The Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, is advising that effective today, Wednesday, June 30, the child protection practice of sending birth alerts to hospitals will be discontinued in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The department’s discontinuation of birth alerts honors the recommendations in the report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action to end this practice. Birth alerts are known to disproportionately impact Indigenous and marginalized expectant parents and contribute to the individual being less likely to seek support in advance of birth for fear their baby may be removed.
As part of preparing to implement this new policy direction, the department consulted with Indigenous governments and organizations in this province on this practice and the Regional Health Authorities. All are supportive of this direction.
Early intervention and prevention services are critical to support children and families and to help expectant parents safely care for their newborns. Collaboration between the department, Indigenous governments and organizations, extended family, and health and other service providers will continue to be the focus of the new direction when expectant parents voluntarily seek support prior to the birth of their baby.
The discontinuation of birth alerts will not change the current legal requirement, known as the Duty to Report. Everyone has a responsibility to report concerns of child maltreatment and can do so by calling toll-free 1-833-552-2368 or contacting local police.