End of Birth Alert Practice
Effective July 1, 2020, birth alerts will no longer be issued in Manitoba and will be replaced with preventative and community-based supports for families.
Birth alerts were used as a mechanism to notify hospitals and other child and family services (CFS) agencies of the need for further assessment before a newborn is discharged to the care of a parent who has been assessed as ‘high risk’. Under this practice, a CFS agency issued the birth alert and Manitoba Families was responsible for the distribution of the alert.
The work with Manitoba child and family services authorities was instrumental in helping to inform and lead this change in practice. In preparation, authorities worked with their agencies to transition to the new model of care which emphasizes existing best practice already supported by the authorities and our CFS system.
The new model is based on voluntary prenatal engagement and early intervention planning with high-risk expectant parents including, referrals to appropriate cultural, community and health supports from public health and other community programming.
Tools and Resources
Note: The following CFS standards were updated, effective July 1, 2020
New Releases
June 23, 2020
Manitoba Supports Expansion of the Mothering Project at Mount Carmel Clinic – Funding Supports End of Birth Alerts as of June 30
January 31, 2020
Manitoba to End Use of Birth Alerts – Focus will be on building trust, safety plans with high risk mothers
January 7, 2019
Manitoba Announces First Social Impact Bond - Doula Project Aims to Strengthen Bonds between Indigenous Mothers and Infants and Reduce the Number of Days Infants Spend in Care
September 19, 2018
Child Welfare Legislative Review Committee Submits Report to Government – Recommendations focus on empowering Families and Communities through dramatic shift in child welfare system