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

The Canada Northwest FASD Partnership (CNFASDP) is an alliance of Canada’s western provinces and its three territories, formed to work collaboratively, applying an inter-jurisdictional approach to advance the diagnosis, prevention, and the intervention of FASD, and the care and support of individuals affected by FASD.

CNFASDP advances evidence-based FASD policy development and service design in member jurisdictions through the sharing of resources and expertise. Currently, the governments of Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon are a part of the CNFASDP.

In 1998, the governments of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan formed the Prairie Province Partnership on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). In 1999, the Partnership expanded to include Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon, and in 2001, British Columbia joined the Partnership. In 2003, the name of the Partnership changed to the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership to reflect the expanded membership.

Ministers:

• Collaborate with Ministerial colleagues in advancing the profile of FASD prevention and support across the Partnership and in their respective jurisdictions.
• Approve the funds to be contributed annually by each jurisdiction to support the work of the Partnership and the CanFASD Research Network.
• Approve the strategic priorities of the Partnership every three years.

Deputy Ministers:

• Implement the direction of the Ministers through the Steering Committee.
• Provide direction to the Steering Committee as required, examine issues pertaining to FASD and share best practices and information on initiatives occurring in their jurisdiction.
• Approve agenda items for virtual or in-person meetings of Partnership Ministers.
• Foster and facilitate the exchange of information and discussions on policies and programs pertaining to FASD among jurisdictions.

Steering Committee:

• Implements the direction of the Deputy Ministers.
• Examines issues pertaining to FASD and shares best practices and information on initiatives occurring in their jurisdictions.
• Provides program and policy advice to the Deputy Ministers by identifying priority areas for discussion and collaborative action.
• Fosters and facilitates the exchange of information and discussions on policies and programs pertaining to FASD among jurisdictions.
• Ensures that progress on work plan deliverables is sufficient to warrant productive Deputy Minister and Minister meetings.
• Recommends agenda items and develops materials for virtual or in-person meetings of Deputy Ministers and Ministers.
• Organizes and determines the schedule of Partnership-sponsored events (webinar, symposium, conference) and which partner jurisdiction will be the host and/or lead of each event on behalf of the Partnership.
• Collaborates with CanFASD to set research priorities.

CNFASDP membership requires annual contributions to the CNFASDP Trust Account to fund learning events and initiatives that advance the CNFASDP’s strategic priorities. Each provincial partner contributes $20,000 annually, and each territorial partner contributes $6,500 annually. CNFASDP jurisdictions also contribute core annual operational funding to CanFASD, according to a population-based formula. This funding includes partner jurisdiction membership in CanFASD.

Yes. The CNFASDP welcomes partnership from other governments in Canada.

We will see improved outcomes from advancing the diagnosis, prevention, and the intervention of FASD, and the care and support of individuals affected by FASD, the more coordinated we are across the country. This will lead to enhanced learning and responsiveness to the needs of people living with FASD, their families, caregivers and service providers.

In 2004-2005, the Partnership formed the Western/Northern FASD Research Network to address the urgent need for research on FASD and best practice guidelines to inform and guide work on diagnosis, prevention and intervention.

The Research Network quickly evolved to what is now the Canada FASD Research Network – a national Canadian charitable organization whose vision is to support Canada’s leadership in addressing the extraordinary complexities of FASD.

The Partnership invested in research to answer the critical questions arising from on-the-ground efforts to prevent FASD and support individuals with FASD. In turn, researchers were, and remain, very interested in being a part of a network with direct links to program practitioners and policy makers who are eager to translate research findings into practice.

CNFASDP creates a Strategic Priorities Plan every three years, incorporating the priorities of the Partnership jurisdictions. CanFASD supports the CNFASDP Steering Committee towards the advancement of these priorities and ensures CanFASD research priorities are in alignment.

At its inception, the Western/Northern Research Network was formed in a phased approach. Phases included:

• Phase 1: Consultation and Leadership Development
• Phase 2: Establishing the Network
• Phase 3: Implementing the Research Plan

CanFASD is governed by a Board of Directors that aims to include representatives from its jurisdictional members (including CNFASDP jurisdictions). A member of the CNFASDP Steering Committee sits on the board as an ex-officio member.

The CNFASDP’s 2024-2027 strategic priorities are:

• Indigenous Led Work and Supports
• Housing Needs of Individuals with FASD
• FASD Training
• Mental Health and Addictions
• Supports and Services
• FASD Prevention Messaging
• Enhancing Cultural Safety in FASD Diagnostic Clinics

Learn more on this section of our webpage.

• Creates a forum for sharing information, collaboration and support on FASD initiatives.
• Supports capacity to share educational/training sessions through conferences, symposia and videoconference links.
• Establishes links with a variety of researchers associated with the CanFASD who can provide advice and assistance on province- or territory-specific research.
• Enhances and streamlines ready access to up-to-date research findings on FASD.
• Creates and facilitates opportunities to engage in discussions with researchers to better understand the implications of research for practice.
• Provides the opportunity to influence the research agenda on FASD.
• Supports a higher profile for and interest in FASD and FASD research.
• CNFASDP’s leadership benefits all regions in Canada through cross-government integration and through the CanFASD’s work in knowledge development, research and translation.

Collaboration and Shared Commitment

• The Partnership serves as a mechanism for effective cross-jurisdictional collaboration and a coordinated approach to FASD policy, programs and services across western and northern Canada.
• The Partnership can facilitate provincial engagement with the federal government on FASD issues when considering policy and program development, including past consultations with Health Canada and First Nations and Inuit Health.
• It invites participation from other partner jurisdictions where applicable (i.e. webinars, prevention research, workshops and conferences).
• Collaboration on FASD at the ministerial and officials’ levels is invaluable as jurisdictions continue to develop and implement provincial and territorial FASD strategies to improve the lives of Canadians living with this disability.
• The Partnership serves to strengthen and sustain provincial/territorial commitment to FASD prevention, intervention, services and support.

Maximizing Impact

• The Partnership serves as a forum for effectively leveraging provincial resources.
• Each jurisdiction contributes a modest amount of funding, which is used collectively to support significant initiatives such as major conferences and symposia that help inform future policy and program development in partner jurisdictions.
• Relatively few financial and human resource commitments are required to benefit from the expertise developed by other members of the CNFASDP.

Sharing Evidence-Based Knowledge and Best Practices

• The Partnership provides excellent learning opportunities regarding best practices related to FASD. Partner jurisdictions with FASD strategies and action plans provide examples of best practice and approaches for prevention, intervention and support. This enhanced knowledge transfer supports service development and improvement within and across Partnership jurisdictions.
• It provides opportunities for citizens in partner jurisdictions to participate in community-based research, such as Prevention from a Women’s Health Determinants Perspective. This research has informed the development of effective programs and policies related to FASD.
• It shares diverse program approaches and organizational structures FASD prevention, intervention and support, helping to strenghten links between program areas and strategies.
• The Partnership continues to benefit from the work of CanFASD, which delivers evidence-based research that supports the development of sound, clinical, and preventive practices.
• Through the Partnership’s support, diagnostic processes and protocols have been enhanced. As a result of accessing research related to the diagnosis of FASD, partner jurisdictions, like Saskatchewan, have developed enhanced diagnostic capacity and expertise and follow-up supports post-diagnosis.

Conferences

• When the CNFASDP started hosting conferences on FASD, there were few other opportunities for people in western and northern Canada to come together to learn about FASD.
• Now, there are a number of governments and groups offering FASD workshops and conferences on a regular basis.
• To make the best use of resources without duplicating efforts, CNFASDP started alternating conferences with smaller symposia, designed to bring practitioners together for learning.
• The Partnership aims to co-sponsor a FASD conference every four years, open to individuals and families with lived experience, service providers, researchers, educators, and government officials, to advance topics identified in the Partnership’s strategic priorities plan.

Symposia

• The Steering Committee endeavours to host a symposium on FASD in one of the intervening years between FASD conferences.
• The purpose of a symposia is to provide a smaller forum where professionals from across Partnership jurisdictions can come together to discuss issues specific to their area of practice and/or research and that focus on topics identified in the strategic priorities plan.

Webinars

• The Steering Committee supports a policy webinar series focusing on strategic priorities of the Partnership in the intervening years of conferences and symposia.
• Webinars serve as a forum for discussions and sharing of evidence-based knowledge with policy makers and government officials as the target audience.
• Themes usually link to CNFASDP’s Strategic Priorities or address emerging issues that warrant focused attention.

If you are from a CNFASDP member jurisdiction, contact your provincial/territorial government steering committee representative. Please refer to the CNFASDP Steering Committee contact information below.

CNFASDP Steering Committee Member Contact Information