Manitoba will end the controversial practice of sending out birth alerts for expectant mothers who are considered to be high-risk by the end of June.
Manitoba’s families minister Heather Stefanson made the announcement at a Tuesday afternoon press conference where she also said the government would invest nearly $400,000 into Mount Carmel Clinic’s Mothering Project.
“The Mothering Project helps keep families together by supporting vulnerable mothers when they need help,” said Stefanson in a government release.
“Our government is committed to preventative programs that help to reduce the number of children in care by building partnerships with organizations like Mount Carmel Clinic.
“This new funding will ensure more families can stay together safely with the help of community-based supports they know and trust.”
The government had originally said it would phase out birth alerts by April 1, but Stefanson delayed the move just days before the deadline, citing the then burgeoning fight against COVID-19.
At the time Stefanson said ending birth alerts would put additional pressure on the health-care system.
Birth alerts are issued by Child and Family Services agencies and notify hospitals of the need for further assessment before a newborn is discharged into the care of a parent who has been assessed as “high-risk.”
Birth alerts sometimes result in infants being taken into child welfare almost immediately after birth due to safety concerns.
The government previously did a review that found birth alerts were discouraging expectant mothers and families from reaching out for prenatal support.
At Tuesday’s announcement Stefanson said provincial government plans to replace the use of birth alerts with preventative and community based supports.
She said the investment in Mount Carmel Clinic’s Mothering Project — which will include annual funding of $350,000 starting in 2021-22 — supports that plan.
The Mothering Project works to connect vulnerable mothers with services and programs to support health and wellness for themselves and their children, according to the province’s release, which adds the program provides culturally safe supports during pregnancy and throughout the child’s early years.
The funding will allow Mount Carmel Clinic to hire four new staff and serve up to 200 families, the government said.
“This expansion will allow us to build even more positive relationships with mothers,” said Bobbette Shoffner, executive director of Mount Carmel Clinic, in the government’s release.
“We are creating a circle of care to ensure a healthier pregnancy and more positive outcomes for mom, baby and the entire family in the longer term. An investment today creates a lifetime of benefits for all of our participating families.”
The province says the funding will mean Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFS) agencies will be able to refer more women to the Mothering Project, and the program will include a CFS liaison tasked with creating partnerships to reinforce the change in practice.
Opposition NDP critic Bernadette Smith said the government could have passed her private member’s bill that would have ended birth alerts in May 2019. It was defeated.
“Instead they waited another 11 months to announce any action then delayed it yet again in the middle of a pandemic.”
Statistics previously provided from the Manitoba government show newborn apprehensions occur, on average, about once a day in the province.
Birth alerts have long been criticized by First Nations leaders who say the practice was stacked against Indigenous families.
There are about 10,000 children in care in the province, and about 90 per cent are Indigenous.
Public outcry increased last year after a video was shared online showing a newborn being removed by police and social workers from a crying Indigenous mother in Winnipeg.
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the Southern Chiefs Organization and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, which represents northern Manitoba First Nations, called for an end to their use.
Stefanson said the province has worked with child welfare agencies over the last year to help make sure at-risk mothers are connected with resources and support, while limiting the use of birth alerts.
She said there were four birth alerts issued this May, compared to 38 in May of 2019.
–With files from The Canadian Press
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