The Ontario government has released a policy that directs children’s aid societies in the province to end the controversial practice of releasing birth alerts.
Birth alerts are statements issued by hospitals in Ontario in respect of an expectant parent when the general public feel the child may need protection after delivery.
The hospital is prompted by the alert to contact the public when the baby is born irrespective of whether the hospital staff have developed concerns about the parent’s ability to take care of their infant.
While talking about the development, Children Minister, Jill Dunlop said that the government of Ontario is issuing the directive in an effort to tackle systemic racism and ameliorate Ontario’s child-welfare system.
Jill Dunlop said child protection services in Ontario are delivered by children’s aid societies. She added that birth alerts are not needed under any provincial legislation or policy.
She stated that the ministry does not monitor their use particularly and said that 442 children were removed from their mother between seven days of birth and their first birthday in the past 12 months, and that half of referral sources were from medical staff at a hospital.
She also said that the government of Ontario heard via consultations with First Nations organizations that birth alerts have persistently affected members of communities near Thunder Bay, Brantford and Hamilton.
She said: “We know it is unacceptable. This is why we are ending the practice across the province.”
According to her, the government also heard from families that birth alerts traumatise parents and children. She said she hopes other provinces will follow suit and end the practice.
Provinces such as British Columbia and Manitoba have also put an end to the practice of birth alerts that have been the subject of concern from advocates and the national inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
The directive from Ontario’s Assistant Deputy Minister, David Remington reveals that the aim of the new policy is to offer guidance on ending the practice Ontario and to make sure there is effective collaboration with local hospitals, prenatal and postnatal services and other health care professionals.
Part of the new requirements is societies must stop the practice by October 15 and make them ready to do so in the mean time. Also, societies must write to confirm to the ministry that the month’s requirements have been implemented.
Ontario’s Children Ministry said Ontario Native Women’s Association has informed the government that no fewer than 450 Indigenous families every year will gain from the ending of birth alerts.
