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I. ISSUEOn Monday, May 6, 2013, Covenant Health is opening two
newborn safe havens atEmergency Departments at the Grey Nuns and
Misericordia Community Hospitals. TheAngel Cradle is a safe, last
resort option for parents who feel that they cannot keeptheir
newborn baby. It is meant to augment the existing safety net for
those at risk of abandoning their newborns. These two newborn safe
havens will be the first in Alberta.
The only other known newborn safe haven in Canada is at St.
Pauls Hospital inVancouver.
II. ACTION REQUIRED
This Briefing Note is intended to provide you with information
on the Angel Cradle in theevent you receive questions about it.
III. BACKGROUND
The concept of newborn safe havens dates back to medieval times
when foundlingwheels were commonplace in churches and
orphanages.
Today, safe havens have been re-introduced in many European and
Asian countriesto complement the existing safety net in response to
continued reports of unsafeabandonment.
In the US safe haven legislation has been established in the
majority of states. Over the course of the last three years
Covenant Health has consulted with key
stakeholders, including the provincial government (Alberta Human
Services, Alberta J ustice) and the Edmonton Police Service, to
ensure all legislative requirements aremet.
If a child is left in the Angel Cradle, the regular process for
ensuring the safety of anabandoned child will be followedonce the
babys health is assessed, the newbornwill be placed in the care of
Alberta Human Services.
Leaving a child in the Angel Cradle is not a criminal offence if
the baby is unharmed. Covenant Health will not try to locate the
parents of a baby left in the Angel Cradle.
o As per legislative requirements, Alberta Human Services is
obligated to try toidentify and locate the babys parents. They must
ensure the rights of thebaby and both parents are protected.
o Police will be notified of a baby left in an Angel Cradle if
the baby is harmedin any way. In that instance, Covenant Health is
obligated to reveal theidentity of the parent(s) if it is known to
us.
Unsafe infant abandonment occurs in society; the Angel Cradle is
meant to be apreventative measure that provides an option for
pregnant women and parents.
o Covenant Health unequivocally supports the rights of children
to know theirparental history, as declared by the United Nations
Convention on the Rightsof the Child (UNHCR), as well as the rights
of fathers.
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o The World Health Organization (WHO) has criticized the use of
baby hatchesbecause it disconnects a child from their parents. The
UNHCR states thatchildren must be able to identify their parents,
even if separated from them.
o Despite the criticism of the WHO regarding baby hatches,
Covenant Healthand the clinicians we consulted recognize that
unsafe abandonment stilloccurs in our society and thus this
preventative measure at least gives a childa chance to know its
history and be reunited if the parent(s) come forward ata later
time.
IV. KEY MESSAGES
Covenant Health has spearheaded the creation of a newborn safe
haven, known as
Angel Cradle, at the Grey Nuns and Misericordia Community
Hospitalsthe first of its kind in Alberta Our hope is that the
Angel Cradle will prevent tragic outcomes for newborns, as have
been previously witnessed in Edmonton The Angel Cradle will
serve as a safe havena last resort option for parents, who
cannot care for their newborn, to leave the baby in caring hands
Our goal is to strengthen the existing safety net in care of both
vulnerable infants and
their families Covenant Health will maintain the anonymity of
the parents, if their identity is known,
when a child is left safely and unharmed in the Angel Cradle We
have consulted with the provincial government and the Edmonton
Police Service
to ensure that all legislative requirements and processes are
followed If a child is left in the Angel Cradle, the regular
process for ensuring the safety of an
abandoned child will be followedonce the childs health is
assessed, the newbornwill be placed in the care of Alberta Human
Services
As a Catholic organization, we draw on the rich history of the
Catholic Church, whichhas a tradition of providing safety and care
to those who are most vulnerable,including abandoned infants
Covenant Health is committed to developing services for those
who are most in need
V. CONTACT
Fran RossVice President, Communications and Community
Engagementm: 780-720-0966e: [email protected]
