Submitted by: Maria Soonias Ali, Youth Action for Prevention Provincial Coordinator, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is a non-profit organization, founded in 1980. Our focus is to reduce the occurrence of disabling conditions in children using primary prevention methods. We are committed to working collaboratively to share evidence-based information, provide education and training, and build capacity across the province. The Prevention … Read More
New Publication on National Evaluation of Canadian Multi-Service FASD Prevention Programs
Submitted by Deborah Rutman Deborah Rutman is a Principal and Co-Founder of Nota Bene Consulting Group and adjunct faculty with the University of Victoria School of Social Work. Deb has extensive experience conducting community-based research and program evaluation related to FASD, and in knowledge exchange related to FASD-informed approaches to service delivery. In addition to co-leading the Co-Creating Evidence project, … Read More
Indigenous Approaches to FASD Prevention: Why Collaborative Action is Important
Submitted by Lindsay Wolfson and Toni Winterhoff. Lindsay Wolfson (MPH) is a Research Coordinator at the Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health and a consultant at the Canada FASD Research Network. She holds a Master of Public Health, Social Inequities and Health, from Simon Fraser University. Lindsay is responsible for research and collaboration on projects relating to the operationalization of … Read More
Introduction to the Prevention Series
FASD is a leading cause of developmental disability in Canada, and while the conversation around alcohol and pregnancy is so important, prevention remains a significant challenge. Prevention goes beyond informing pregnant women of the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy, but also includes preventing adverse outcomes in individuals diagnosed with FASD, and informing the community how best to support women … Read More
Article Summary: Mental Health and Affect Regulation Impairment in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Results from the Canadian National FASD Database
This research was led by two CanFASD Researchers, Jocelynn Cook and Mansfield Mela, as well as CanFASD Managing Director Kathy Unsworth Background Along with experiencing mental health issues, regulating one’s emotions, known as affect regulation (AR), is a common challenge for individuals with FASD. The Canadian FASD diagnostic guidelines were updated in 2016 to include a domain for AR, which … Read More
International Self-care Day: An ‘Accommodated’ Self Care List for the Exhausted Parent
Hi there fellow caregivers, my name is Jennifer. I have a daughter with FASD and I’ve fostered other children who also live with FASD in the past. My partner and I are the advocates, bouncers, parents and playmates of our kiddo as we navigate life, systems and society that are not FASD-informed. It’s a recipe for exhaustion. Sort of like … Read More
Announcement: Applications for the 2020 Dr. Sterling Clarren Research Award
CanFASD is pleased to announce that applications for the 2020 Dr. Sterling Clarren Research Award are now open! The CanFASD Sterling Clarren Research Award has been named in honour of Dr. Sterling Clarren to recognize his pioneering contribution and leadership in the field of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The award is presented annually to a Canadian Early Career Researcher … Read More
World Youth Skills Day- Guest Blog: Employment Project for Individuals with FASD
The United Nations International World Youth Skills Day is celebrated annually on July 15th. The United Nations states, “Rising youth unemployment is one of the most significant problems facing economies and societies in today’s world.” Youth, aged 15 to 24 are almost three times more likely than adults to be unemployed. They constantly face issues such as low quality employment, … Read More
Policy Action Paper: Toward a Standard Definition of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Canada
Language is a powerful tool which has been used to celebrate people, but also alienate populations of people. Individuals with disabilities have been faced with discrimination and stereotypes that separate them from the rest of society, including individuals with FASD. Using language that highlights the strengths and abilities of the individual, as opposed to only focusing on the challenges they … Read More
Make Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder a Priority for the 2020 Federal Budget
On June 13th, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance posted a news release inviting Canadians to share their input regarding the next federal budget. CanFASD urges you to make a submission in support of the CanFASD Research Network and the work that we do. FASD is a major public health issue that affects over 1.4 million Canadians – … Read More