Alberta is transforming the way Correctional Services supports individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The Transitional Mentorship Program, an initiative offering targeted, trauma-informed support for people with FASD involved in the criminal justice system, is now available in every provincial correctional institution in Alberta. Transitional Mentorship doesn’t just support those with the disability, but also the people who work with them every day. Through the program, staff training provides tools for identifying and working with individuals impacted by FASD. The recent expansion marks a significant step toward more inclusive, responsive and effective correctional services for people with neurodevelopmental disabilities.
The numbers showcase the importance of this type of programming. While FASD affects roughly 4% of Canadians, that number spikes dramatically in correctional settings – up to 23% among youth and 46% among adults. But this only tell part of the story.
Behind every statistic are people who too often fall through the cracks – struggling to follow institutional rules or connecting with programming. For those with FASD, the challenges don’t end at the facility doors. After release, the pressures of attending appointments, maintaining stable housing, and complying with conditions of supervision can quickly become overwhelming – especially without consistent, tailored support.
That’s where the Transitional Mentorship Program steps in.
What the program offers
Launched in 2023, the Transitional Mentorship Program offers short-term, tailored support. It serves those with possible FASD, in Alberta’s provincial correctional system. A diagnosis is not required to participate in the program.
The program includes:
- FASD training for Correctional Services staff working in custody and in the community
- Sharing circles and prevention programs, including women and youth
- Release planning, including referrals and applications for community supports such as housing and income support
- Transitional support during the first 48 hours to one week after release, including connection to long-term FASD supports
This transition period is often when people are most vulnerable to reoffending or falling through the cracks. By providing support prior to release and continuing it immediately following, the program increases rates of successful reintegration and reduces returns to custody.
What makes it different?
The program is designed to remove stigma – it deliberately does not include “FASD” in the program name, allowing participants to engage without fear of judgment.
It also champions community-driven leadership. Alberta’s FASD Service Delivery Networks coordinate program delivery. This ensures delivery is rooted in frontline experience and ran by those with expertise in supporting people with FASD.
Crucially, the program spans both custody and community, bridging a support gap that often leads to repeat incarceration. Although many people with FASD have short stays in custody, when supports are in place early, successful community reintegration increases and reduces the risk of reoffending, strengthening stability for those with the disability.
Inspired by local innovation
Funded by the Government of Alberta, the Transitional Mentorship Program builds on the In Reach Project, launched in 2017. That project brought FASD training, sharing sessions, and diagnostic services into correctional centres.
In Reach helped staff recognize FASD traits. It connected inmates to assessments and taught them how FASD impacted their lives. Once diagnosed, inmates received support to plan for release and connect with community services.
An evaluation conducted between August 2020 and March 2021 confirmed strong support for continuing services and identified a key gap – the need for expanded mentorship after release. That insight shaped the Transitional Mentorship Program we see today.
Alberta leads by example
Alberta has initiated collaboration, growth and change in working with those living with FASD. The Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services supports research that effectively informs policy and utilizes evidence to advocate for expansion of meaningful programs that support Alberta’s vulnerable populations. Additionally, the Government of Alberta is a jurisdictional member of CanFASD, which provides access to national research, guidance, and best practices.
Through this partnership, Alberta has:
- Made CanFASD’s online FASD training free for all Albertans
- Mandated training in some frontline sectors
- Funded programs based on research and community input
Jurisdictional membership in CanFASD gives governments access to leading research and policy guidance – and Alberta has applied that knowledge to shape the Transitional Mentorship Program.
Research supports demand
The program is highly utilized, and the need continues, underscoring both the urgency and demand for FASD-informed, trauma-aware support.
The Transitional Mentorship Program reflects what’s possible when research informs policy, and when governments listen to communities and act with intention.
Stay tuned for Blog 2, where we explore how a local pilot became a province-wide solution!
Want to learn more about FASD and the criminal justice system? Take our online FASD for Judicial and Legal Professionals or FASD for Solicitor General Professionals course.