You may have never heard of the Foothills Children's Wellness Network but they can be a great source of information and help when going through a child's development.

FCWN is a network of agencies, individuals, services and community members that provide service or care about about children and anyone can access them.

Spokesperson Debbie-Layne MacLeod says the organization is part of a couple groups that have helped them in getting better resources locally when it comes to child development.

"We do that by having all of our information based on evidence based science," she says. "So we work really close with the Palix Foundation who work really close with the Harvard Centre on the developing child."

The network is able to help out in a face to face situation or from afar thanks to to dedicated research into development as the first five years of a child's life can be the most crucial for advancement.

"parents can phone, e-mail, contact, anyway they want to and our navigator will help parents work on whatever concern about parenting, child development or services in the community."

MacLeod says healthy and positive home environment is extremely important for a child's brain development.

"Parents need to know that, caregivers need to know that, community members need to know that they have an impact on a child's brain. Growth and development, those pathways don't develop."

For more information on FCWN follow the link.

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