The Strategic Priorities Plan doesn’t change what we’re doing right now; it just helps us identify areas where we need to do more.
Stress Management Strategies for Caregivers
I recently attended an online Parent/Caregiver Masterclass in Stress Management. I learned a lot and wanted to share some of the excellent strategies and resources to help us support our loved ones.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Stress
Stress is a normal part of our daily lives and certain amounts of stress are important to help us function. Small doses of stress help us meet deadlines, get to places on time, and prepare for important events. However, long-term stress can be harmful and can lead to mental and physical health problems, like depression, substance use issues, and stroke.
Outcomes of Children with FASD in the Child Welfare System
Children living in the child welfare system (i.e. foster care, group homes) are known to experience more adverse outcomes compared to children who live with their biological parents or adoptive/other family members. Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are also predisposed to adverse experiences. However, these adverse experiences may be more common for those with FASD living within the child welfare system.
Looking for Artists with FASD!
We’re looking for Canadian artists with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) to participate in our annual art competition!
What’s New in FASD Research: September 2020
How health care providers communicate with women about alcohol use during pregnancy is very important for FASD prevention. The authors of this study evaluated 61 midwives in a southwestern U.S. state to understand how their personal alcohol use compared to their professional recommendations about alcohol consumption during pregnancy
Article Summary #4: Characterizing adverse prenatal and postnatal experiences
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is known to cause negative outcomes for individuals exposed. However, the majority of people with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) are also exposed to other prenatal or postnatal factors that may negatively impact their physical and mental health, including exposure to other substances, toxic stress, lack of resources, abuse, and neglect. These factors can interact with one another, leading to unexpected or cumulative negative effects on health outcomes.
October Webinar Update
We are taking a short hiatus from our CanFASD Webinar Series for the month of October as we prepare for the many amazing virtual conferences that we will be attending.
Article Summary #3: Forty Years of Assessing the Effects of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
Early life assessment of neurodevelopment and behaviour (NDB) can facilitate timely and meaningful intervention for young children at risk of negative outcomes. In the current study, researchers reviewed the literature to examine what has been learned over the last forty years about NDB difficulties in children with PAE in the first 2 years of life.
Next Steps for FASD Awareness
Despite the changes a global pandemic brings, people all across Canada banded together to celebrate FASD Awareness Month. From socially distanced awareness walks to viral videos and everything in between, the FASD community has found some very creative ways to raise awareness.