News
FASD Awareness Day- Press Release from the Waterloo Region FASD Action Group
August 29, 2019September 9th is FASD Day - We remind everyone that there is no safe time, no safe amount and no safe kind of alcohol consumption in pregnancy.
When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol it crosses the placenta and it can affect the developing brain and organs of the unborn baby throughout pregnancy. Brain damage is the biggest risk to the unborn baby when mothers drink in pregnancy.
If you are trying to get pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or you are pregnant the safest choice is to be alcohol free. If you drink alcohol, use a reliable form of birth control to prevent an alcohol exposed pregnancy.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a diagnostic term that describes the effects on the brain and body of people exposed to alcohol in pregnancy. It is a lifelong disability and people with FASD experience challenges in their daily living and need support with many areas in their lives to reach their full potential. Each person with FASD is unique and has areas of strengths and challenges.
Early and appropriate supports for people living with FASD can have a positive impact and improve outcomes for those with the disability. In Waterloo Region, some exciting new services are available to those living with FASD.NEW RESOURCE **Parenting Indigenous Children with FASD
July 9, 2019This booklet is designed for non-Indigenous people who care for Indigenous children with FASD. It shares some reasons why culture is important, and how parents and caregivers can connect as a family to the child’s culture. It also contains comments from other families and service providers.
FASD Caregiver Support Group for Waterloo Region
July 5, 2019Exciting news! Thanks to funding from Health Nexus and MCCSS the Waterloo Region FASD Action Group has created a peer led Caregiver Support Group for those caring for individuals with FASD. Launch will be September 2019. More details soon!
New Free Online Training FASD for School Staff Level II: Practical Strategies for the School Environment
July 5, 2019FASD for School Staff Level II is an advanced training course intended for all educators working with students with FASD including all administrators, teachers, educational assistants, ECE’s, office admin, Board personnel and bus drivers. This Level 2 training course, building on the Level 1 Foundations in FASD course, provides the perspective of individuals who have FASD and their caregivers, is evidence-based and current, employs a culturally sensitive approach, and is presented in a way that is responsive to educators.
Level 2 training will provide knowledge and understanding of:
-a review of the key points of the Foundations Level I course
-characteristics of a FASD-Friendly school
-teaching strategies for students with FASD
-the importance of educator/caregiver collaboration
-instructional, environmental, and assessment strategies in the classroom
-transitions facing students with FASD
After successfully passing a twenty-question test, a certificate will be provided to each participant upon completion.
New Free Online Training by CanFASD - Foundations in FASD
December 21, 2018CanFASD FREE Online Training – Foundations in FASD
Foundations in FASD is a basic training course intended for everyone that will come into contact with individuals with FASD including all sectors of work, families, individuals with FASD, spouses, and the general public. This foundational level training program provides the perspective of individuals who have FASD, is evidence-based, employs a culturally sensitive approach, and is presented in a way that is responsive to the learner’s needs.
Bill 191- Waterloo Region FASD Action Group Writes to the Minister of Education
February 22, 2018Please take a moment and consider expressing your support to your local MPP. Bill 191 will ensure educators are equipped with information about teaching and supporting students with FASD.
Ontario Government Provides Funding for Children, Youth and Families- 2017 Budget
April 28, 2017Ontario 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.
Letter to the Premier of Ontario Requesting Update on Provincial FASD Strategy
January 18, 2017The Waterloo Region FASD Action Group has penned a letter to the Ontario Premier asking for an update on the promised Provincial FASD Strategy.
Waterloo Region's First Plan to Address FASD
September 9, 2016The Waterloo Region FASD Action Group has developed a plan to address FASD.
Medic Alert Bracelet Identifies Those with FASD
August 31, 2016
