First Three Years is a charitable organization, located in Toronto, focused on developing parenting programs to optimize healthy child development during infancy (0-3), a critical period in a child’s life. The programs are delivered to parents through agencies that provide parenting support to families such as Public Health, Early Years Centres and Family Resource Programs. First Three Years provides training and materials to these agencies.

Currently First Three Years offers facilitator training workshops in 2 parenting programs

• Make the Connection (MTC 0-1)
  for babies birth to one
• Make the Connection (MTC 1-2)
  for toddlers

The third and final phase of MTC for 2-3 year olds is currently in development.

Over 1000 front-line staff have been trained to deliver Make the Connection to families in Ontario and across Canada. Significantly, First Three Years was selected to train Toronto Public Health nurses who deliver Make the Connection parenting programs throughout the city. This partnership ensures that every new parent in Toronto has access to information on how to create a secure, nurturing relationship with their baby. In addition to Toronto Public Health, First Three Years partners with large provincial networks in B.C. and Saskatchewan.

First Three Years is not government-funded and relies on donations to support program expansion and development.