Baby found in Victoria parking lot died of natural causes, mother found: Police | 24CA News
The mom of an toddler discovered tragically deceased in Victoria this week has been positioned and is receiving medical care and assist, police mentioned Friday.
The new child was discovered lifeless in a car parking zone within the 700 block of Bay Street on Wednesday night. An post-mortem accomplished Friday morning concluded the newborn died of pure causes.
“The circumstances are still under investigation by VicPD’s Major Crimes Unit and further details cannot be shared at this time,” the Victoria Police Department mentioned in a news launch.
Meanwhile, the incident is sparking requires extra assist for expectant moms. Speaking with Global News on Friday, girls’s advocates on Vancouver Island highlighted a spot in take care of pregnant girls and new mothers.
Cridge Supportive Housing and Family Services supervisor Candace Stretch mentioned there’s transition housing in Victoria for ladies who need assistance, who’ve youngsters, or who’re anticipating a baby. The group additionally has a younger mom outreach program.
All of them have waitlists, she added.
“Every single one of those programs is looking at delays at trying to get services in place, and that’s really what I fear for this woman — there was a gap, or there was just that knowledge that she was aware of what was out there,” she mentioned.
“I do think we need a lot more services,” Stretch mentioned. “And more than that, we need housing.”
The Our Place Society offers assist and sources in Greater Victoria for anybody combating homelessness, psychological well being challenges, substance use points, and extra. Its communications director, Grant McKenzie, mentioned all of the group’s workers have been suggested to maintain a watch out for anybody locally who could also be in misery.
“You don’t want to see any mother feel like she’s been forced into that situation where she doesn’t feel like she can get the help that she needs, and I’m extremely concerned about her health – her mental health and her physical health,” he mentioned.
On mainland B.C., a program referred to as The Angel’s Cradle at St. Paul’s Hospital — spearheaded by Dr. Geoffrey Cundiff — offers an nameless bassinet the place new moms can go away an toddler that they don’t consider they will take care of.
An automated system alerts nurses on the hospital, who will take custody of the kid till the Ministry of Children and Family Development can discover a appropriate household to foster or undertake the newborn.
The mom is permitted to depart with no questions requested.
“As long as they’re healthy, there are no questions asked, no one stops them, they can leave,” Cundiff informed Global News in 2020.
However, no such program exists on Vancouver Island.
Stretch mentioned she wish to see among the companies which might be out there within the Lower Mainland even be made out there in different areas of the province, together with the island.
“Certainly we have programs that happen in the Lower Mainland that aren’t here and also, certainly Northern B.C. is another place that needs those types of supports.”
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
