FASD Support and Resources in Alberta

FASD Learning Series - Video Presentations and Archive [online]

Description:
For several years, the Child and Youth Services ministry of the Government of Alberta has presented the FASD Learning Series. This series "offers free education opportunities tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals and family members/caregivers affected by FASD, support service providers, healthcare providers, educators, legal and justice services, and professionals in the research and evaluation field."

Access Information:
The current list of topics for 2016-2017.

The main video search page allows you to browse through a list of 97 videos, or to search by keyword. Note that this search page covers FASD videos from 2016 and earlier. 

Topics Include:
Becoming a Successful Adult Learner
Diagnosis of FASD in the Adolescent Years
Creating a Brain-Friendly Life
Friendship? Dating? Sex? Relationships in the Complex FASD World
Building the Brain Boxes
Opening the Brain Boxes
Safety Issues: FASD and Sexuality
Employability Strategies for Persons with FASD
Enhancing Employability for Persons with FASD
The Ongoing Face of Grief and Loss and the Theory Behind It
Living with FASD - As a Person, As a Parent
Financial Literacy for Individuals with FASD
Winning the Battle with FASD: A Family Success Story
Environmental Modifications
Myles Himmelreich
Parental Expectations with an Adult Child Impacted by FASD

 

Scout Group for youth with neurological or mental health conditions (Edmonton)

The 88th Polaris Scout group is geared towards youth with neurological or mental health conditions including sensory processing disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, OCD, nonverbal learning disability, Autism Spectrum Disorders including Asperger’s, anxiety, Tourette’s, ODD, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc.

For details and contact info:  88th Polaris Info Sheet (PDF)

‘So Now You Have Been Diagnosed With FASD. Now What?’ [online]

Description:
‘So Now You Have Been Diagnosed With FASD. Now What?’ is a handbook of hopeful strategies for youth and young adults.
The goal of this handbook is to help young people, like you, learn more about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). It also offers strategies that you can use to better understand yourself, improve your relationships, manage your feelings, do better in school and live a healthy life.

This 126 page booklet was written by Agnieszka Olszewska and the Boyle Street Education Centre.

Access Info:
The booklet is available for free online from the Boyle Street Education Centre: direct access to booklet (PDF format)

Woods Homes [Calgary, Parkdale, Lethbridge, Bow Valley, Wheatland County +]

Description:
"What began as an orphanage, in 1914, has grown into a thriving, multi-service charity serving the most troubled young people in our community.

Based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, core residential programs are located at two centres; the original Bowness Campus where George Wood Learning Centre is located, and the administrative and program cottages in the Parkdale Community. We also operate regional and rural programs in Lethbridge, the Bow Valley Corridor and Wheatland County. In June 2008, we began offering services in Fort Smith, N.W.T." (from website)

Services:
"Wood's Homes provides 21 programs and services to our clients which are divided into five resource areas that serve youth between the ages of 6 and 24 and their familes.

Our Crisis and Outreach Programs provide community-based services, either by their presence in the community, their outreach capacity or their crisis-oriented service approach to families and children in need.

Our Intensive Residential Programs are services offered to groups including adolescent sex offenders, Aboriginal youth with substance abuse challenges and youth with complex mental health and behavioural challenges. Our foster home/caregiver settings and group living arrangements offer 24/7 care to youth, as well as providing therapeutic services to aid in the journey to becoming valuable members of our community.

Our Regional and Rural Programs are those which exist outside the Calgary area including Lethbridge, Canmore (Bow Valley) and Wheatland County.

Our Specialized Learning Centres are a variety of therapeutic/educations offered both within the agency and in the community in partnership with the Calgary Board of Education and the Calgary Catholic School District."

Please see their website for more details about these services, or contact your worker if you have one.

Contact Info:
Referral and Crisis Line - Community Resource Team:
(403) 299-9699
1-800-563-6106

Wood's Homes
Parkdale Campus
805 - 37 St. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N8
Tel. 403-270-4102
Toll Free 1-866-742-6751 or 1-866-742-6741

Website: http://www.woodshomes.com
Email: [email protected]

McDaniel Youth Program [Edmonton]

Description:
"The McDaniel Youth Program will serve adolescents who have been diagnosed, or are suspected of being affected, with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. The purpose of this program is to assist youth in their transition to adulthood. A community worker will work one-on-one with youth to support them in accessing the necessary life skills and assistance needed for a successful transition to adulthood.

Catholic Social Services would like to invite you to be a part of developing the future of this program. We are seeking input from individuals parenting youth affected by FASD. We value your knowledge and experience and would greatly appreciate your input and assistance." (from flyer)

Note that this program is currently under development. Contact Colleen for more information:

Contact Info:
Colleen Hook
Catholic Social Services
Tel. 477-1999 ext. 235
[email protected]

FASD MAPS (Mentoring, Advocacy, Partnership & Support) [Calgary]

Description:

FASD MAPS is a partnership of four Calgary-region agencies, with the goals of:

• To build on the strengths and abilities of individuals affected by FASD.
• To increase access to relevant FASD support and resources.
• To increase individual, family and community awareness of the issues related to the impact of FASD.
• To increase recreational and social connections for young people affected by FASD
• To increase family strategies and supports for managing FASD." (from the brochure)

Specific services include:
Mentoring (FASD info, strategies, coaching, etc.)
Advocacy (advocacy with schools, gov't, justice system, assisting with funding applications, etc.)
Partnership (education and consultation to other service providers, collaboration with probation and child welfare providers)
Support (emotional support, crisis intervention, transportation, FASD awareness groups, etc.)

For more information, read the FASD MAPS brochure (PDF format).

Contact Info:
For referrals or inquiries please call 403 263-3447.

New Perspectives on Transitions and FASD [report]

Description:
This document, produced by the Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network and the United Way, is intended to "shed light on the transitioning issues with people who are affected by FASD." It researches and summarizes the following:
• the impact of FASD upon the daily lives of young people
• the vulnerabilities faced by young people and the potential consequences of those vulnerabilities
• an examination of models of support and intervention that have been shown to be effective for individuals affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and that hold promise of providing protective factors to counteract the vulnerabilities
• identification of “themes” that require further attention and continuing development to ensure that adults with FASD will, in the future, have the supports and resources required to live inclusive, valued lives in communities of their choosing.

Access Info:
New Perspectives on Transitions at the Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network site (PDF format; 3.7 MB).

Jeopardy with FASD (and other classroom exercises]

Description:

This lesson plan from Georgia is intended to teach grade 7 students about FASD. It involves them in internet research to find out more about the topic, roleplaying and ethics discussions (they are servers in a bar, and an obviously pregnant woman comes in asking for an alcoholic beverage), the creation of a public service announcement, and a jeopardy-style game to test their knowledge.

Jeopardy with Alcohol and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome webpage.

"Faith Like a Child" video

Description:

Subtitled "A Grandparent's Story about Raising Children with FASD," this Métis-produced educational video about FASD gives a human perspective on the realities of FASD by letting us hear from the grandmother, her grandson and granddaughter who both have FASD, and other members of the Métis community including an elder.  The video also gives a clear explanation of what FASD is and a message of prevention.

Contact Info:

Kelsey Bradburn, Provincial FASD Coordinator
Métis Nation of Alberta
Tel.   780 455-2200    Toll-free:  1-800-252-7553
Email:  [email protected]

Other Info:

The video is 15 minutes in length, and is available in videocassette (VHS) and DVD formats.

Medical Information Card (to give to police) [Article]

Description:
This page features a printable Medical Information Card which an individual with FAS can give to the police, which explains that they have FASD and how this affects the legal process including their (lack of) understanding of legal issues such as waiving one's rights.  Included is an introduction, a "how to use" page, PDF's of the actual cards, and guidelines for police interaction.

Medical Information Card info page at the U. of Washington F.A.D.U. website.

"Broken Heart: Dealing with feelings of loss and understanding grief [Article]

Description:
This 21-page booklet is designed for use by a caregiver or mentor who is helping a person with FASD deal with grief, specifically related to boyfriend, girlfriend, divorce, partner or friendship.  Included at the end is a general mentoring page and a  mentor sheet on "How Can I Help a Person with FASD Deal with Sorrow" (resulting from a broken love relationship).

Access Info:
Grief Workbook (PDF, 592.9K). This resource was produced by Better Endings organization, and is now stored here as the link to the original web version is gone.
* If link does not download automatically by clicking on it, then right-click on it and choose "Save Target As...".

Robin Hood Association for the Handicapped [Strathcona County & Leduc County]

Description:

'The Robin Hood Association for the Handicapped is a non-profit society that provides services to people with disabilities.

Services include:
Early Intervention Program for ages birth - 3 1/2 years.  Provides home-based programming, playgroups, support networks, and consultation to families. Referrals to the program can be made by families and/or guardians or with consent through a variety of professional resources such as doctors, public health nurses, or hospitals. Service area includes Strathcona County, including Sherwood Park, and Leduc County, including Beaumont, New Sarepta, Thorsby, Calmar and Leduc.

Family Support Services: This Program offers short-term relief and support to families of children with special needs, services are provided in Strathcona County, including Sherwood Park and the City of Fort Saskatchewan. Qualified support workers provide a wide variety of relief services, including:

in-home relief

aid assistance with community outings

aid assistance in daycares and recreational programs

teen support through social evenings and friendships

specialized daytime summer recreation program

specialized daytime Christmas break camp

host families

parent network support group

Adaptive equipment lending library

Specialized recreation-based day camp located within Sherwood Park, in July and August.

Home Visitation

The Robin Hood Adult Day Program currently serves over 200 individuals.  Programs are based at the Robin Hood Learning Centre located at 141 Broadway Boulevard, Sherwood Park as well as a location in Fort Saskatchewan.  The Adult Day Program offers support and training for adults with disabilities in the following areas:
Employment Preparation and Placement
Community Access and Alternatives to Work'   (all descriptions from their website)

Residential Homes, Supported Independent Living, Support Homes, Overnight Respite, etc.

Contact Info:
Robin Hood Association for the Handicapped
141 Broadway Boulevard, Sherwood Park, Alberta T8H 2A4
Tel.  780 467-7140   Fax 780 449-2028
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.robinhoodassoc.com

Other Info:
More information on these services is listed on their website.

Mentoring Case Management [Hinton, Edson, Jasper]

Description:

'Mentoring Case Management. Aims to support youth and young adults (12-25) affected with FASD to acquire essential supports that will enable them to build and maintain healthy lives including linking them to government, community and professional supports.'  (from child.gov.ab.ca website)

Contact Info:

Mikk Peek:  780 723-8237