Interior Community Services is a registered Charitable CARF accredited social service organization providing support, early intervention and crisis intervention programs, counselling and subsidized housing for children, youth, families and seniors.  ICS has been in Kamloops since 1967 and currently has offices in Kamloops and Merritt and programming in Barriere, Gold Trail, the Cariboo and Kootenays. Most recently ICS expanded its food security programming in Kamloops with the opening of the Mt. Paul Community Food Centre.  Over 1,000 individuals and families receive services from ICS daily.

INTERIORcommunityservices.bc.ca 2022

Interior Community Services is serving the Thompson-Nicola Region. ICS offers many different services to young families such as the Adoption Permanency Program, Baby’s Head Start, Caring Dad’s Program, and many more.

Baby’s Head Start

What does the Program offer?

Baby’s Head Start is a nutrition-based program with a focus on a healthy lifestyle using a harm reduction approach.

At Baby’s Head Start we provide:

  • A weekly Lunch and Learn (education session and healthy meal)
  • Weekly grocery gift cards and bus tickets
  • Free prenatal vitamins and free prenatal classes
  • Breastfeeding education and support
  • In-office visits or home visits
  • Infant massage and Parent-Child Mother Goose after baby is born

Who is eligible?

Pregnant women who think they would benefit from the above service include:

  • Low-income women
  • Teenage Parents
  • Women living with substance use
  • Partner abuse
  • Single parent homes
  • Women living in isolation
  • Women with disabilities
  • New immigrants

(Baby’s Head Start – Interior Community Services. (n.d.). https://www.interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca/programs/child-family/babys-head-start)

Families First

ICS hosts a Families First program that supports families parenting young children up to the age of 3 years. This program focuses on building strong family connections.

  • Bonding and Attachment
  • Healthy development of children
  • Home Safety
  • Healthy routines
  • Connections in the community

Who is Eligible?

Anyone who is pregnant or parenting a child under the age of 6 months is eligible.

How to Refer:

Anyone can be referred to the program using the Families First Referral form

(Families First – Interior Community Services. (n.d.). https://www.interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca/programs/child-family/families-first)

First Steps Education

First Steps is a program for young mothers or soon-to-be mothers that are in need of alternative education. The program has a feminist practice model and provides opportunities for young women to complete their education in a supportive and inclusive environment.

  • Academic coursework
  • Instructor and support staff
  • Full-time childcare
  • Parenting support
  • Life skills information

Who is Eligible?

Women needing to graduate who are between the age of 15 and 24 and who are pregnant, parenting, or have children in the care of the Ministry of Child and Family Development are eligible.

How to Refer:

Self-referral

(First Steps – Interior Community Services. (n.d.). https://www.interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca/programs/child-family/first-steps)