Interim Policy Bulletin 740
To facilitate reading in French, the masculine form is used without prejudice to gender, given the binary nature of the French language.
Number: 740
In effect: 2026-07-06
Related documents
Why the policy was changed
We amended this policy in response to a Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) audit of the Mother-Child Program, as well as the launch of the new Mother-Child Program National Application in April 2025, used to collect, track and report on program participation data.
We also revised the policy to ensure that CSC first requests child welfare information from the mother’s home province or territory when assessing eligibility for the Mother-Child Program.
What changed
Paragraph 36 of Commissioner’s Directive (CD) 768 no longer applies:
36. The Mother-Child Coordinator will activate the Institutional Mother-Child Program flag in the Offender Management System on the first day the mother begins the residential component of the program (full-time or part‑time) and deactivate the flag on the day program participation ends.
Instead, following the institutional admission interview, the Parole Officer activates the Institutional Mother-Child Program flag to record the inmate’s interest or potential interest in participating in the program.
Note: The memo from the Director General, Women Offender Sector, to the institutions, issued on March 31, 2025, concerning the use of the Institutional Mother-Child Program flag in the Offender Management System is no longer valid.
Screening Process ‒ Child Welfare Agencies
To support consistent decision‑making under the Mother‑Child Program, CSC requests information from child welfare authorities to inform CSC’s decision in determining a mother’s eligibility. External organizations decide independently what information they will provide; CSC’s role is limited to requesting information and assessing what is received.
Overview of the approval process for participation in the program:
- The application (form 1159-01) is entered into the Mother‑Child Program National Application within five business days of receipt.
- Within five business days after receiving the application, the Parole Officer holds a case conference with the Mother‑Child Coordinator.
- Within five business days of that case conference, the Mother-Child Coordinator contacts the child welfare agency to request information and consults with Health Services.
- Upon receipt of all required information, including the child welfare agency information, the Parole Officer completes the Assessment for Decision within 10 business days.
- After sharing the report and any other information used in the decision-making process with the mother and giving her the opportunity to provide a rebuttal, the Parole Officer submits the recommendation to the identified review board, and subsequently to the Institutional Head for decision-making.
- Within five business days, the Institutional Head renders a decision.
Mother’s Home Province or Territory
The Mother-Child Coordinator first requests support, an assessment, or a history check from the child welfare agency in the mother’s home province or territory.
Province of the Institution
If the required information cannot be obtained from the mother’s home jurisdiction, the Mother-Child Coordinator then requests information from the child welfare authority in the province where the institution is located. This step may facilitate sharing where interprovincial or interterritorial agreements exist.
Inability to Obtain Support or Assessment
When the child welfare agency cannot provide support or an assessment, but is able to complete and share a history check, CSC reviews the information and determines the mother’s eligibility. The assessment will be based on all available information to CSC, including any current or previous involvement with child welfare agencies.
External Health Care Professional Assessment
If neither child welfare authority is able to provide a history or sufficient information for CSC to make a decision, the Mother‑Child Coordinator requests an assessment by an external registered health care professional specializing in childcare and development. The request includes a written report from the external health care professional that outlines key findings, including any information they obtained from relevant child welfare authorities.
Final Decision
The Institutional Head makes the final decision regarding admission to the Mother‑Child Program based on all information available through this sequence of requests and assessments. The result of the consultation with the child welfare agencies must be documented in the Mother‑Child Program National Application.
The definition for child welfare agency has been updated to support these changes:
Child welfare agency: the authority responsible for child welfare matters. This may include the agency in the mother and child’s home province or territory, the agency in the province where the institution is located, or both.
How they were developed
The Women Offender Sector developed this Interim Policy Bulletin in consultation with the Strategic Policy Division.
Who is affected by the policies
This policy affects institutional Parole Officers, Mother-Child Program Coordinators, as well as staff and inmates involved in the Mother-Child Program.
Contact:
Strategic Policy Division
NHQ.Policy-Politiques.AC@csc-scc.gc.ca
Commissioner,
Talal Dakalbab