Yukoners concerned about future of prenatal support as Ottawa changes funding programs

Plans to change the way the federal government funds prenatal programs are not sitting well with program coordinators in the Yukon. 

For 30 years, prenatal programs have been offered to Yukoners across the territory with funding from the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) and the Community Action Plan for Children. Those programs have offered new families support through parenting skills classes, parent-baby programs, and drop in programs. Grocery vouchers for families have also been distributed to families in need through the CPNP and CAPC.

Now the federal government is planning to merge the two programs into one, and change the way organizations apply for funding through the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Katie Swales is the co-coordinator for the Partners for Children program, which is operated through the Network for Healthy Early Development Yukon Society in Whitehorse. She says it's a "bit of a stressful time."

"The federal government is discontinuing the CPNP and CAPC programs, and the current programs need to do a community assessment and a whole bunch of work to re-apply, to gain access to a new strategy, I guess.

"We're not quite sure what that's going to look like."

Swales said the other issue around Ottawa's decision to create a new entity is that the core funding her programs receive isn't guaranteed and hasn't changed since 1994. 

"So we're re-applying for that same amount of 1994 dollars," Swales said. "If we are successful, we'll still be at that 1994 value which, you can imagine, the dollar has changed a lot since then." 

Swales said she and her team are forced to come up with new ways to stretch the little money they get to ensure they can continue to serve families, but if her funding application is denied then she expects she'll have to shut the program down next year.

"There will come a time when we just can't do it anymore," Swales said. "You just can't continue if you don't have enough money."

It's a similar situation for the CPNP-funded program in Dawson City, Yukon.

"I have an almost two-and-a-half-year-old right now, and CPNP in Dawson has been a program that we've utilized so much," said Dawson resident Viki Paulins. "It was a safe place to go during the first winter when she was born when there's not a lot to do in Dawson."

Paulins said for her, the local CPNP program provides an opportunity to form a community and support network with other new parents. She said her daughter can meet and play with other children her age while Paulins can talk to other parents, or simply take a few minutes for herself outside of her home or work.

Paulins said the program offers other resources to families as well.

"They provide services such as a lending library that we've utilized a bunch of times," she said. "If you need to borrow a travel crib because you're going down to Whitehorse for a medical appointment and you need something to put the baby in, they have that for you."

Paulins said at one point, through the local CPNP program, new parents were given $100 to help cover the cost of groceries up until the child was two years old.

Paulins said the thought that the current program being offered could be discontinued or replaced is "disgusting."

"It's a life-saving service for some people," Paulins said. "Postpartum depression is no joke. It is something a lot of people deal with. Having these resources available and knowing you have somewhere you can go and talk to people and be safe — I very much think it is a lifeline for some people."

Not discontinued but changing, MP says

Yukon's MP Brendan Hanley is assuring Yukoners that the programs aren't being discontinued but it's the funding structure that is being changed.

"There is an extension of the program for another year and then there's going to be a new way to apply for ongoing funding," Hanley said. "It'll be more of an application-based process."

Hanley calls the new application process "arduous" but said there are resources available through the Public Health Agency, such as mentoring, webinars, and online instructions to help organizations navigate it.

"I imagine what they're looking at, at the federal end, is just more accountability for how funds are being dispersed," Hanley said. "They do recognize this is an extra burden on these organizations."