FASD Awareness and Resources

Photo by Michal Bar Haim

During FASD Awareness Month this year, CanFASD produced an interactive web page to encourage community support and awareness. CanFASD encourage everyone in the community to play a role in supporting healthy pregnancies and people with FASD, not just during the September awareness month.

Suggestions of where to start include:

• Take our Foundations in FASD online course

• Read the Common Messages Guide to learn how to write and talk about FASD in a respectful way 

• Speak to local politicians about a National FASD Framework 

•  Pick the alcohol-free option for your next social event 

Moving on beyond a basic understanding of the issues, they recommend actions for individuals and professionals, with a breakdown of actions under the following headings:

• Health - offering specific recommendations for:

  • Allied Health Professionals (i.e. Therapists, speech language pathologists, therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists)

  • Nurses and Midwives

  • Nutritionists

  • Pharmacists

  • Physicians

• Social services - offering specific recommendations for:

  • Advocates and mentors

  • First Responders

  • Housing service providers

  • Mental health and substance use professionals

  • Parent-Child Assistance Program Mentors

  • Social Workers

  • Support workers

• Government - offering specific recommendations for:

  • Government service workers

  • Policy makers

  • Politicians

  • Social service workers

• Education - offering specific recommendations for:

  • Coaches and recreational volunteers

  • Educators

  • Students 

• Legal system - offering specific recommendations for:

  • Lawyers

  • Judges

  • Police officers, probation officers, and corrections officers 

• Research - offer recommendations and best practice guidance for researchers

• Other - offering specific recommendations for:

  • Accountants

  • Employers

  • Media and marketing professionals

  • Service industry workers

  • People with lived experience of FASD

  • Caregivers

  • Family members

  • Friends, communities and neighbours

  • Partners