Children and youth with FASD have a multifaceted disability, associated not only with complex brain- and body-based challenges, but also with high rates of environmental adversity, diverse sociocultural contexts, and lifelong difficulties with daily living.  Support and intervention approaches need to be tailored to the highly diverse needs of children and youth, regardless of diagnostic confirmation.

Resources:

Policy Webinar Report: Supporting Children and Youth with FASD: Finding our Way Together

Preconception prevention has potential to have a significant impact in preventing FASD. It involves brief conversations with girls and women who are not pregnant but drink alcohol as well as conversations with boys and men. The focus is on alcohol use and related risks with all women of childbearing years, as well as with their support networks.

Outcomes:

• Service providers and policy makers are knowledgeable about targeted and consistent approaches on FASD preconception prevention.
• CNFASDP endorses common messaging around preconception prevention.

Resources:

Preconception and FASD Prevention: Understanding and Implications for Policy Makers – This policy webinar was to stimulate discussion for policymakers and enhance understanding of the opportunities and challenges informing those intending to become pregnant about the risks of
alcohol and pregnancy.

Alcohol and Pregnancy – one-page infographic from SOGC

The Prevention Conversation – online training program for front-line health and social services professionals

Doorways to Conversation – Brief Intervention on Substance Use with Girls and Women – This book from the Centre for Excellence for Women’s Health focuses on brief intervention with girls and women in the preconception and perinatal period.

Dry9 | AGLC (drinksenseab.ca) – Doing a Dry9 means you are making the decision to not drink any alcohol throughout your pregnancy.  SIgn up to do a Dry9 and join a community of support. From AGLC and DrinkSense.

Alcohol, Contraception, and Preconception – Information for Service Providers – one-page infographic from the Department of Families, Province of Manitoba.

Individuals with FASD are at heightened risk of mental health challenges and are often denied access to mental health supports as their needs are deemed to be too complex for traditional approaches. This has been exacerbated significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic that has increased anxiety and depression among individuals and limits availability of in-person support.

Outcomes:

• Individuals with FASD are better supported in the area of mental health.

Resources:

Informational Note: Mental Health and Individuals with FASD

Policy Webinar Report: FASD and Mental Health and Wellness: Urgency, Recognition, and Solutions for Government Policy Makers

Online Learning – Flexible online learning opportunities for you or your team, from CanFASD

FASD Training and Education – Learn about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) through online training, videos and publications. From the Government of Alberta.

FASD Assessment and Diagnostic practices need to incorporate approaches that are culturally safe and trauma informed. Approaches need to be tailored to individual and local situations as all communities, including Indigenous communities, are unique with their own history and experiences.

Outcomes:

• Best practices, tools and resources in incorporating culturally safe and trauma-informed approaches are shared with service providers, policy makers and communities.

Resources:

Policy Webinar Report: Enhancing Culturally Safe and Trauma Informed Approaches to Assessment and Diagnosis Practices

Understanding FASD Diagnosis webinar

Individuals with FASD, their biological mothers, families and communities continue to experience stigma that impacts their ability to access effective services that are culturally safe and trauma-informed. Stigma impedes public support for effective, person-centered strategies to support women at risk, people with FASD and their support networks.

Outcomes:

• Jurisdictions develop unified messages about FASD and alcohol use during pregnancy that shift public attitudes and promote dignity for people impacted by FASD.

Resources:

Policy Webinar Report: Examining Opportunities and Challenges in Addressing Stigma through policy

Webinar: Reducing Stigma – Writing and Talking about FASD

Changing the Conversation Symposium: Final Report – from the Manitoba FASD Coalition

FASD Language Guide – The language guide from the Manitoba FASD Coalition provides dignity-promoting alternatives to stigma-inducing words or phrases commonly used in society.

Common Messages – This booklet from CanFASD provides guidelines for talking and writing about FASD.

Youth and adults with FASD are at increased risk of involvement with the justice system.

Outcomes:

• Justice professionals are informed of ways to address needs of individuals at risk of or involved in the Justice system.

Resources:

Policy Webinar Report: Improving the outcomes of youth and adults with FASD in the court system: exploring the Manitoba FASD Court

FASD for Judicial and Legal Professionals Level II – This is an advanced training course for professionals in the Justice systems.

FASD for Solicitor General Professionals Level II – This is an advanced training course for professionals in the Solicitor General systems.

Individuals with FASD often require housing supports to address their significant risk of homelessness.

• Support housing organizations by providing tools and best practice information to better serve individuals with FASD in housing situations.

Outcomes:

• Service providers and policy makers are knowledgeable of approaches to address the housing needs of individuals with FASD

Resources:

Creating Intersections: A systematic and person-centred harmonizing framework for housing individuals with FASD

A Mosaic of Options: A Housing Continuum for People with FASD

Voices: A Housing Continuum for People with FASD – YouTube

Supporting potential employers to understand the unique strengths and needs of individuals with FASD is an important consideration for sustained and meaningful employment.

Outcomes:

• Individuals with FASD are supported in their employment pursuits. Recruiting professionals, service providers and policy makers to better understand the unique needs of individuals with FASD and how they can be best supported.

Resources:

Policy Webinar Report: Optimizing Employment Opportunities and Outcomes for People with FASD

Webinar: Optimizing Employment Opportunities and Outcomes for People with FASD

Guide for Employment Professionals: Supporting Employment in Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder