FASD ONE

New book “Not Exactly As Planned” by Linda Rosenbaum

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Ontario author releases new book about FASD
Not Exactly As Planned is a captivating, deeply moving account of adoption and the unexpected challenges of raising a child with fetal alcohol syndrome.  Linda Rosenbaum’s life takes a major turn when her son, adopted at birth, is diagnosed with irreversible brain damage.  With love, hope and all the medical knowledge she can accumulate, she sets out to change his prognosis and live with as much joy as she can while struggling to accept her new reality.  Linda lives on Toronto Island where she raised her family.
Not Exactly As Planned: A Memoir of Adoption, Secrets and Abiding Love can be ordered at http://brunswickbooks.ca/Not-Exactly-as-Planned/ and through http://lindarosenbaum.com   It is also available for Kindle e-readers from Amazon.

Revised Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Guidelines for Diagnosis Across the Lifespan

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– Coming Soon –
Revised Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Guidelines for Diagnosis Across the Lifespan
Since publication of the 2005 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Canadian Guidelines for Diagnosis, new evidence and information has emerged.
For this reason, the Public Health Agency of Canada tasked CanFASD with updating and revising the guidelines through consultation with national and international experts and review of the research literature. Release of the new Canadian guidelines, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Guidelines for Diagnosis Across the Lifespan, is expected in early 2015

FASD displays available for loan

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Looking for something to do to highlight FASD in your community?

The Best Start Resource Centre has several displays available for loan at no cost for organizations in Ontario only. All are large displays that roll into a tube for easy shipping and transporting to health fairs or other events. These free- standing full colour displays are perfect to draw attention to your resources. Organizations borrowing a display are responsible for the return shipping costs only. Many topics are available including: Mixing Alcohol and Breastfeeding, Postpartum Mood Disorders, Smoking and Pregnancy, FASD, Preconception Health, Environmental Risks to Child Health, Pregnancy and Work, Safe Sleep, Mixing Alcohol and Breastfeeding, Mocktails for Mom and the display from our most recent campaign: Healthy Baby, Healthy Brain.

To view all the displays available for loan or to book a display, click here:http://www.beststart.org/resources/index.html, or contact me directly by email. r.juttun@healthnexus.ca

Roshni Juttun
Bilingual Administrative Assistant
Health Nexus
Tel.: 416-408-2249
Toll Free: 1-800-397-9567
ext. 2336
Direct: 416-408-6907
Fax. : 416-408-2122
r.juttun@healthnexus.ca
www.beststart.org

FASD Awareness Poster

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The FASD Coalition of Ottawa held their FASD Awareness Day event at St Mary’s Home on September 9, 2013.  The goals of the morning activities were to inform the pregnant and parenting youth and staff affiliated with St Mary’s about alcohol and pregnancy and FASD and to engage the youth in an educational and fun activity.

Following a delicious breakfast, Dr de la Ronde provided the group of about 50 people in attendance with a clear and informative presentation on alcohol and pregnancy and FASD. Dr de la Ronde is a MD at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health. She has many years of experience providing holistic care for women and their families facing such issues as homelessness, addiction and HIV/AIDS.  During the second half of the morning three staff met with 7 pregnant women who had been at the earlier presentation to facilitate a discussion about what they had heard and to come up with a message to use on a poster.  After that their message was painted onto their bellies and the photo shoot took place.

The poster that we have created is thanks to the efforts of many individuals. A very special thanks to the young women who participated in the whole process from start to finish!!

Click here to display the poster.
Click here for the French version.

FASD ONE is seeking new members from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities

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  • Are you knowledgeable about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)?
  • Can you commit to working collaboratively to promote the prevention of FASD and/ordevelop resources, interventions and supports for individuals affected by FASD?
  • Are you a member of a First Nations, Inuit or Métis community?

FASD ONE is seeking new members from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities in order to strengthen connections and ensure its activities and resources are culturally relevant.

FASD Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE) is a volunteer collaborative of practitioners, specialists and caregivers committed to the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the development and dissemination of information to support individuals and their families affected by the disability.

FASD ONE is comprised of working groups with focuses on prevention, diagnosis, intervention & support, justice, education and communication aimed at strengthening individual, agency, community and provincial effectiveness related to FASD.  Our group believes Ontario has the capacity to meet many of the needs of those living with FASD and is advancing a framework that focuses on protective and risk factors so the existing system of care has information that will allow it to deliver effective programs.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has been a committed supporter throughout the development of FASD ONE, recognizing not only the expertise at the grassroots level in Ontario but also the need for multi-sector collaboration.

To learn more about this opportunity or discuss your potential involvement on one of our working groups, please send a letter of interest and a résume to the Chair, Sharron Richards, at info@fasdontario.ca.  Please note there is an application process and new members must be approved by current working group members.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health/Evidence Exchange Network Meeting of the Minds Webinar on FASD

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On October 23, 2013, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (North Region) and the Evidence Exchange Network hosted a webinar event focused on FASD. The objective of the webinar was to outline the prevalence of FASD in North America and explore innovative and successful community-based responses from across Northern Ontario.

The panel of experts included Dr. Lana Popova, CAMH; Kathryn Reid, Catulpa Community Support Services; Patti Dryden-Holmstrom, Lake of the Woods District Hospital – Community Programs; Jack Martin, Creighten Community Support Team; Claudine Longboat-White, Bimose Tribal Council; and Ramona Fullmer, Independent Practitioner.

The webinar can be accessed here: http://camh.adobeconnect.com/p1db79v3t9c/