Effective April 1, 2020, Manitoba will end the practice of issuing birth alerts for high-risk expectant mothers.
Birth alerts notify hospitals as well as other Child and Family Services (CFS) agencies of the need for further assessment before a newborn is discharged to a parent who has been assessed as high-risk.
“To build a relationship with an at-risk mother and connect her with the programs and supports she needs, first we need to build trust,” said Families Minister Heather Stefanson. “Birth alerts are having the opposite effect, discouraging moms and families from reaching out at a time when we most want to work with them. This decades-old practice will end in Manitoba, as part of our commitment to transform the child welfare system and connect families with community-based supports and services.”
I want to commend our staff at DCC and across the correctional system for continuing to serve the province and the people in our custody with dedication, professionalism and compassion.
– Clif Cullen, Manitoba Justice Minister
The province wants a stronger focus on building voluntary partnerships with parents to address their strengths and needs. This could involve the creation of a safety plan as well as referrals to existing community, cultural and health-care services.
“Our priority is to help keep families together and reduce the number of children in care,” said Stefanson. “We are shifting our focus toward better supports for expectant mothers including early interventions, reunification and better planning.”
The ending of birth alerts was recommended by the Child Welfare Legislative Review Committee. Indigenous organizations in Manitoba also called for an end to the practice.
Stefanson said that the end of birth alerts will not affect the child welfare system’s ability to protect children who are at risk of neglect or abuse. All Manitobans, including health-care providers, continue to have a legislated duty to report if they think a child is at risk.
© News4.ca 2020
