Item - 2021.HL31.7

The Board of Health:

1.  Directed that Confidential Attachments 1 and 2 to the report (October 8, 2021) from the Medical Officer of Health remain confidential, as they relate 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.

This report provides an update on an opportunity to improve child health and development outcomes by strengthening early identification and intervention services for preschool children and their families in Toronto.