AMC & FNFAO call on Minister Stefanson and Government to work with First Nations in taking the end of birth alerts a step further in preventing newborn apprehension
January 31, 2020
Treaty One Territory, Manitoba
AMC Communications
Treaty One Territory, Winnipeg, Manitoba -On Thursday, January 30, 2020, Minister Stefanson announced the Manitoba government will end the practice of birth alerts as of April 1, 2020 and will work with expecting mothers in developing meaningful birth plans.
According to the Child and Family Services manual, birth alerts apply to expectant mothers considered by Child and Family Services (CFS) agencies to be high risk in relation to the care they will provide for their newborn infant. Currently, the practice in Manitoba is to issue alerts to track and locate these high-risk expectant mothers. Grand Chief Arlen Dumas stated, “Apprehending a child after birth is one of the most violent acts committed against a woman. It is a common practise that has been initiated through the health care system and CFS. In 2016, the AMC Executive Council of Chiefs passed a resolution that called on the provincial government to immediately end the practice of apprehending babies from hospitals. We have been a strong advocate when it comes to this issue as it is a human rights violation.”
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