Shakagamik-Kwe Health Centre has made an application to obtain funding for a culturally appropriate FASD assessment clinic to serve Indigenous children and youth in northeastern Ontario (see below for a description of our vision). The proposed funder has asked us to identify a defined group of children who have been identified as needing FASD assessment. To meet this request SKHC is seeking referrals for FASD assessment.

We are accepting referrals for Indigenous children and youth:

• Between 0 and 18 years of age
• Who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol or where there is suspicion of prenatal exposure to alcohol
• Who are experiencing difficulty in meeting age-appropriate expectations / milestones (developmental, language, motor skills, cognitive skills, academic skills, self-regulation or behaviour etc.)
• Who have previously been denied FASD assessment by another provider
• Who have been identified as At Risk for FASD
• Who have been previously unable to complete an FASD assessment
• Who have a diagnosis of FASD by a geneticist and or medical practitioner and require or would benefit from a multidisciplinary assessment
• Who have a diagnosis of FASD but require an updated assessment for transition planning (i.e.: elementary to secondary school planning, transition to young adulthood planning)

We are seeking to identify all Indigenous children and youth in northeastern Ontario who require FASD assessment, even those already awaiting assessment by another provider. Referrals accepted from all sources.

Please forward the referral form attached to:

koreskovich@skhc.ca

A Vision for Culturally Safe FASD Assessment in Northeastern Ontario

FASD assessment and services at Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre would be embedded in the Woven Blanket Model of Care, where the health of a child and family is understood across physical, spiritual, emotional and mental dimensions. Every child, every family will be encouraged to take a major role in their care. Under the guidance of the Traditional Team, FASD prevention, assessment, education, intervention and supportive services will be provided with a holistic culturally focused, client-centered, strength-based, women-centered, trauma informed approach with the goal of empowering the child and family to better advocate for their needs.

The proposal for an Indigenous FASD assessment clinic for northeastern Ontario includes the provision of culturally safe assessment, intervention and FASD education to families; helping to build communities of support for children, youth and families impacted by FASD. FASD services provided by an Indigenous organization, blending traditional knowledge, wisdom and practice with western medicine is hoped to reduce the stigma surrounding FASD. Reducing stigma will help women come forward to pursue assessment on behalf of their child and get the support the child and family critically needs.

Multidisciplinary FASD assessment and diagnosis will be provided consistent with the Canadian Guidelines for Diagnosis guided by a SKHC’s Traditional Team. Principles guiding this model of care will include a holistic approach that seeks to balance all 4 quadrants; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual of the child and family. While the assessment process can be a very clinical process, SKHC seeks to create an environment where the assessment process is also a healing journey.

The approach will be intergenerational and promote self-determination, supporting the child and family to make decisions that are best for them. There will be respect for culture and language, incorporating sacred medicines, ceremonies and ways of knowing into the healing journey. Every child, every family will be central to the journey and encouraged to share responsibility for their health and wellbeing by building relationships with health care providers and support services in both worlds, traditional and western. Each family will be given the support they need to achieve substantive equality in their ability to access, fully participate and benefit from care.

Miigwetch for your time!

Kelly Oreskovich MSW RSW
FASD Coordinator

Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre
161 Applegrove Street
Sudbury, ON   P3C 1N2

Tel: 705-675-1596, ext. 239
Fax: 705-675-6277

koreskovich@skhc.ca
www.skhc.ca

Posted on behalf of Surrey Place. If you have any questions, please contact: services.partners@surreyplace.ca.

Attached flyer for a service provided by Surrey Place to help clinics across the province launch their diagnostic services.

The launch of their new national membership program created exclusively for individuals. 

These new individual memberships are different from Jurisdictional Memberships, which are offered exclusively to provinces and territories. 

People with FASD, caregivers, researchers and allied professionals are all eligible to become individual CanFASD members and enjoy a full range of benefits. 

An Affordable Annual Membership 

Researchers, service providers and professionals can join for just $129 per year, which includes a listing in the CanFASD Membership Directory. People with FASD and their caregivers pay a preferred rate of just $49 per year. 

We are also offering individuals with FASD and caregivers the chance to win one of five free memberships, eligible for one year. Fill out our form for your chance to win. 

Become A Member of CanFASD Today! 

Join a community of Canadians from coast to coast to coast with interest in FASD. Click here to visit our website to become an individual CanFASD member or discover all the benefits of being a member of Canada’s only National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Network.

University of Alberta CanFASD are doing a research study on substance use and addictions treatment for adults who have or may have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
They are interested in interviewing adults with FASD who have had experiences of addictions treatment, and caregivers of individuals with FASD who have had experience with supporting their loved one with addictions.
The interview will take place on Zoom and will take between 30-45 minutes. You will receive a $10.00 gift card as an appreciation for your time.
If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please e-mail kapasi@ualberta.ca.
This study has been approved by the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board: Pro00107455

If you are a FASD worker and want to know how to set up a youth with FASD for success in adulthood, the video link below may help. Watch the video link below from Pateresa Winter of Lakeland Centre for FASD https://lcfasd.com/ . She brought her 12 yrs of experience doing transitional planning in a rural and remote setting for youth and young adults with FASD into adulthood yesterday with the Rural FASD Support Network. Lakeland Centre provides this service not to just northern Albertans with FASD but also Metis and First Nations people regardless of whether they have FASD or not. She shared what steps she follows, where transitional planning fits in the process, and the priorities she focuses on.
She also provided the main document she uses including her checklist. As Mariah, our FASD worker said, she couldn’t stop taking notes because of the incredible amount of information that was given. https://youtu.be/ODcr2JK8hr8

The document can be accessed here. https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/oc-lcfasd.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/10152612/Transition-Book-Final-2018_-002.pdf

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

INTRODUCING FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD)

THE PARENTS HELPING PARENTS PROJECT

The Toronto FASD Network and the Toronto FASD Leadership Team are pleased to announce:

WHAT:      The launch of  the PARENTS HELPING PARENTS PROJECT, a phone support resource provided by Parent Mentors (parents and caregivers of children, youth and adults affected by FASD) prepared to listen to, support and share personal coping strategies with other parents and caregiver of individuals affected by FASD.

As a peer mentoring resource it is not a crisis line and cannot offer therapeutic or clinical interventions. However, it can provide information where parents and caregivers might access those interventions, as well as information about other community resources.

Callers can expect confidentiality, except in situations where there is a risk of harm to oneself or to others.

WHEN:       As of February 8, 2021; 7 days a week;   10:00 A.M. – 10:00 P.M.

HOW:        Call   647 572-4519 to access a Parent Mentor. 

The Parents Helping Parents Project is funded through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

 Adoption Council of Ontario will be offering a FREE 8 week, 24 hour training for adoptive, kinship and customary care parents titled: “Pathways to Permanence: Parenting Children Who Have Experienced Trauma and Loss.” They will be offering a special session for families that are parenting children/youth with FASD.  These 8 sessions will be virtual and will begin on Friday January 22, 2021 from 9-12 noon.  Below is some information regarding the training and a registration link. 

https://www.adoption.on.ca/pathways-to-permanence-2

https://www.adoption.on.ca/events/event:1064/Pathways-for-Families-who-are-Parenting-Children-w

 For questions and more information please connect with : 

Sylvia Gibbons Parent Liaison, Permanency & Adoption Competency Training (PACT) Program Adoption Council of Ontario

---

PO Box 30010 R PO Boxgrove Markham, Ontario L6B 0R5

t: 1-877-236-7820  ext.2995

t: 647-943-0999

f: 1-877-543-0009 www.adoption.on.capact@adoptontario.ca

What you need to know about Ontario’s Bill 172

What: Bill 172, entitled an Act in relation to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), is a Private Member’s Bill aimed at improving the experiences and educational outcomes of students living with FASD in Ontario.

Who: MPP Kathleen Wynne introduced this bill and is bringing it forward for second reading.
Where: The Legislative Assembly of Ontario, atQueen’s Park in Toronto

When: Bill 172 received its First Reading on Tuesday, February 18, 2020
             Bill 172 will receive its Second Reading on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 6 pm

To Watch: Go to https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/video  about 5:50 pm – Nov.3/20

Simple Overview of Bill 172:
1. This Bill requires boards of education to develop policies and guidelines with respect to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

2. Teachers’ colleges and early childhood education programs will be required to provide training with respect to FASD.

What does Second Reading mean? Second Reading allows Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to debate and vote on the principle behind a bill. MPP Wynne will lead off the debate, and then MPPs from other parties will have a chance to speak on the bill. At the conclusion of the debate the bill will be put to a vote.

What could happen after Second Reading? If Bill 172 passes Second Reading, it will likely be referred to a Standing Committee for further consideration. During the Committee stage the specific details of the bill will be examined, and members of the public may be given the opportunity to appear as a witness or produce a written submission with thoughts on the bill.

If the bill makes it through the Committee stage, it will be eligible to be called for Third Reading. At this stage MPPs will debate and vote on the final form of the bill. If a bill passes Third Reading, it will be given Royal Assent and become law. 

What you can do:

• read  Bill 172 on page two of this document.
• watch the debate on November 3^rd at 6pm at:  
  https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/video    
• show your support for the bill on social media.
• call or write to your MPP about why you think Bill 172 and other legislation to support people living with FASD is important.

What follows is the exact wording of Bill 172:
Preamble: There is a high prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) among children in Ontario, and the combination of deficits children with FASD face can make attending school a difficult and often traumatic experience. Despite this, many school boards have no specific strategy for addressing this issue, and educators often lack awareness of FASD.

It is therefore important that each school board be required to develop a policy addressing FASD, and that teachers and early childhood educators be taught about the signs and symptoms of FASD, as well as how to appropriately accommodate these children in the classroom.

Implementing these changes is expected to result in better academic performance and an improved school experience for children with FASD and their peers, and to contribute to many other positive social outcomes for children with FASD.

Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS ACT, 2007

1 Section 43 of the Early Childhood Educators Act, 2007 is amended by adding the following subsection:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

(1.1) A regulation made under paragraph 1.1 of subsection (1) shall provide that a program in early childhood education shall only be accredited if it provides for training with respect to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), including,

(a) awareness of the signs and symptoms of FASD; and

(b) strategies to accommodate the needs of children who have diagnosed or suspected FASD.
 

EDUCATION ACT

2 The Education Act is amended by adding the following Part:

PART XIII.2 FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD)

FASD policies and guidelines

322 (1) Every board shall establish policies and guidelines respecting Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Same

(2) The policies and guidelines must,

(a) promote awareness and understanding of FASD;

(b) include established and emerging best practices to support pupils who have diagnosed or suspected FASD; and

(c) identify strategies for the identification of pupils who have diagnosed or suspected FASD and for providing accommodation for those pupils.

Collaboration

(3) Every board shall facilitate collaboration with parents and FASD Support Groups in undertaking the promotion of awareness and understanding of FASD.

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS ACT, 1996

3 Section 40 of the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996 is amended by adding the following subsection:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

(1.1) A regulation made under paragraph 19 of subsection (1) shall provide that a teacher education program shall only be accredited if it provides for training with respect to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), including,
2 (a)awareness of the signs and symptoms of FASD; and
   (b)strategies to accommodate the needs of students who have diagnosed or suspected FASD.

COMMENCEMENT AND SHORT TITLE

Commencement

4 This Act comes into force on the second September 1 after the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

5 The short title of this Act is the Education Statute Law Amendment Act (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), 2020.

This document was produced by Mary K. Cunningham and Jeremy Istead – Oct. 28/20

To mark International FASD Awareness Day, the Government is investing an additional $3 million annually to support childrenand families living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Learn more: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58311/ontario-strengthening-supports-for-children-and-youth-impacted-by-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder#FASDAwarenessDay

We are pleased to introduce a brand-new text mentoring program supported by the Provincial FASD Family and Caregiver Support Group through Health Nexus.

Please see the poster attached to learn more!