Everyone Plays a Part: FASD Awareness Month

Caring for an individual with FASD can be both tremendously challenging and rewarding. Whether you are just embarking on the caregiving journey or have spent many years providing care, your experiences and input can shape the future of FASD policy and research. Play a part by:  

• reading the CanFASD caregiver guide 
• participating in caregiver research studies  
• connecting with other caregivers by becoming a member of CanFASD  

Educators play an important role in ensuring students with FASD succeed in school, and having conversations with young people about alcohol, safe sex and relationships. Educators can better support people with FASD and people of reproductive age by:  

• taking the FASD for School Staff Level II online course  
• learning about Project CHOICES and the Prevention Conversation 
• engaging in conversations around substance use, sexual health, and healthy relationships 
• reading the Common Messages Guide to learn how to write and talk about FASD in a respectful way 
• compassionately supporting women who use alcohol by providing non-judgemental care and services

Employers can create inclusive and supportive workplaces for individuals with FASD, enabling them to thrive and contribute successfully to the company. Be an FASD-informed employer by: 

• taking the Foundations in FASD online course  
• reading the Employment and FASD issue paper 
• being inspired by the list of programs and services that help people with FASD find and maintain employment 
• providing information on alcohol and health to your employees 

Family members play a vital role in shaping our lives with wisdom, love, and stories. From teaching valuable life lessons to providing support, your input can influence those who may be pregnant. You can:  

• pick an alcohol-free option at your next family gathering  
• support an alcohol-free pregnancy 
• learn more about FASD and how to treat people with FASD with respect and kindness  
• put up prevention posters in your local community spaces  

Having a supportive community can make a significant difference in a person with FASD and their family’s quality of life. Be a kind friend, community member and neighbour and educate yourself by: 

• picking the alcohol-free option for your next neighbourhood gathering 
• learning more about FASD and how to treat people with FASD with respect and kindness 
• reading the Common Messages Guide to learn how to write and talk about FASD in a respectful way 

It can be difficult for people with FASD to find and maintain safe and secure housing. Housing service providers can help people with FASD access safe and comfortable homes by: 

• using the Service Provider Human-Centred Design Toolkit 
• watching a webinar on innovative housing strategies for individuals with FASD 
• getting involved in the FASD Action Research Housing Pilot  
• learning about how housing relates to FASD prevention 

Lawyers need to better understand how FASD impacts a person’s involvement in the legal system. Better support people with FASD by:  

• taking the FASD for Judicial and Legal Professionals Level II online course  
• supporting charities that support people with FASD 
• reading the Common Messages Guide to learn how to write and talk about FASD in a respectful way 
• learning more about trauma-informed practice  

Media and marketing professionals play an important role in shaping the way the public thinks about FASD and prevention. Ensure that the marketing materials you share are informed, inclusive, and non-stigmatizing by:  

• using the FASD Media Guide  
• sharing information about FASD prevention with coworkers 
• reading the Common Messages Guide to learn how to write and talk about FASD in a respectful way 

Mental health is an important consideration for people with FASD, despite the challenges they face in accessing mental health services and support. If you are an addiction professional there is a good chance you’ve encountered someone with FASD, even if you didn’t recognize it at the time, or you may have worked with a pregnant women or gender diverse person.

If you are a frontline mental health counsellor, therapist, prevention mentor, crisis worker, substance use professional or community mental health provider, play a part in supporting people with FASD and healthy pregnancies by:  

• using the Mental Health Toolkit  
• watching the Mental Health, Suicidality, and FASD webinar  
• listening to a podcast on Mental Health and FASD  
• learning about how access to housing, location, history of colonization, and other factors contribute to mental health concerns 
• using the Moving Towards FASD-Informed Care In Substance Use Treatment guide  
• taking the Substance Use and Treatment in FASD course  
• learning about Wraparound programs for pregnancy and early parenting 
• compassionately supporting women who use alcohol by providing non-judgemental care and services
• using the Mothering and Opioids toolkit to learn about addressing stigma and acting collaboratively 

Nurses and midwives are essential to FASD prevention, intervention, and diagnosis. Engage your patients in a supportive and non-judgmental conversation about alcohol use during pregnancy by:  

• taking the Prevention Conversation online course  
• exploring 50 Brief Intervention Ideas for Dialogue, Skill Building, and Empowerment (English or French) 
• sharing the Thinking About Pregnancy booklet with your patients 
• becoming a member of CanFASD to stay-up-date on the latest FASD and prevention guidance 
• compassionately supporting women who use alcohol by providing non-judgemental care and services 
• using the Mothering and Opioids toolkit to learn about addressing stigma and acting collaboratively 

Nutrition is an important aspect of a healthy pregnancy. Play a part this FASD month by: 

• learning about Food Security/Nutrition and Basic Needs Support through Wraparound Programs 
• reading an issue paper on Folic Acid, Choline Supplementation and FASD 
• reading an issue paper on Nutritional Supplementation and FASD

Including partners in FASD prevention efforts and preconception care is important in supporting a healthy pregnancy. Partners can influence women’s alcohol use.

Engaging partners in their own health, preconception health, and pregnancy planning can support the individual and couple in increasing preconception knowledge, evoke helpful changes in alcohol consumption, enhance maternal health outcomes, and support healthier relationships. Be a supportive partner by: 

• reading about the Role of Partners in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention 
• learning about what men can do to help 
• picking the alcohol-free option for your next social event 

Physicians play a crucial role in the care of individuals with FASD. Provide more comprehensive support by: 

• using the CanFASD’s algorithm to help figure out which medications to prescribe 
• becoming a member of CanFASD to stay-up-date on the latest FASD guidance 
• learning more about FASD and how to treat people with FASD with respect and kindness 
• exploring 50 Brief Intervention Ideas for Dialogue, Skill Building, and Empowerment (English or French) 
• sharing the Thinking About Pregnancy booklet with your patients 
• compassionately supporting women who use alcohol by providing non-judgemental care and services
• using the Mothering and Opioids toolkit to learn about addressing stigma and acting collaboratively 

Police officers will come across justice-involved individuals with FASD. Play a part this FASD Awareness Month by:  

• taking the FASD for Solicitor General Professionals Level II online course  
• becoming a member of CanFASD to stay-up-date on the latest FASD guidance 
• putting up prevention posters in your local community spaces 
• learning about FASD and aggression

Politicians and policy makers are instrumental in helping people with FASD at an institutional level and creating alcohol policies that support FASD prevention. Support people with FASD and their families by:   

• supporting a National FASD Framework  
• ensuring polices are in place that support women and children’s health and the prevention of FASD 
• resourcing programs that support individuals with FASD to be successful 
• resourcing programs that provide holistic support to families 

Service industry workers can be supportive of people with FASD by creating an inclusive and accessible environment that meets the diverse needs of all customers. Play a part this FASD Month by:  

• taking the Foundations in FASD online course  
• adding a selection of mocktails to your menu as an alternative to alcohol  
• putting up posters with information about alcohol use and pregnancy in your venue as well as information on where to receive support 
• offering sensory-friendly environments for individuals with FASD 

Social workers play an important role in helping people with FASD access the support they need, as well as supporting mother-child togetherness. Better support people with FASD and their families by:   

• taking the FASD for Community and Social Services Professionals Level II online course  
• exploring the Co-Creating Evidence: Wraparound programs for pregnancy, early parenting & substance use digital guide to learn more about providing wraparound support for people who are pregnant and parenting 
• learning about trauma-informed practice for working with families 
• better supporting caregivers by learning more about their experiences and needs 
• compassionately supporting women who use alcohol by providing non-judgemental care and services
• using the Mothering and Opioids toolkit to learn about addressing stigma and acting collaboratively 

Students are the next generation of professionals and community members who have the chance to shape a culture that is inclusive of people with FASD. Play a part this FASD Awareness Month by:  

• exploring options for contraception that work for you  
• following @pretestiebestie to learn about supporting your friends to not drink if they might be pregnant 
• learning about alcohol and women’s health (FR) 
• putting up prevention posters in your university public spaces  

Tradespeople will often encounter many kinds of people in your daily work and with FASD affecting 4% of the population, it is likely you will come across people with FASD. Become FASD-informed by:  

• taking the Foundations in FASD online course  
• supporting charities that support people with FASD 
• sharing information about FASD prevention with coworkers