Family Connections

Nova Scotia has ended the use of birth alerts, effective November 30, 2021.

This change honours a recommendation of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

More support is now available to expectant families through the Family Connections program to help families access the programs and services they need.

The Family Connections Coordinator supports expectant parents in making connections to community-based, culturally relevant prevention and early intervention programs and services, through engagement and outreach.

Through creative outreach and engagement, the coordinator will support expectant parents in making connections to community-based, culturally relevant prevention and early intervention programs and services.

In addition, the Family Connection Coordinator will support community-based service providers in accessing more specialized services that expectant parents may need. Expectant families will also be supported to connect with resources to help remove barriers to access, such as transportation.  The goal is to connect expectant families to community, where they can receive a range of supports that can extend well after the birth of the child.

Supports and services that may be accessed in the community could include:

  • counselling
  • parenting programs
  • prenatal supports
  • concrete needs such as food, transportation, etc.   
  • housing supports
  • medical services

How to access this program:

Expectant families may refer themselves to the Family Connections program. A family member or a third party may also make a referral for the expectant parents or families.

A referral to the Family Connections Coordinator can be made by calling any child welfare office.

The child welfare office that is contacted will ensure the information is provided to the Family Connections Coordinator.

Participation in the Family Connections program is voluntary. The coordinator works with expectant families in a supportive prevention role with a focus on outreach and engagement, not a child protection role.