The HIPPY program, funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, is an in-home program which assists newcomer parents of preschool-age children with preparing their children for entering kindergarten. Through early intervention, the program helps immigrant families with their settlement needs; ensures enhanced success for children headed to kindergarten; and enables parents to play a key role in this learning and settlement process.

Home Visitors are employed to work with families in their homes. The Home Visitors bring a new set of instructional materials weekly, and using role-play, they spend one hour per week with the parent(s) reviewing the materials which the parents then deliver to their child in 15-minute daily sessions. Newcomer families make a two-year commitment to participate 30 weeks per year, with the program which- runs concurrently with the school year. We work with 210 families and 260 children in Toronto.

Working Women Community Centre runs HIPPY in Toronto in several locations in collaboration with neighbourhood partners. We work in the following neighbourhoods: Bloor West, Malvern, Flemingdon, Thorncliffe, Victoria Village and Jane/Finch.

This program is an internationally recognized trademarked program brought to Canada in 2001 and operates in over 7 cities. For more information go to www.hippycanada.ca