What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Children First

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Windsor, ON
Children First

Every Child. Every Opportunity. Any Future✨ Children First has adopted a family-centered approach to organizing and providing assistance and support to families.

Children First in Essex County provides services to families with children from birth to six years of age who are at risk for or who are experiencing developmental or mental health challenges. This approach is based upon the principles of respecting every family’s individuality. Family-centered services respect the strengths and resourcefulness of all families and aim to support and encourage families in their efforts to independently meet the needs of their child with special needs and other family members in ways that they define as functional and appropriate for them. A philosophy of family-centered services promises openness and flexibility to accommodate diversity in family beliefs, values, and functioning styles and the changes that families undergo continually as they cope with expected and unexpected life events. The family-centered philosophy at Children First is based on the following assumptions:

All people have strengths;
All people benefit from support and encouragement;
All people have different but equally valued skills, abilities and knowledge;
All people should have the opportunity to be fully included within their communities
All families have hopes, dreams and wishes for their children;
All families are resourceful, but all families do not have equal access to resources;
All families should be assisted in ways that help them maintain their dignity and hope;
All families should be equal partners in the relationship with service providers;

We are guided by the following Key Principles:

Infants and young children learn best through everyday experiences and interactions with familiar people in familiar contexts. All families, with the necessary supports and resources, can enhance their children’s learning, development and social-emotional well-being. The primary role of a service provider in early intervention is to work with and support family members and caregivers in children’s lives. The early intervention process, from initial contacts through transition, must be dynamic and individualized to reflect the child’s and family members’ preferences, learning styles and cultural beliefs. Individual Family Plan outcomes must be functional and based on children’s and families’ needs and family-identified priorities. The family’s priorities, needs and interests are addressed most appropriately by a primary provider who represents and receives team and community support. Interventions with young children and family members must be based on explicit principles, validated practices, best available research, and relevant laws and regulations. Adapted in part from the Workgroup on Principles and Practices in Natural Environments (November, 2007) Agreed upon mission and key principles for providing early intervention services in natural environments.

12/19/2025

12/18/2025

Our staff will be taking a short winter break to recharge and celebrate the season! We will be quiet on social media for a few weeks while we enjoy some time off with family. Please note that our office will be closed on December 25th and 26th as well as January 1st and 2nd❄️☃ Season's greetings!

12/12/2025

✨The holidays can be a busy time! Here are 5 tips to get ready for the season:

1. Make a visual calendar (using pictures!) so that your child feels ready for different things, and will know what to expect ahead of time📅
2. Keep life as routine as possible, including for meals and bedtime⏰
3. Get outside! Get some fresh air together. You could go for a walk or build a snowman!⛄
4. Spend quality time together. Some ideas are: baking, decorating, reading a holiday story book, making a holiday craft, playing a game, or doing a puzzle🍰📚🎨🎲
5. Remember that the holidays are a busy time, and that your child may experience bigger emotions than usual. Prioritize quiet time together and offer lots of comfort and connection💙

12/09/2025

Know & Grow Talks: School Edition📚
📲 Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/MAZVVwDvav

This welcoming group is for parents and caregivers to come together and chat about getting their little ones ready for school. When you register, you can share the topics you're most interested in and the group will talk about them in a supportive, relaxed space🌱

🗓️ Dates & Locations:
📍 January 13th, 2026 | 6:00–7:30 PM at Children First (2565 Ouellette Ave. Windsor)
📍 January 15th, 2026 | 10:00–11:30 AM at Erie Migration District School (EarlyON entrance at 1620 Jasperson Dr. Kingsville)

👥 This is a caregivers-only group
📞 For more info, contact us at 519-250-1850 ext. 277 or send us a message here

12/03/2025

December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities! 🌍 A day to celebrate achievements, raise awareness about barriers, and commit to building inclusive, accessible communities and workplaces. Let's talk about disabilities:
✅Person First Language: Keep the person first. "Person with a disability" is better than saying "disabled person".
✅ Words Matter: Disability and disabled are not "bad" words and can be used.
✅ Types of Disabilities: Disabilities can be invisible or visible. They can be permanent, temporary or episodic.
*Source: The Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

12/02/2025

We will be CLOSED today for a staff breakaway day! We'll be back to our regularly scheduled hours tomorrow😊

12/01/2025

Having a little office fun! Meghan and Marissa take on the 😂

11/28/2025

✨ Ways to Help Children with Autism in Our Community ✨ hosted by
📅 December 11th, 2025
⏰ 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 447 Hwy 77, Leamington, ON
This event is all about understanding, inclusion, and supporting our children. Whether you are a parent, educator, caregiver, or community member, this seminar is packed with resources that can truly make a difference.
💙Featuring presentations from:
• John McGivney Children’s Centre
• Children First
• Talk 2 Me
• Access OAP
• Spectre Financial
• Family Respite Services Windsor-Essex
• Back to Life Rehab
• Vanessa Lapuz Speech Therapy
And many more
🙌 Admission is completely FREE - just come with an open heart and a desire to learn.
For more information, contact:
📞 Joey Jraige – 226-346-6473
📧 joeyjraige@gmail.com
Let’s come together for a night of empowerment, connection, and community support. 💛 We hope to see you there!

11/24/2025

🤔DID YOU KNOW you do not need a physician's referral to receive our services?
Here are 2 ways you can make a referral📞💻:
1. Call 519-250-1850 to speak with one of our wonderful intake staff
2. By filling out this online form: https://children-first.ontarionow.ca/external/referral/?t=youth_and_child_referral

11/21/2025

Jodi and Jen attended "Engaging Community Partners: Strengthening Services for Children and Families" yesterday to chat with other community partners in our area. Strong partnerships build stronger communities💙🤝

11/13/2025

Caregivers of an individual living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder are welcome to join our FASD Caregiver Support Group.

Our November session takes a look at FASD and navigating sexuality.

RSVP to Sarah.Yang@hdgh.org

Address

2565 Ouellette Avenue, Suite 105
Windsor, ON
N8X1L9

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+15192501850

Website

http://www.children-first.ca/

Alerts

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