Safe Babies

FPSS Safe Babies Brochure
Baby Steps – Caring for Babies with Prenatal Substance Exposure

The Safe Babies Program was developed in Victoria (1998) by Lenora Marcellus, in partnership with Capital Regional Health and the Ministry for Children and Families. The program was introduced in response to the increasing need for highly-skilled caregivers who could be trained specifically in meeting the special needs of infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs.

The Safe Babies Program was introduced in the Central and Upper Island Regions in 2000.

In the Vancouver Island Region, the Safe Babies Program, administered by the FPSS Foster Parent Support Services Society, continues to provide education and support to Foster Parents, Social Workers and Community Partners who work with infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs and their caregivers.

The Safe Babies Training Program

Consists of four intensive modules addressing the following topics:
Understanding the impact of substance misuse during pregnancy
The effects of alcohol and other drugs on the body
Acute withdrawal in the newborn
Neuro-developmental support of infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs
Health issues for infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs
Partnership with natural families
Care for the Caregiver

The Safe Babies Program is committed to providing relevant support, training and consultation to foster parents in the Central and Upper Vancouver Island Areas.

Support

The Safe Babies Program Liaison will provide pre-placement consultation to new Safe Babies caregivers and provide ongoing consultation as required.
The Safe Babies Program Liaison is available to provide ongoing telephone consultation to existing Safe Babies caregivers.
Safe Babies caregivers will be contacted regarding current information and Regional training opportunities pertaining to infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs and their families.

Training

The Safe Babies Program will continue to offer the intensive Safe Babies Training in each area as indicated by the level of need and interest.
Ongoing educational opportunities will be provided to Safe Babies Caregivers and Social Workers.

Consultation

The Safe Babies Program Liaison is available to provide consultation to Ministry of Children and Family Development Social Workers and Community Partners who are working with Safe Babies infants and caregivers.
The Safe Babies Program Liaison will maintain current information regarding prenatal substance exposure and related issues.
Some of this resource material may be available for loan.