ME T I S S E T T L EMENT S F ASD NE TWORK NEWS L E T T ER : TH I RD ED I T I ON
A message from Anita Anderson, Metis Settlements Provincial Northwest Peace FASD updates The NWR FASD Society Mackenzie Network updates The CANFASD Survey Information Understanding FASD and sexual behaviour Opportunities online Service Network Coordinator WHAT YOU W I L L F I ND I N THE 4 TH ED I T I ON OF OUR NEWS L E T T ER
Subscribe to our mailing list! www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
#FASD is the leading developmental disability in Canada, impacting more people than autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome combined.
www.thinkfasd.ca
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
Message from Anita the Network Coordinator
Tansi,
I hope this update finds you well. First off, I just want to acknowledge that we have been living in difficult times – since the COVID 19 pandemic came about. We have all since been learning about the pandemic and the serious effects it has had on Albertans. This past year has been challenging for people around the globe. I hope that you and your loved ones, are staying safe during this time and, are continuing to follow the Alberta Health Services and Community Prevention measures so that, together, we can defeat this virus. As the Covid 19 situation continues to evolve, our priority remains focused on the well being of individuals and caregivers affected by FASD. Accordingly, the communities as well as the contracted agencies have continued to do their best to keep this virus at bay and limit the effects. Currently, the Metis Settlements FASD Provincial Service Network serves 115 individuals within the Metis Settlements of Alberta. With each individual served, it is the presenting issues that determine the services provided. The Network continues to advocate and assist our clients in numerous ways. We have seen a significant increase in needs for Mental Health Services since the pandemic started. We continue to offer and have shifted services, due to the pandemic, in all three service pillars (1. Assessment/Diagnostics 2. Prevention (PCAP) 3. Supports for Individuals and Caregivers impacted by FASD). Please feel free to contact me anytime for questions, concerns or feedback. I welcome the opportunity to hear back from you all so that, together, we can all contribute to the quality of FASD services in the Metis Settlements of Alberta. I can be reached at (780) 822 4078 or Aanderson@msgc.ca
With Respect, Anita Anderson,
Metis Settlements Provincial Service Network Coordinator
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
Northwest FASD Society** (City of Grande Prairie) Peavine East Prairie Gift Lake
Thinking of all of you as we approach a brighter and stronger 2021!
We are now engaged in an active Partnership with Peavine, Gift Lake and East Prairie Metis Settlements, providing a FASD Mentor and Diagnostic Services in these areas. At this time, we would like to offer our thanks to the three FASD mentors and their Supervisors for continuing to support clients during this critical time. They make a difference in supporting individuals and Families in receiving services. For those who may not be aware, the Northwest Peace FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Society) has been providing FASD services within the Northwest region since 2008. In April of 2019, we began a partnership with Metis Settlements General Council as part of the Provincial FASD Strategy to deliver Specialized FASD Services within the Tri- Settlements.
For services on the Peavine Metis Settlement please contact the on-settlement mentor Valerie Donison. valerie.donison@peavinemetis.com Ph: 780-523-4488
For services on the Gift Lake Metis Settlement please contact the on-settlement mentor Marge Cunningham. marge@giftlakemetis.ca Ph: 780-536-6504
For services on the East Prairie Metis Settlement please contact the on-settlement mentor Murielle L’Hirondelle. murielle@epms.ca Ph: 780-523-5410
Our services in Northwest Alberta (High Prairie, Grande Prairie, Peace River, Grande Cache and the Metis Settlements and surrounding areas) include: Prevention: Parent Child Family Assistance program is a non-judgmental program for women who are at risk of having a child with FASD or have recently had a child who may have been exposed to substances. Mentors work with women to assist with medical appointments, addictions treatment services, housing, finances, and other services that will assist the women to become healthy. Intervention: Post diagnostic outreach services are provided to children or adults after they have received an FASD diagnosis. Outreach support may include explaining the diagnosis to the child’s school and helping them to develop programming; assisting the family to develop best practices at home to support the child; assisting with transition planning for youth to adulthood; and assisting adults to meet the recommendations by the clinical team. Please contact our Community Advocate Role: Michelle if you would like to know about appropriate services in your area.michelle@nwfasd.ca Ph: 780-533-5442
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
To keep up to date with the happenings at NW PEACE FASD and for information related to supporting families , you can find us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/nwfasdnetwork/ or on our website https://nwfasdnetwork.com FASD Mentors, within the communities can also contact our Operations and Administration Coordinator Gail Andrews to further support them with their role and upcoming trainings. gail@nwfasd.ca Ph: (780)-533-5463. If you wish to speak to someone regarding our program and services, please call (780) 533-5461 or email at kim@nwfasd.ca Prevention/ Awareness: Training to health and social service providers about how to talk with women about alcohol and pregnancy is provided on the Settlements in groups and 1:1. Training: many training events on the best practices in supporting individuals with FASD are offered throughout the year. Training for Parents and Caregivers in learning more about FASD. Training can also be requested by any group for free within the Northwest area. Please contact Leanne to set up a group or individual learning session. leanne@nwfasd.ca Ph: 780-533-5462 Diagnosis: NWPFASD staff assist families and Settlement service providers with making referrals and understanding the FASD diagnostic process. The NW FASD has been running a mobile diagnostic Clinic since 2013. Our diagnostic and intervention team consists of a centralized coordinator and local professionals in the areas of Speech-Language, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Mental Health, Addictions, and others. We provide multi-disciplinary assessments for youth and adults who are suspected of prenatal alcohol exposure. Our diagnostic and intervention teams also provide referrals and recommendations for follow-up supports and after care. Please contact Jen Dupperon- Trydal our Diagnostic Coordinator for information on the Diagnostic process. Jen@nwfasd.ca Ph: 780-533-5444
We are here for support if you need anything from us. We would like to continue to stay connected!
Warm Regards, Gwen Vekved Executive Director gwen@nwfasd.ca Northwest Peace FASD Society
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
We have had great support from the Metis Settlements with our FASD Diagnostic Clinics. We continue to be successful in bringing Metis individuals through our diagnostic clinics with the help of our mentors. Meetings between mentors and our staff have helped highlight some of the unique needs and supports available. Other successful partnerships include our Prevention Conversation Facilitator and FASD Mentors to offer presentations in schools and provide caregiver support groups over zoom. Keep an eye out of our caregiver support groups happening this spring.
NW Peace FASD Network Team
Executive Director: Gwen Vekved With direction and guidance from the Leadership Team, the FASD Network Coordinator assists with the development, enhancement, and coordination of the FASD Network. If you have any questions about services offered by the NW Peace FASD Network, or how your agency can apply to receive funding from the Network contact the Network Coordinator. Phone: 780-533-5460 or Email: gwen@nwfasd.ca FASD Diagnostic Clinic Coordinator: Jen Duperron-Trydal The Clinical Coordinator position leads the multi-disciplinary team in meeting the standards required in FASD Assessment and Diagnostic Services. The mobile clinic travels around the entire NW region with clinics being held in Peace River, Grande Prairie, Grande Cache and High Prairie. If you have questions about the Diagnostic process or would like to make a referral
to the clinic please contact the clinic coordinator. Phone: 780-533-5444 or Email: jen@nwfasd.ca
FASD Program Support: Kim Sillito Kim is the general contact for the Network. If you have questions about upcoming FASD trainings and workshops, please contact Kim to be invited to our FASD website/blog. She assists with supporting the funded community agencies with contract reporting and with the Provincial Government data collection tool. You can contact her with any questions
and she will guide you in the appropriate direction. Phone: 780-533-5461 or Email: kim@nwfasd.ca
FASD Prevention Conversation Facilitator: Leanne Aspen This unique initiative is set up to increase awareness and prevention of FASD in NW Alberta. The Prevention Facilitator is available to educate front line workers about the various aspects of FASD, and to participate in the FASD Prevention Conversation; to appropriately engage women about the use of alcohol during pregnancy within a shame-free framework. Please contact Grace or Leanne for small or large group learning sessions. Phone: 780-533-5462 or Email: leanne@nwfasd.ca
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
FASD Community Resource Advocate: Michelle Perron This position plays a crucial role in providing information, referrals and access to services for clients who have been diagnosed or are suspected of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This role works closely with the Northwest FASD Diagnostic team and the clients and families involved in the diagnostic process, connecting families to supports within their specific communities. If you have questions about community supports or services for individuals which are suspected or diagnosed please contact the Network. Phone: 780-533-5442 or Email: Michelle@nwfasd.ca Operations and Administration Coordinator: Gail Andrews This role supports the agency teams with reporting and contract commitments and Northwest Peace team with mentoring, safety and health and works within the many projects taken on annually through the Network. Phone: 780-533-5463 or Email: Gail@nwfasd.ca
Contact Mentors for Support and Services:
Peavine Metis Settlement: Valerie Donison (office phone : 780-523-4488) or Email valerie.donison@peavinemetis.com
East Prairie Metis Settlement: Murielle L’Hirondelle (office phone : 780-523-5410) or Email murielle@epms.ca
Gift Lake Metis Settlement: Marge Cunningham (office phone: 780-536-6504) or Email pcapm.fasdsociety@telus.net
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
The NWR FASD Society Mackenzie Network
The “FASD Society” provides assessments and FASD diagnostic services to the community of Paddle Prairie. These assessments and Diagnostic services are for youth and adults.The complex nature of the assessments and diagnosis means that a number of assessments including psychological, speech and sometimes occupational therapy need to be completed to bring to the diagnostic clinic. The clinic also includes an appointment with the pediatrician or doctor. A person who goes through the assessment process is supported to get to clinic, during clinic and after clinic by our coordinator.If a person gets an FASD diagnosis they have the option of continuing with our programs. The NWR FASD Society Mackenzie Network, contracted to provide FASD supports and services, Prevention Conversation and the PCAP program to residents of Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement, is based out of High Level, Alberta. The NWR FASD Society services the whole Mackenzie region. Though we don’t have a youth program in Paddle, there is always the possibility of partnering with an existing program to offer youth activities with supports. We have had other youth programs in the area with great success. PCAP is a program that is operated province wide to provide supports to women who are not connected with community and are pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant or just had a baby. We all have areas where we could use some support.In order to have healthy communities, we need healthy moms and dads. The intent of the PCAP program is to support parents to access services to ensure healthy parents which in turn provides a healthy family/home for the child or children. Life Coach program works with individuals who have a diagnosis of FASD or who were prenatally exposed to alcohol and may need some level of supports. Although not everyone who receives a diagnosis requires supports, our program was established to ease the transition through adulthood and be present when those who may need a hand in some area have someone to call. The Life Coach program is flexible and the worker is available either on a regular basis or as needed determined by the individual or those supporting them.
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
Family Coach program connects with parents, caregivers, spouses and siblings of individuals who have been diagnosed with FASD. FASD is a complex disability. The skills and abilities vary with each individual. Families need information that will best inform how they will support the individual in their family who has a diagnosis. The Family Coach program is intended to provide this support, sometimes through crisis situations, but most often through debriefing, providing information and resources and ensuring knowledge of learning opportunities around FASD. The Family Coach also reminds the parents, caregivers, spouses and siblings of transitions periods, updated assessments needed and service changes as the individual ages.
There is opportunity always to grow and adapt our programs to the needs of the community of Paddle Prairie. The last two years have been especially challenging for the community.
If you have any ideas, needs, comments or concerns around FASD, programming needed and gaps in services we would love to hear from you! We would also like to hear if we are doing good things.
www.nwr-fasd.ab.ca or on Facebook “NWR FASD Society”
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
Participants needed for a research study on FASD and cannabis use. Looking for people with FASD, caregivers, or service providers to do a short survey. Caregivers and service providers: http://ow.ly/2wiK50EVfVd Individuals with FASD: http://ow.ly/wnbX50EVfVb
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
From the CANFASD Blog
Without proper support, individuals with FASD can face a variety of difficulties. According to some caregivers, one especially concerning challenge relates to sexual behaviour. There is preliminary research to support these reports, suggesting that some individuals with FASD are at a higher risk of being involved in, and being the victim of, problematic sexual behaviour. A number of possible reasons may explain this challenge. Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause changes to the developing brain, which can impact an individual’s cognitive skills and also their ability to regulate their behaviour and interpret social cues. Individuals with FASD may experience difficulties with comprehension, adaptive behaviour, social skills, understanding consequences, and impulsivity, all of which could impact interactions with others. Inappropriate sexual behaviour may also be linked to experiences of victimization. In general, people who have experienced abuse and violence may be at increased risk for engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviours. There is a significant lack of research in this area. More research is needed to understand healthy sexual development among people with FASD, to prevent and address inappropriate sexual behaviours, and to develop supports for individuals who experience victimization or abuse.
To read the blog, tap the button and find out what you can do?
www.metissettlementsfasd.ca
Did you know that 1.5 million Canadians have Fetal Alcohol SpectrumDisorder (FASD)? Learn more about this disability in our Foundations in FASD online course. Opportunities https://estore.canfasd.ca/foundations-in-fasd
www.canfasd.ca See more online training opportunities at
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software