Written by Lauren O’Neill, member of the 2025 CanFASD Trainee Program.

I am incredibly grateful to be in my second year of the Community Psychology program at Wilfrid Laurier University under the supervision of Dr. Melody Morton Ninomiya. Through her guidance and the CanFASD Trainee Program, I have gained a deeper understanding of FASD and prenatal alcohol use (PAU), especially from the perspectives of those with living experience. These experiences have transformed my interest into a strong passion for FASD-informed research and advocacy, which I hope to carry into future opportunities in this field. 

Interest in FASD and Prenatal Alcohol Use (PAU) 

My interest in FASD and PAU stems from a long-standing commitment to supporting family health, child development, and youth with developmental exceptionalities. Though I had limited personal interaction with individuals with FASD, I was aware of how often people may not know they are pregnant for weeks or months – something that immediately captured my attention. 

As a former birth and postpartum doula and childbirth educator, I valued supporting individuals directly but felt compelled to make broader, systemic contributions. During my undergraduate Psychology studies, I gravitated toward social determinants of health and developed an interest in supporting youth and families through a systems lens – particularly by addressing the socioeconomic inequities that impact family well-being. I also became interested in knowledge mobilization and participatory action research rooted in community priorities. 

Research focus 

My current research explores the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of social service and child welfare professionals in New Brunswick relating to FASD and PAU. This study was requested by and is conducted in partnership with the New Brunswick FASD Centre of Excellence. The findings and recommendations will be used to inform professional education and explore opportunities to strengthen collaboration between services supporting individuals with FASD and PAU in the province. 

This project is one component of a broader research initiative examining KAPs across four more sectors: community organizations, education, healthcare, and justice. My thesis will compare findings from social service and child welfare professionals with those from social workers in the other four sectors. 

Highlights from preliminary findings 

Roughly half of participants across all groups have received FASD-related training. Notably, those in Social Services employed with the Department of Social Development report more specialized training access through a dedicated FASD/PAU learning portal developed in partnership with the Centre of Excellence. This has been a valuable resource and highlights the importance of developing similar tools for other sectors. 

However, participants consistently identify the rural nature of New Brunswick as a barrier to both training and support access. With only a limited number of specialized FASD workers – primarily based in urban centres – the geographical spread presents challenges. Moreover, the close-knit character of rural communities can amplify stigma and discourage people from seeking support out of fear of being seen and judged. 

Participants emphasized the need for stigma-reducing public awareness and prevention campaigns. They also expressed strong support for introducing education about FASD and PAU to youth through collaborations with schools, particularly by incorporating it into health curricula. 

The accompanying word clouds (see below) highlight differences in participants’ attitudes when asked how they would feel seeing a pregnant person consume alcohol. These visual tools underscore opportunities to address stigma through targeted, compassionate training that builds social context and understanding. 

Final thoughts 

There is still much work to be done in reshaping how society talks about pregnancy, substance use, and FASD. While individualized support is critical, we must also take a broader, systemic view. FASD support and prevention is a shared responsibility, and I am proud that my research may contribute to enhancing education, strengthening interdisciplinary care, and reducing stigma. I hope it can help build momentum toward a consistent national framework for FASD and PAU education and intervention in Canada. 

Lauren O’Neill is from Brantford, Ontario, on the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and Neutral peoples. She received her BA (Honours) in Psychology with minors in Indigenous Studies and Youth & Children’s Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford. She is now an MA Community Psychology candidate at Wilfrid Laurier Waterloo. She has enjoyed working on various projects as a member of the Ishkode Research Group under the direction of Dr. Melody Morton Ninomiya, and the Child & Adolescent Research and Education (CARE) Lab at Laurier Brantford under the direction of Dr. Danielle Law. She is passionate about social determinants of health, participatory research action, and system-level approaches to supporting well-being.