Research on youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) who become involved in the criminal legal system has traditionally focused on risks, challenges, and deficits. But what if we shifted the lens? What if, instead of asking “what’s going wrong,” we asked “what’s going right?”
A 2025 study titled “A Content Analysis of Caregiver Perspectives on Strengths and Protective Factors in Youth with FASD and Criminal Legal System Involvement”, led by Chantel Ritter alongside Kaitlyn McLachlan, Oriana De Wolff, C. Meghan McMurtry, and Margaret Lumley, does exactly that. Their research offers a refreshing and much-needed strengths-based perspective – one that centers the abilities, resilience, and support systems of youth with FASD, as seen through the eyes of their caregivers.
What they found
- Caregivers of 32 youth (ages 12–24 who had been involved in the criminal legal system within the past 5 years) described a rich variety of personal strengths, including kindness, perseverance, humour, creativity, social intelligence, love, and self-regulation. Some strengths also demonstrated a “too-much-of-a-good-thing” effect, where strengths could place youth at increased risk.
- Beyond individual qualities, caregivers highlighted the importance of family and relational supports. Strong, consistent caregiver relationships were the most frequently mentioned relational protective factor. Positive peers, structure and/or supervision, access to professionals (therapists, social workers, and legal advocates), supportive schools, community involvement and financial supports were also key to youth thriving.
- Strengths exist across multiple levels: individual, relational, and broader environmental contexts. This multi-level perspective shows why interventions should not just address challenges but actively build on existing strengths, fostering long-term well-being and success.
Why it matters
This study shows the transformative power of strengths-based approaches. By recognizing and nurturing the abilities of youth with FASD, we can help them:
- Believe in themselves and their capabilities
- Build meaningful relationships
- Achieve (and measure!) success beyond traditional measures such as recidivism
It also underscores the critical role of caregivers in supporting, advocating for, and connecting youth to essential resources.
Read the full article
We encourage you to read the full article to explore these findings in detail and consider their implications for programs, policies, and supports for youth with FASD and legal system involvement. It is available open-access, meaning you can access the article for free without any restrictions.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider donating to our Open Access Research Fund to help keep us keep FASD research free for the public to access.