The Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development says the province is terminating its Birth Alert policy come June 30th.
Until now, a social worker could call a hospital to let them know that an infant was going to be removed from a new mother.
John Abbott says the decision to end the practice came about on two separate levels. He says the practice of social work is evolving, and both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls recommended that the policy, which was in place across the country, be changed.
Abbott says birth alerts were carried out on both non-Indigenous and Indigenous families, but he was not able to say how many times they’ve been carried out in recent years.
From now on, there will be no notifications between the department and hospital unless, after a child is born, that the hospital reports a concern through duty to report protocols. Abbott believes the policy change will have no impact on child safety.
(Lela Evans/ File Photo)
The MHA for Torngat Mountains says she is pleased to hear what she calls the “shameful” practice of “birth alerts” is coming to an end in Newfoundland and Labrador.
A birth alert is when a child is removed from their parent at the time of birth, without a mother’s consent or consultation.
The Premier has indicated that officials are still working out alternative policies.
Lela Evans says it’s only in light of truth and reconciliation that the department is now “being shamed into stopping the practice of sending birth alerts to hospitals.”
Unfortunately says Evans, it comes generations too late for many Indigenous families.
