In just two years, Sanctum 1.5 has supported the mothers of 41 babies to allow them to safely care for their children and to prevent apprehension.
This means that
- 41 mothers have been offered the opportunity to parent their babies
- 40 babies have been born
- 34 have transitioned out of the program and at this time there are currently 7 in the program
- 40 babies have been born. 31 babies are living with their mothers in the community or are currently residing at Sanctum with their mothers.
- Sanctum provided support in the planning and placement of 8 babies with family rather than those babies entering the foster care system.
- All babies are healthy and no vertical transmission of HIV
- Nurturing care has been given to each baby as they have formed strong attachment, reducing harm and empowering mothers to give their children the best start in life.
- Sanctum 1.5 is the first place in the world to implement Eat Sleep Console model of care and of the 40 babies born only 6 babies were started on Morphine for neo-natal abstinence syndrome.
- Additionally, 26 other children were returned to their mother’s care.
- This means that 55 children were either prevented from entering the foster care system or returned from in-care placements.
Sanctum Care Group sees how keeping children with their parents is best for their healthy development and well-being. Research indicates that the ‘brain development of infants depends on a loving bond with a primary caregiver, usually a parent’ (Winston and Chicot). At Sanctum 1.5, mothers not only bond with their babies, they learn how to thrive, while parenting their children. This initiative is supported by the Ministry of Social Services, Ministry of Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority, RUH Foundation, the community and Sanctum Care Group’s major fundraiser, Sanctum Survivor, which was cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020.
