Minister announces details of initiative to support pregnant women and infants

Minister of Human Resources and Employment Gerald Smith announced today details of the Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement which is now available to low-income pregnant women and families with children under the age of one year old. 

"In June, government announced it would invest $210,000 in the fiscal year 2001-2002, in addition to its current expenditure of $780,000 under the mother baby food allowance, for a new Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement as part of the provincial/federal Early Childhood Development Initiative," said Minister Smith. "We are now in a position to announce the program implementation together with application details."

The Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement is a benefit of $45 per month to low-income pregnant women or families with children under the age of one year with net income less than $21,744 annually. This income level matches the maximum income parameter of the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit.

The Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement replaces the Mother Baby Food Allowance which was only available to families and individuals in receipt of social assistance. The new supplement is available to low-income pregnant women and families regardless of whether they receive social assistance. Individuals and families currently receiving the Mother Baby Food Allowance do not need to reapply for the new supplement. Pregnant women will automatically continue to receive the same amount separately from the Department of Human Resources and Employment through the Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement. Families with children under one will be paid the supplement as part of their monthly Canada Child Tax Benefit (CCTB). 

Pregnant women, who are not currently receiving social assistance, can apply for the Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement through the Department of Human Resources and Employment at the toll-free number, 1-800-508-4788. Once the application process has been approved, the monthly benefit will be mailed to the recipient until the child is born.

Once the child is born, families will need to complete a Canada Child Tax Benefit Application and send it to the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. The agency will deliver the Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement with the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit (NLCB) and Canada Child Tax Benefit, which are combined in a single monthly payment. Families will receive the Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement until one month before the child's first birthday. Current recipients of the NLCB with children under one year of age will receive their first Mother Baby Food Supplement on their December 13 CCTB cheque. 

By moving the Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement out of the social assistance program, families are ensured they will continue to receive this benefit if they leave social assistance for work. With the implementation of the Nutrition Supplement, a further 600-800 individuals, who do not receive social assistance, will be eligible for the benefit totalling approximately 2,100 recipients per month.

Along with the monthly supplement, pregnant women will be provided with important information about available community supports and referral services offered by Public Health Nurses and Family Resource Centres. 

"The Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement will enhance access for pregnant women and families to information and to supportive community services," said Minister Smith. "It is important that pregnant women and new mothers receive financial support, but it is also important that they have access to appropriate information about healthy baby development and nutrition. We will draw upon the expertise and input from service providers in the community to identify and distribute appropriate information about healthy baby development and nutrition, in addition to providing the financial support mothers and families may need."

"This latest initiative reaffirms the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's priority to the healthy well-being of children and families in the province through prevention and intervention programs," said Minister Smith. "The Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement keeps with the overall theme of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's Strategic Social Plan by linking financial support with information and access to social supports. It is truly an example of government and community working together for the well-being of our future generation."

Media contact: Paul Power, Communications, (709)729-4062.

BACKGROUNDER
Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement 

• The Mother Baby Nutrition Supplement (MBNS) is being implemented by the Department of Human Resources and Employment on December 3, 2001. The provincial government will invest $210,000 for the 2001/2002 fiscal year, and $360,000 over each of the subsequent four years to support this initiative, in accordance with the provincial/federal Early Childhood Development Plan. 
  
  
• The MBNS is a nutritional benefit available to eligible low-income pregnant women and families with children under the age of one. The purpose of the benefit is to provide extra funding to support additional nutritional needs during pregnancy and throughout a child's first year of life, along with linking individuals to important community supports and information services concerning early childhood development and nutrition. 
  
  
• Previously, the Department of Human Resources and Employment provided a Mother Baby Food Allowance of $45 a month to pregnant women and families with children under the age of one who were in receipt of social assistance. Approximately 1,300 people were eligible for this benefit in November 2001, with an average annual cost of $780,000. Funding from the Early Chldhood Development Program has been combined with the provincial government's investment to expand the allowance and replace it with the MBNS.
  
  
• The MBNS has been moved outside of the social assistance program and the $45 monthly benefit is now available to low-income pregnant women and families with children under the age of one whose family net income is less than $21,744 annually. This matches the maximum income parameter for the Newfoundland and Labrador Child Benefit (NLCB). An additional 600-800 people will now be able to access the benefit. 
  
  
• Pregnant women may apply for the supplement through a toll-free telephone application process (1-800-508-4788) at any point during her pregnancy. Once an application has been approved, the Department of Human Resources and Employment will mail the monthly supplement up to and including the month after the child's birth. Eligibility will be determined using information provided by the applicant concerning family net income from Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) and medical confirmation of pregnancy.
  
  
• Families with children under the age of one will automatically receive the supplement if they are receiving the NLCB. CCRA will deliver the supplement in a single combined payment with the Canada Child Tax Benefit and NLCB. Eligibility for the supplement will begin in the month after the child's birth and continue until one month before the child's first birthday.
  
  
• Families and pregnant women in receipt of social assistance who were previously receiving the MBFA will automatically receive the supplement separately through one of the identified delivery mechanisms of the MBNS. The advantage for these families and women is that they will continue to receive the benefit if they leave the social assistance program while pregnant or their child is under one year old.
  
  
• Pregnant women and families may also access information about supportive community services for pre-post natal care by calling the toll-free telephone number, 1-800-508-4788. 

2001 12 03                           1:30 p.m.