Board of Health:

1.  Adopted the confidential instructions to staff in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 4, 2020) from the Medical Officer of Health, as amended by the confidential attachment to motion 1 by Councillor Joe Cressy.

2.  Directed that Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (October 4, 2020) from the Medical Officer of Health, as amended, remain confidential, as it relates to a position, plan, procedure, criteria, or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on, or to be carried on by, or on behalf of, the City of Toronto or the Board of Health

Early identification and intervention of hearing loss, impaired vision and communication delays can improve the trajectory for a child's development and can directly influence later academic accomplishments, health, wellbeing and quality of life.

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services provides 100 percent funding across the province for the provision of the Blind-Low Vision Program, Infant Hearing Program, and Preschool Speech and Language Program for the purpose of establishing an integrated, community-based system of early identification and intervention services for preschool children and their families.

There is an opportunity to improve child health and development outcomes by strengthening early identification and intervention services for preschool children and their families in Toronto.