How’s Your Little One Learning and Growing? Come Find Out with Nurturing Algoma

Thu, Oct 02, 2025

From October 1 to 31, 2025, Nurturing Algoma is offering free developmental screenings for children ages 0–6 at locations across the district. 

The month-long focus on developmental screening helps parents and caregivers understand how their child is growing, learning, and reaching milestones. Using a trusted tool called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), families can learn more about their child’s strengths in areas like communication, motor skills, problem-solving, and social interaction. 

“Early experiences shape a child’s future health and success,” said Lillie Mills, a public health nurse at Algoma Public Health. “These screenings give families a simple way to celebrate their child’s development and find extra support if needed, at the stage when it makes the most difference.” 

Early years professionals will walk families through the process, score results, share personalized feedback, and provide tips or referrals to additional supports if requested. 

By taking part, families can also help shape the future of early childhood services in Algoma. With caregiver permission, a child’s anonymous results can be added to the Canadian Database of Development Infancy to Six (CanDDIS), a national research project led by SickKids and Queen’s University. This helps identify gaps and guide future funding for early years programs locally and across Ontario. 
 
Families can access ASQ screening at many children’s service providers in Algoma, such as childcare centres, THRIVE, Children’s Aid Society, Waabinong Head Start, & Algoma Family Services.  During October, screenings are also available to all families at:  

• EarlyON programs across Algoma (Wawa, White River, Hornepayne, Dubreuilville, Iron Bridge, Blind River, Spanish, Elliot Lake, Prince Township & Sault Ste. Marie)
• Algoma Public Health
• Sault Ste. Marie Public Library, and more

A full list of screening locations and instructions for families is available online at Nurturing Algoma – Screening Locations 

 

About Nurturing Algoma 

Nurturing Algoma is supported through the Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma Child and Family Network which is a community-wide partnership of Algoma organizations dedicated to supporting families and promoting early childhood development across the district. The initiative helps connect families with children under six to early developmental screening, resources, education, and local support services in more than 30 locations, from Spanish to Hornepayne