Halton FASD Collaborative announces three-year Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant to fund Diagnostic Clinic for Halton
Burlington, ON – The Halton FASD Collaborative is thrilled to announce a three-year, $385,200 Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). On Friday May 5th 2017, local MPPs Eleanor McMahon and Indira Naidoo-Harris, as well as Frank Passaro, Vice-Chair of OTF’s Board of Directors, officially congratulated the collaborative on receiving the grant and had an opportunity to learn more about the work ahead.
“I’m thrilled to announce our government’s support for the Halton FASD Collaborative. This funding will be essential in the expansion of FASD supports in the Burlington community— ensuring a greater start to life for our children and youth. In addition to our government’s $26 million investment over the next four years for preventing and supporting those affected by FASD, this initiative will provide families with much needed family support, and greater access to resources,” said Eleanor McMahon, MPP for Burlington
This grant will allow the Collaborative to create an FASD Diagnostic Clinic to support assessment, diagnosis and follow up services for children (2-18) and families affected by FASD who reside in Halton. With support from a previous OTF grant, received in 2013, the Collaborative achieved great success and established a strategic plan with long-term objectives including the development of five action tables addressing the following areas; prevention, intervention, assessment and diagnosis, parent support and advocacy and justice.
“The Halton Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Collaborative provides important support for many Halton families facing challenges in their lives. This Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will help them expand their vital services and take care of the unique needs of local children and families affected by FASD. I’m so pleased our FASD community is getting this help.” – Indira Naidoo-Harris, MPP for Halton
The Halton community developed the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Collaborative in 2010, which is comprised of agencies and multiple community partners cross-sector, including parents and caregivers. The Collaborative’s purpose is to respond to the unique needs of children/youth/adults and their families affected by FASD, ensuring that FASD can be identified early and that residents of Halton who are living with the effects of FASD and their families/caregivers receive the support they need to live satisfying lives.
“News of this grant comes like and answer to a prayer. Assessment and Diagnosis have proven to be a leading success factor for our kids. This will definitely allow Halton children and youth to receive the supports they need to lead successful lives and gives hope that many will avoid the secondary disabilities of FASD. I hope that this will be a precursor to permanent funding to support all individuals living with the devastating effects of prenatal alcohol exposure throughout their lifespan.” – Mary Ann Bunkowsky, Parent/Advocate
“The Trillium grant will allow the Halton FASD collaborative to build upon our significant accomplishments over the last three years in the Halton community. Diagnostic clinics are essential in building an FASD System of care to ensure early identification so that appropriate interventions and supports can be put in place that mitigate development of secondary disabilities such as disrupted school experiences, mental health problems, trouble with the law et cetera.” – Cheryl Gustafson, Chair of Halton
FASD Collaborative
For information about the Clinic referral process please contact Sue Brooks, Clinic Coordinator at 905-634-2347 ext 234 OR sueb@rockonline.ca.
How much it too much? The implications of recognizing alcohol as a teragogen.
Acta Paediatrica – How much is too much? The implications of recognising alcohol as a teratogen
The paper ‘Higher alcohol consumption in early pregnancy or low-to-moderate drinking during pregnancy may affect children’s behaviour and development at one year and six months’ by Sundelin-Wahlsten et al. [1] in this issue of Acta Paediatrica, raises a number of issues about several fundamental aspects of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) research.
Public Health Agency of Canada investing in projects to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
https://www.wrdsb.ca/blog/2017/05/04/netflixs-13-reasons-why-guidance-for-parents/#.WQ-iKMa1vIV
May 06,2016
News Release
From Public Health Agency of Canada
News Release
For Immediate Release
Public Health Agency of Canada investing in projects to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Five new initiatives seek to improve prevention, screening and surveillance
May 5, 2017 Ottawa, ON Public Health Agency of Canada
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can result in a baby being born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which includes a range of physical, mental or behavioural difficulties that last a lifetime. No amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy.
Today, the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, announced $3.6 million in federal funding for five projects aimed at preventing and screening for alcohol use in pregnancy. Project leads will work with medical and allied health professionals, social service providers and researchers to equip frontline care providers with the tools, information and best practices they need to help screen, counsel and treat women at risk of using alcohol during pregnancy.
The funding will also improve surveillance of FASD in Canada to better identify individuals and population groups most in need of support, help direct future prevention and diagnostic services, and improve care for those living with FASD.
There is no single solution to prevent FASD and that is why the Government of Canada is investing in education, prevention and screening, as well as partnering with internationally recognized experts, to help reduce the incidence of FASD.
Quick Facts
- FASD is the leading known cause of preventable developmental disability in Canada.
- While the disorder is present from birth, people are often not diagnosed with FASD until later in life when symptoms related to learning challenges and social problems emerge.
- A number of conditions, such as hearing loss, visual impairment and conduct disorder, have been found to occur more frequently among individuals with FASD than in the general population.
- While the exact prevalence of FASD in Canada is not known, the Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that one in every 100 Canadians is affected.
Quotes
“The use of alcohol during pregnancy during pregnancy can have devastating consequences. The funding announced today is an important step toward fostering a national conversation about FASD, and action in a wide range of settings, by a variety of health care providers.”
The Honourable Jane Philpott, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health
“Alcohol is not harmless. It is a mind-altering drug and there are health risks associated with drinking, especially during pregnancy.”
Dr. Theresa Tam
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
Associated Links
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Canada – New Project Funding
The Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada, 2015: Alcohol Consumption in Canada
Contacts
Andrew MacKendrick
Office of Jane Philpott
Minister of Health
613-957-0200
Media Relations
Public Health Agency of Canada
613-957-2983
Public Health Agency of Canada investing in projects to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
The Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health, announced $3.6 million in federal funding for five projects aimed at preventing and screening for alcohol use in pregnancy.
Web
https://www.canada.ca/en/
https://www.canada.ca/fr/
Wire
http://www.newswire.ca/news-
http://www.newswire.ca/fr/
The Government of Ontario FASD page
The Government of Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services have created a FASD page http://www.children.gov.
The ‘Invisible Disability’: Ontario to fund strategy for fetal alcohol brain disorder
“…Speaking at an Eastern Ontario FASD symposium in Ottawa Saturday, Naqvi said a comprehensive strategy around the disorder has the full support of Premier Kathleen Wynne and is in the mandate letter she gave new Children and Youth Minister Michael Coteau last year…”
http://tinyurl.com/kagcttr
Ottawa Citizen
News Local News
The ‘Invisible Disability’: Ontario to fund strategy for fetal alcohol brain disorder, says Naqvi
CHRIS COBB
Published on: April 1, 2017 | Last Updated: April 1, 2017 4:51 PM EDT
[Photo] Ontario Attorney General Yasir Naqvi. JULIE OLIVER / OTTAWA CITIZEN
The Ontario government will have a funded, multi-ministerial strategy in place to combat fetal alcohol brain disorder before the end of its current mandate, Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi said Saturday.
Health Canada estimates at least 300,000 people are living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) but researchers say the number is significantly higher.
There is widespread ignorance about the condition among physicians, who sometimes misdiagnose the disorder, and biological mothers who are either unaware, or fear the stigma that might result from admitting they drank alcohol during their pregnancies.
Although FASD has long been associated with alcoholic mothers and Canada’s aboriginal populations, researchers say it is widespread in mainstream middle-class Canada and pregnant women are more likely to be social drinkers than alcoholics.
Naqvi’s new commitment comes a year after former Children and Youth Minister Tracy MacCharles told the Citizen the strategy would soon be forthcoming.
The so-called “Invisible Disability” has no official status in Ontario, meaning that FASD families cannot access most provincial funding or provincial programs unless they use an officially-recognized and diagnosed disorder such as autism or ADHD, which can have symptoms similar to FASD.
Speaking at an Eastern Ontario FASD symposium in Ottawa Saturday, Naqvi said a comprehensive strategy around the disorder has the full support of Premier Kathleen Wynne and is in the mandate letter she gave new Children and Youth Minister Michael Coteau last year.
“We will fulfill the mandate,” said Naqvi. “It is not a matter of if, but when.”
The Ontario provincial election is in June next year.
The Ministries of Health, Education and Justice and Children and Youth will be key players in the strategy, said Naqvi.
“There is a huge justice component,” he told the Citizen. “If you look at incarcerated individuals, a lot of them probably have FASD.
“There is a strong recognition that we can save more money with an upfront investment helping to prevent a woman from consuming alcohol when she is expecting and providing proper support for people with FASD,” added Naqvi, who is now provincial Attorney General. “There is a whole education and awareness piece.”
Educating sexually active women about the dangers of drinking alcohol is considered crucial because an estimated 50 per cent of all pregnancies are unplanned – meaning that women often don’t know they are pregnant and unwittingly continue drinking during the critical early development of the fetus.
Research is suggesting that even moderate, social drinking by pregnant women can damage the baby’s brain if alcohol is consumed at a critical time of brain development. In other words, it is often a question of timing, and not quantity.
Naqvi stopped short of saying the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) needs to be more proactive.
The government retailer, which sold $5.57 billion worth of alcohol in the 2015-16 fiscal year, has been criticized by FASD advocates for not doing enough to educate women about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant.
“But any FASD strategy needs a complementary alcohol strategy,” said Naqvi, “including clear signage at bars.”
A groundbreaking program called the Ottawa Fetal Alcohol Resource Program, launched last August by Citizen Advocacy, has been educating professionals such as judges, lawyers, parole officers, police officers, teachers and social workers about FASD.
FASD children are often misunderstood by teachers who have no training in the disorder and by police, courts and corrections officers. Many people with FASD run afoul of the police and justice system in part because they are often unable to understand potential repercussions of their actions.
Special education teacher Rob More, a father of three FASD-affected children, told the Citizen Saturday that families are in desperate need of help and a formal, provincially-accepted diagnosis of FASD is vital.
On forms provided to schools to record student disability, there is no FASD box to tick, said More.
“So we often just tick the ‘other’ box,” he said.
More information on the Ottawa FASD free education program at www.citizenadvocacy.org.
FASD, FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDERS, KATHLEEN WYNNE, YASIR NAQVI
RELATED
FASD: The often invisible brain injury suffered by kids whose mothers drank while pregnant
‘These kids will be fighting with life forever’ says mother of three kids with FASD
Preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Supporting Those Affected by FASD
Ontario is investing $26 million over four years to expand support for children, youth and families affected by FASD. To increase awareness of the disorder and how it can be prevented, Ontario is supporting six initiatives that will:
- Create one-stop access to information/training resources;
- Provide funding for 56 FASD workers to support approximately 2,500 Ontarians with FASD;
- Support parent support networks;
- Increase access to FASD initiatives developed by Indigenous partners;
- Establish a consultation group to provide advice and feedback to inform implementation planning and prioritization of efforts; and
- Create a research fund and invest in knowledge mobilization.
These initiatives will help reduce the prevalence of the disorder, increase coordination of services, improve the quality of life for those with FASD, and enhance support for families and caregivers.
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2017/ch4a.html#a15
Estimation of national, regional and global prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy and fetal alcohol syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
JANUARY 13, 2017 BY FASD-ADMIN
Popova, S., Lange, S., Probst, C., Gmel, G., & Rehm, J. (2017). Estimation of national, regional, and global prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy and fetal alcohol syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis . The Lancet Global Health. Published Online January 12, 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S2214-109X(17)30021-9. Available from: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(17)30021-9/fulltext
Call for Abstracts: Conference FASD and Youth Justice/Intervention
Durham College and the students in the Youth Justice and Intervention Graduate Program are hosting a one-day conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the youth criminal justice system. The conference FASD and Youth Justice/Intervention will take place on Tuesday, April 18th, 2017 at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences in Whitby, ON.
We invite workshop proposals that demonstrate effective or innovative practice related to working with youth in the criminal justice system and/or intervention and rehabilitation fields. Submissions are due Thursday, December 15th, 2016 via email in a word document or pdf. attachment. Contact Sarah Beason (sarah.beason@dcmail.ca) for updates on speakers and other conference details.