Make sure you know your local health community - the health visitors, midwives, GPs and dentists - and build strong relationships. They are a key point of contact for families with young children and can really help promote children's centre services. Ensure health professionals are aware of what's on offer and have a regular way of communicating with them such as a newsletter. Don't simply rely on one person in an organisation to pass on information.
Try to draw health professionals into the centre by planning joint sessions and training and maximising opportunities for them to promote their services through events such as open days. Many centres already work closely with health visitors and midwives but fewer centres have close links with GPs. Talk to GPs and find out if there are any services like immunisation that you can promote to parents. Seek out those win-win scenarios where you're helping health services meet their goals.
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