A new CAMH-led pilot is helping young people understand the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy and how to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Strategic Projects, the FASD Prevention School-Based Program was designed and evaluated by the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR) at CAMH.

A recently published report on the FASD Prevention School-Based Program, which also includes the Curriculum in the Appendix. You can download the full report and Appendix here:
https://www.camh.ca/en/camh-news-and-stories/camh-pilot-program-shows-promise-in-preventing-fasd

La Leche League Canada is pleased to announce a new FASD Breastfeeding Support Group for families who are breastfeeding or providing human milk to a child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This group is designed as a safe and welcoming space for parents and caregivers only. It offers support, connection, and evidence-based information tailored to families navigating FASD and human milk feeding.

Meeting Dates:

• October 1
• November 5
• December 3
• January 7

Time: Noon ET

If you know families who may benefit from this group, we encourage you to share this information with them.

For login details, please email office@LLLC.ca

Funding for this group, as well as an upcoming toolkit for healthcare providers and parents, is generously provided by Health Nexus.

This fully bilingual website will help you find the closest available Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) services, learn about a variety of FASD topics, read the latest news and find training.

We want to make sure the website is useful to parents, caregivers and service providers. We need your help to keep it current and to promote it!

Please send us links to resources, services, training and news related to FASD and we will add them. Use the Add a Service, Update a Service, Add a Resource, Update a Resource and Contact Us forms found on the website to do so.

Please help us promote the website to anyone who may be looking for information and services about FASD.

·         The link should go to https://www.fasdinfotsaf.ca

Ottawa, September 9, 2015 – Citizen Advocacy Ottawa is launching a two-year project with an overall aim to increase capacity to identify and meet the needs of children, youth, adults and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Determining how many Canadians are living with FASD is difficult as, although FASD is present from birth, individuals are often not diagnosed until later in life when symptoms related to learning disabilities and a range of social problems emerge. In 2006, Health Canada estimated that approximately 1% of the population is affected, but this is a significant underestimation. However, despite the large numbers of people affected by this permanent brain injury, there is no strong, comprehensive system of inter-related, complementary services and supports for individuals and their families affected by FASD.

Citizen Advocacy Ottawa has hired three coordinators, with strong and diverse backgrounds in the FASD arena, who will draw together resources, skills and knowledge that already exist within the partnering/funding agencies, social services sector, institutions, families and community at large. The Fetal Alcohol Resource Program will concentrate on:

education to professionals (including health, education, justice, law enforcement, corrections, child welfare and social services),

• community development leadership to assist existing resources in building their capacity to respond to and support individuals affected by FASD and their families and
• service navigation by providing coordinated access to support services to individuals affected by FASD.

Funding and support for the project is provided by Citizen Advocacy Ottawa, NeuroDevNet, Children’s Aid Society, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and donor-directed funds through the Community Foundation of Ottawa.

“We are very excited to be able to launch, on International FASD Awareness Day, this much needed service for the many people in Ottawa affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Our dynamic FASD team will develop a plan that builds on local needs, strengths and networks, while drawing on a growing national body of tools and knowledge.” said Brian Tardif, Executive Director, Citizen Advocacy. “With this initiative Ottawa is at the forefront of increasing capacity for the children, youth, adults and families affected by FASD in Ontario.”

September 9^th is International FASD Awareness Day when people all around the world gather for events to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and the lifelong challenges of individuals and families who struggle with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. The first FASD day was celebrated on 9/9/99.  This day was chosen so that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year, the world will remember that during the nine months of pregnancy a woman should abstain from alcohol.

Citizen Advocacy Ottawa is a small but powerful registered charity and is one of the few organizations that support people of all ages across the disability spectrum and their families – those with physical, intellectual, developmental, psychiatric and age-related disabilities.

For more details or to schedule an interview with Brian Tardif please call 613-761-9522 ext. 225: btardif@citizenadvocacy.org

Or Andrea Podruski, Program Manager, 613-761-9522 ext. 229:apodruski@citizenadvocacy.org
https://www.facebook.com/FARP09092015

Best to stop drinking while trying to get pregnant

About 20 per cent of women continue to drink alcohol after finding out they are pregnant – with some reporting having four or more drinks a week.

The results come from a new study released today looking at pregnant women’s behaviour regarding alcohol.

Pregnant Mothers Still Drinking

“…The key message is not to drink any alcohol when planning and during pregnancy…”

http://www.simcoe.com/news-story/5628153-bruce-grey-health-unit-launches-alcohol-and-pregnancy-don-t-mix-campaign/
Simcoe.com

May 15, 2015
Bruce/Grey Health Unit launches Alcohol and Pregnancy Don’t Mix campaign
Meaford Express
[Meaford, Ontario]
By Chris Fell

Project Health. Region of Waterloo. Public Health.

September 9th is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day: An Opportunity to Promote Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines…
Why is Prevention Necessary?… What can your workplace do?

For more information contact: projecthealth@regionofwaterloo.ca

http://tinyurl.com/n6pwwuu
http://www.projecthealth.ca/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-fasd-awareness-day-opportunity-promote-canada%E2%80%99s-low-risk-alcohol