Welcome to the SmartStart Hub at Five Counties Children’s Centre

The early years play a crucial role in shaping children’s health and development. Nurturing relationships and communities can help kids grow, thrive and build resilience for life!

We can assist your child develop the skills they need! Our SmartStart Hub at Five Counties Children’s Centre  connects families to resources and supports that are close to home.

Click on the appropriate button below to request services for your child.

(NOTE: If you are a Community Agency making a referral on behalf of a family, please click on the first button.)

Alternative Formats – Use only if unable to use the online ‘request services’ form. Drop-off, mail or fax to Five Counties Children’s Centre. See form for address/fax number/contact info.

• For Families: Use this printable form.
• For Physicians/NPs: Use this form.

What’s Next

Once you’ve requested services for your child:

• We will follow up with you.
• You will be asked questions about your child’s abilities and needs, as well as your family’s life and experience.
• Your input is invaluable in helping us connect your child to the services best suited for them.

How We Can Help

Contact the SmartStart Hub and let us connect your family to community resources, services and supports* to help your child:

• Build skills and routines for daily life.
• Develop healthy, nurturing connections with families and others.
• Move around, sit, crawl and walk.
• Print, hold, reach and grasp.
• Speak and be understood by others.
• Take part in play, self-care and fun activities.

*SmartStart Hub services are available for children/youth up to age 19 (or age 21 if still in school). Services are provided through Five Counties and/or other community agencies. All SmartStart Hub services are publicly funded and provided at no cost to families.

Our Partners

Five Counties is pleased to partner on the SmartStart Hub with these community agencies:

• Peterborough Public Health
  • What’s Available for Families
  • PPH – Dental Health
  • Building Resilience with Your Child
• Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
• Point in Time Centre for Children, Youth and Parents
• BGC Kawarthas
• CHIMO Youth and Family Services
• Kinark Child and Family Services
• Dnaagdawenmag Binnoojiiyag Child and Family Services
• Oak Valley Health
• Northumberland Child Development Centre

Building resilience takes a caring community working together to support families.

To Reach Us

Still need assistance? Reach out to the SmartStart Hub:

• Call: 1-888-779-9916, ext. 100
• Email: info@fivecounties.on.ca (For general inquiries only; no personal health information please)

Additional Resources

• SmartStart Hub Q&A – Printable fact sheet answering key questions about SmartStart Hub.
• SmartStart Hub Poster – Printable poster to put up with quick access to our Service Request Form.
  • Version affiche en français
• SmartStart Hub Postcard – Printable postcard providing quick link to Service Request Form.
  • Version en français
• Partners for Planning – Provides free resources to help persons with disabilities and their families create meaningful lives and secure futures.
• CanChild’s F-Words Knowledge Hub – Offers information on key areas of child development, including the six ‘F-words’: Functioning, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends, and Future.

See How Your Child is Doing:

• Speech and Language Milestones – Government of Ontario
• Developmental Milestones – Five Counties Children’s Centre