Birth alert

A birth alert or hospital alert refers to a practice in Canada, in which a social or health care worker notifies the staff of a hospital if they have concerns for the safety of an expected child. This can include past instances of poverty, domestic violence, drug usage, and history with child welfare.[1] Birth alerts are typically issued without the parents' consent, and often result in apprehension and placement of the child into foster care after birth.[2]

Birth alerts have been considered a controversial practice, as they have been disproportionately used against indigenous families.[3] In June 2019, the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) called for the abolishment of "the practice of targeting and apprehending infants (hospital alerts or birth alerts) from Indigenous mothers right after they give birth" as part of its recommendations, arguing that they were "racist and discriminatory and are a gross violation of the rights of the child, the mother, and the community."[4][5]

Following the report, multiple provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon announced that they would end the practice. Birth alerts are still practiced in several provinces as of February 2021, including Quebec and the remaining Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia.

Usage

Alberta

Alberta ended birth alerts in 2019.[6]

British Columbia

In March 2018, the Supreme Court of British Columbia ordered that the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) return a Huu-ay-aht child to their mother and offer her indigenous support. Under a birth alert, the child was apprehended after birth, with the mother only allowed limited visits. The court ruled that the MCFD violated the Child, Family and Community Service Act by not providing an adequate reason for the measure besides "her own mother's history with MCFD", and not providing the mother with advance notice of the decision.[2][7][8]

In July 2019, following the MMIWG report, Minister of Children and Family Development Katrine Conroy suggested that the province was looking into its recommendations, explaining that "we know there are far too many Indigenous kids taken into care", and that "especially in the Indigenous communities, we are making sure there are more supports in place and working in partnership with the communities so that those children have the support they need – that the parents have the support they need."[4]

In September 2019, Conroy announced that provincial health care providers and social service workers "will no longer share information about expectant parents without consent from those parents and will stop the practice of birth alerts." She emphasized that "moving to a voluntary approach of providing early supports and preventative services to expectant parents will help them plan and safely care for their babies."[2]

Manitoba

On June 23, 2020, Manitoba announced that it would end birth alerts on June 30. Minister of Families Heather Stefanson stated that "our government believes that strong families are the cornerstone of our province and we understand that to strengthen our families we need to ensure they are supported by the community organizations that serve at-risk parents and children each and every day in our communities." Manitoba Child and Family Services will provide referrals to support programs such as Mount Carmel Clinic's Mothering Project (which also received an additional investment from the province in order to expand its capacity).[9]

New Brunswick

In January 2021, the Ministry of Social Development stated that the province has been reviewing its use of birth alerts.[6]

Newfoundland and Labrador

In January 2021, the provincial Ministry of Children, Seniors and Social Development stated that it has been reviewing its use of birth alerts, consistent with the recommendations of the MMIWG inquiry and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.[6]

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia's Department of Community Services may issue birth alerts if a vulnerable parent had not registered in a voluntary support program. As of January 2021, the province is reviewing the practice, citing the recent enactment of federal legislation on the treatment of indigenous youth and families.[6]

Ontario

On July 14, 2020, Associate Minister of Children and Women's Issues Jill Dunlop directed Ontario's Children's Aid Societes to stop issuing birth alerts by October 15, 2020.[3] Dunlop stated that "we're trying to work to collaborate with families. That families have a voice in their plans moving forward. And birth alerts just do the exact opposite."[10]

Quebec

Birth alerts have been used in Quebec since 2009.[6]

Prince Edward Island

On February 1, 2021, PEI ended its use of birth alerts.[1]

Saskatchewan

In January 2021, the province announced that it would end its use of birth alerts on February 1, 2021.[11][1]

Yukon

The Yukon last issued a birth alert in 2017, and ended the practice in 2019.[6]

See also

References
  1. Allen, Bonnie (2021-02-01). "Mothers call for support, not threats, as Sask. and P.E.I. end birth alerts". CBC News. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  2. "Ministry pledges to end child welfare 'birth alerts'". Ha-Shilth-Sa. 2019-09-19. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  3. "'Discriminatory practice' of birth alerts to end in Ontario, and that's good for Indigenous families says ONWA". CBC News. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  4. Peters, James. "B.C. children's minister says she is looking into birth alert system". CFJC Today Kamloops. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  5. "EXCLUSIVE: B.C. ministry warned birth alerts 'illegal and unconstitutional' months before banning them". IndigiNews. 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  6. "Several Canadian provinces still issue birth alerts, deemed 'unconstitutional and illegal' in B.C." IndigiNews. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  7. "B.C. court rules against MCFD, permits Indigenous mother and child to return home with supports". CBC News. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  8. "B.C. Supreme Court order providing Indigenous mother daily access to newborn could set national precedent". The Globe & Mail. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  9. Unger, Danton (2020-06-23). "Manitoba to end controversial practice of birth alerts". CTV News Winnipeg. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  10. McDougall, Allana (2020-07-14). "Ontario announces end to 'birth alerts' by October 2020". APTN News. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
  11. "Sask. ending controversial birth alerts". CTV News Regina. 2021-01-25. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
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