Moved by Regional Councillor Brar
WHEREAS 40% of adoptions completed at JFJ Hope Centre were South Asian birth mothers; and
WHEREAS all the South Asian birth mothers all were International Students; and
WHEREAS in the case of 55% of the birth mother completed had no OHIP coverage; and
WHEREAS of the birth mothers with no OHIP, none of them received prenatal care; and
WHEREAS University health insurance programs do not cover pregnancies (prenatal and postnatal care); and
WHEREAS there is a lack of understanding around Canada’s privacy laws. Canada’s international students do not understand that adoption agencies cannot disclose their information, specifically about pregnancy to the Canadian ministry of Refugees and citizenship; and
WHEREAS there is a culture of shame withing many racialized communities. Many of the birth mothers do not seek out aid or care due to this; and
WHEREAS the international students who are birth mothers may be living in shared accommodation and may have to find alternate accommodations or may experience homelessness due to keeping the pregnancy a secret; and
WHEREAS there are currently no pregnancy care centres in Brampton, which would included services that include safe sexual relationships, prenatal care, information about pregnancy options and postnatal care; and
WHEREAS 60% of the birth mothers that JFJ Hope Centre has worked with have resided in Brampton; and
WHEREAS the major issue facing potential adoptive parents is a lack of financial support; and
WHERAS there is no financial assistance from the provincial or federal government; and
WHEREAS the average cost to adopt is between $25 thousand - $30 thousand. The cost has increased due to inflation; and
WHEREAS some workplace insurance programs due cover IVF and egg freezing but adoption is not considered when it comes to family planning; and
WHEREAS there are post adoption support programs that are developed by private adoption agencies but there are no support programs that exist throughout Ontario;
THEREFORE IT BE RESOLVED:
1. Mayor Brown, on behalf of Council, send a letter of advocacy to The Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of families, children and social development and to The Honourable Michael Parsa, The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Servies. To advocate for a more robust pregnancy support system in The City of Brampton.
2. The letter of advocacy should also call for the provincial and federal governments to consider for financial assistance for adoptive parents to encourage parents to look into the adoption process.
3. The letter of advocacy should also call for government funding of pregnancy care centres that include services, including information on healthy relationships, pregnancy care options, prenatal care and post natal care.
4. The letter of advocacy should also include a call for funding for post adoption support programs, that included training of metal health professionals in adoption competency in the adoption process.
5. The provincial government to advocate to post secondary institutions to included prenatal care, pregnancy, delivery and post natal care as a part of their University/College Health care Insurance Plans.
6. The city to work with government and post secondary institutions to develop orientation or programming for international students that focusses on healthy relationships, sex education, pregnancy options including adoption in matter that is culturally informed and sensitive.
7. The city of Brampton to use their communication channels to increase awareness about adoption in an effort to break down stigma and to normalize adoption.
8. The letter of advocacy to be forwarded as correspondence to the Region of Peel.
9. The letter of advocacy to be sent to all Brampton Members of Parliament and all Brampton Members of Provincial Parliament to request their support in this matter.