At-risk babies monitored in womb
By Susie O'Brien
June 25, 2007 07:43am
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- Monitored for exposure to drugs, alcohol, violence
- First time unborn babies referred to state workers
- Face losing newborn if don't co-operate
ONE hundred unborn Australian babies are being monitored in the womb because of their mothers' exposure to violence, drugs or alcohol.
If a high-risk pregnant mother refuses help organised by the Department of Human Services, her newborn baby would be assessed in the maternity ward and could be taken from her.
However efforts would first be made to support her during her pregnancy as much as possible and to keep the family together if possible.
Until now officials have had to wait for abuse or neglect of the newborn before taking action through the Children's Court.
There has been a surge in child abuse notifications since April when state laws in Victoria changed to allow unborn babies to be referred to the Department of Human Services for the first time.
Since then, 12 unborn babies a week have been referred by families, hospitals, schools and welfare workers because of concerns about their mother's dire situation.
The mums of 30 more at-risk unborns have been dobbed in to Child First, a new phone service.
About 25 unborn babies being watched are from the southern metropolitan area stretching from Dandenong to Frankston, 20 from the northwestern region from Craigieburn to Wyndham, and 15 from the eastern area from Ringwood to Mt Dandenong.
Others are from country areas including Geelong and Gippsland.
Many women receiving DHS notifications have drug and alcohol abuse issues, mental health problems such as depression, or have violent partners.
Some are disabled, some are teenagers, and many have been victims of child abuse.
They have been asked by the department to face random urine drug tests, attend regular medical appointments and go to parenting classes once the baby is born.
They cannot be forced to comply, but face losing the newborn if they do not co-operate.
Bernadette Burchell, chief executive officer of the Children's Protection Society, said the new system meant pregnant women could get support before the baby was born.
"Big Brother is watching and this is not a bad thing - it's a coercive push for these women to take up the help that is available," she said.
Community Services Minister Gavin Jennings said the program aimed to deal with the issues that put unborn babies at risk and give mothers access to services to improve their lives.
"Involvement with DHS before a child is born is strictly voluntary and so is always undertaken in co-operation with the mother, father or extended family as appropriate," Mr Jennings said.
"Starting this work before the baby is born has given mothers access to services to help them provide more stable, secure environments for their baby and deal with the underlying issues that may put their babies at risk.
"The emphasis in this area of child protection is to strengthen the mother's parenting confidence, skills and circumstances with a view to keeping the family together for as long as it is in the best interests of the child to do so."
The pregnant women referred via the Child FIRST phone service are less critical cases than those formally notified to the department.
Judy Walsh, manager of the northeast Child FIRST hotline, said 12 of the 317 calls received since April involved pregnant women.
Most had drug and alcohol abuse problems and were receiving parenting and substance abuse counselling, Ms Walsh said.
Of the 160 calls to the eastern region Child FIRST hotline since late April, seven were about pregnant women.
And there were 400 calls to the southeast Child First region hotline, including 10 calls about pregnant women.
Case 1:
A MOTHER already involved with child protection is pregnant with her third child. Her two children have been in the care of their maternal aunt and uncle for two years. The aunt rang child protection raising concerns about family violence and the mother's substance abuse. Child protection is working with the mother and relevant services to put her in a residential drug and alcohol service once the baby is born, provide counselling and help with transport to her ante-natal appointments.
Case 2:
A HOSPITAL rang child protection about a first-time mother with a mild intellectual disability and needed housing. There were also concerns about her capability to care for her child after birth. Child protection worked with the mother to arrange services and support. Disability services (part of DHS) is supporting the mother, the local housing service has arranged housing , and the maternity hospital has put her in touch with maternal and child health services.
