FASD Awareness Day 2016: Focus on Social Media

Since 1999, FASD activists have held World FASD Awareness Day events on 09/09 to represent the nine months of pregnancy, often highlighted with a bell ringing ceremony at 9:09 am. September 9, 2016 is approaching, and this year activists want to use social media because it provides a unique and far-reaching means of building awareness.

You can help build FASD awareness by posting a message, reposting theirs, or bringing attention to their events on your own social media accounts.

Canada

This year Canada Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Network (CanFASD) is providing an online forum for organizations to post their initiatives on the CanFASD website. Include a description and a picture or video and they will re-post and Tweet it out to all of their followers. You can post using #FASDAwarenessDay #CanFASD and win prizes.

The Executive Director of CanFASD , Audrey McFarlane says “ CanFASD is very pleased to be able to highlight the fantastic work that the local communities are doing to raise awareness of FASD on September 9 as the local FASD service providers and caregivers are the hardworking folks that manage this work everyday.”

United States

NOFAS US has developed a FASD Awareness Day Packet for 2016 to assist organizations with planning activities for the month of September – FASD Awareness Month.

Their social media campaign includes:

• A Twitter Chat using the hashtag #FASDMonth as well as offering tweets you can use to send out to others.
• A one-time message commemorating FASD Awareness Day can be posted to your social media accounts using ThunderClap – a crowd-speaking platform using social media. Learn more here.
• A campaign to create a video that will feature an inflatable globe being “passed” around the world. Click here to learn more about the campaign.

New Zealand

The University of Auckland is hosting a FASD Policy and Research Forum starting at 9 a.m. on FASD Awareness Day. Find out more here. To find more information, links, and downloads from New Zealand, visit the Fetal Alcohol Network NZ and the Ako Aotearoa learning website for the Pregnancy and Alcohol Cessation Toolkit for providers.

Australia

NOFAS Australia is encouraging people to take a pledge not drink on Sept 9 and to post it on social media as a way to spread the word about FASD.

Also on the Pregnancy Birth & Baby website, there is a call to join the Pregnant Pause Campaign for FASD Awareness Day.

United Kingdom

The FASD Trust is asking people to get involved in a number of ways – raising awareness in school using the Trust’s School Pack, writing their MP. Click here to see their efforts.

To learn more about the history of FASD Awareness Day and get more ideas for events, click on FASD Awareness Day website.

Is your group, organization, or country planning a FASD Awareness Day event? Please share them in the Comments section below.

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Previous postings about FASD Awareness Day

Today is International FASD Awareness Day, September 9, 2015

Today is International FASD Awareness Day, September 9, 2014

Today is International FASD Awareness Day.

From the FASDay website:

“The first FAS Day began on September 9, 1999 in Auckland, New Zealand, where “Minute of Reflection” bells rang at 9:09 a.m., at Mt Albert Methodist church. Then it moved to Adelaide, Australia, and then to South Africa, where at 9:09 a.m., Cape Town volunteers gathered to hear the War Memorial Carillon that rang when Nelson Mandela was released from prison.

Volunteers in Italy, Germany and Sweden held events – and then FASDay crossed the Atlantic.  There were events in every time zone across Canada and the U.S., including ringing of carillons in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Hastings, NE, and Austin & San Antonio, Texas. The westernmost activity was the community breakfast on the tiny island of Kitkatla, B.C., near the Queen Charlotte Islands, where the village bell rang at 9:09 a.m. followed by prayers in the native tongue by village elders.”

Events to increase awareness about FASD are happening all over the world today and throughout September. Find out what’s happening in your community.

Below are some of the posters that you might see in liquor stores across the country today. (Each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories has a liquor board or commission that oversees the control, distribution and sale of beverage alcohol in its jurisdiction. Many boards run FASD Awareness campaigns in the month of September as part of their social responsibility initiatives).

 

 

Today is International FASD Awareness Day

From the FASDay website:

“The first FAS Day began on September 9, 1999 in Auckland, New Zealand, where “Minute of Reflection” bells rang at 9:09 a.m., at Mt Albert Methodist church. Then it moved to Adelaide, Australia, and then to South Africa, where at 9:09 a.m., Cape Town volunteers gathered to hear the War Memorial Carillon that rang when Nelson Mandela was released from prison.

Volunteers in Italy, Germany and Sweden held events – and then FASDay crossed the Atlantic.  There were events in every time zone across Canada and the U.S., including ringing of carillons in Toronto, Niagara Falls, Hastings, NE, and Austin & San Antonio, Texas. The westernmost activity was the community breakfast on the tiny island of Kitkatla, B.C., near the Queen Charlotte Islands, where the village bell rang at 9:09 a.m. followed by prayers in the native tongue by village elders.”

Events to increase awareness about FASD are happening all over the world today and throughout September. Find out what’s happening in your community.

Getting Ready for International FASD Awareness Day in Saskatchewan

Communities across the province of Saskatchewan prepare for FASD Awareness Day on September 9th

In May 2013, the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute coordinated a telephone meeting with participants across the province of Saskatchewan to initiate plans for International FASD Awareness Day. The group chose “FASD: Let’s talk about it” as the theme for 2013.

The Prevention Institute has been available to provide assistance or answer questions from communities and organizations in the province. The Institute has printed yellow T-shirts with “FASD: Let’s talk about it” in purple. The T-shirts were distributed to 31 communities, Tribal Councils and organizations throughout the province as part of an Awareness Day Package.

The package also included FASD: Know the Facts cards, No Thanks, I’m Pregnant posters, Hammered booklets, the new Hammered: After Party magazine, fetal development charts, and information about the FASD Speakers’ Bureau. (You can download many of these resources from the SPI website).

The Prevention Institute has also just printed 3000 tent cards with the “No thanks, I’m pregnant” caption. These cards are intended to be placed in restaurants, bars, schools, SIAST, and University cafeterias and other locations. You can also check out a newly developed Awareness Day brochure here as well as postings on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn about Awareness Day.

You can learn more about FASD prevention activities by the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute in this presentation by Marlene Dray and Bev Drew at the 5th International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in February 2013.

For more on FASD prevention in Saskatchewan, see earlier posts:

• What’s Your Cap? initiative featured on DrinkTank (June 17, 2013)
• FASD prevention activities funded by Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (July13, 2011)
• Saskatchewan’s KidsFirst Program (May 23, 2011)

FASD Awareness Day 2012: Round-up of Activities across Canada

Here are just a few of the events and activities held across the country on September 9, 2012.

Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland – Breakfast at Nunatsiavut’s Health and Social Development building. Listen to the CBC Radio coverage here.

St. John’s, Newfoundland – Pancake breakfast and ringing of bells  on the steps of St. John’s City Hall. See the news coverage here.

Thunder Bay, Ontario – 4th Annual Mini-Powwow held at Marina Park. See the news coverage here.

Kenora, Ontario – Information booth at Kenora Shoppers Mall. See news coverage here.

Timmins, Ontario – Purple-pancake breakfast at the Timmins Native Friendship Centre, including activities for kids and mocktails. See news coverage here.

Fort Frances, Ontario – Gathering at the Circle of Life Centre in Fort Frances. See more here.

St. Thomas, Ontario – Bells rang. Hear a radio clip here.

Mississauga, Ontario – Peel Public Health (serving the areas of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga) and other community organizations host an education event with mocktails. See the news coverage here and here.

Kingston, Ontario – Breakfast and networking hosted by the Kingston FASD Action Network. Dr. James Reynolds from Queen’s University presents on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Basic Science Research to Treatment Strategies. See the news coverage here.

Ottawa, Ontario – BBQ, display booths, games, and drumming at Heron Park. See the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Coalition of Ottawa website here.

Portage La Prairie, Manitoba – Free BBQ hosted by the Portage and District FASD Coalition. See the news coverage here and here. The Portage Friendship Centre‘s Insight Mentoring Program held a feast to honor FASD Day and Grandparents Day. See the news coverage here.

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Saskatoon held its annual FASD Walk for Awareness and is hosting the Fetal Alcohol Canadian Expertise Research Roundtable and FASDLive Conference this week. The Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (MACSI), the FASD Support Network of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute are just a few of the organizations involved this year (see the news coverage here and here). The theme for this year was “FASD: Let’s talk about it. Groups also worked to spread the word through Twitter by using the hashtag #FASD, with a goal of making FASD a trending topic for the day.

Melfort, Saskatchewan – A mocktail event at the Marguerite Riel Centre.

Image via Barrhead Leader Facebook page

Barrhead, Alberta – Community awareness event, proclamation and walk. See the coverage here.

Calgary, Alberta – AltaGas Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network Run/Walk FASD

Edmonton, Alberta – Edmonton and area Fetal Alcohol Network, in partnership with many community agencies, hosted a flashmob at Kingsway Garden Mall. See photos on EFAN’s website here.

Lethbridge, Alberta – Music, speakers, yummy treats, fun and games at Galt Gardens.

Whitecourt, Alberta – Gathering at Friendship Park. Click here for more.

Image via http://www.country95.fm

Vernon, British Columbia – FASD Day at Polson Park. An awareness walk, music from The Shags and Kat and The Valentines, lunch and speakers. See the news coverage here.

Comox Valley, British Columbia – Community Brain Fair at Simms Park, Courtenay. Bounce Mania and other activities for kids and information for parents and care-givers. See the news coverage here and here.

Nanaimo, British Columbia – Cake and an information display. Learn more on the Nanaimo FASD Society website.

Quesnel, British Columbia – FASD Awareness Walk and Pancake Breakfast. Check out the photos on the Quesnel Tillicum Society Facebook page and see clips of Metis jiggers and FASD Awareness Jeopardy on YouTube.

Dawson Creek, British Columbia – City proclamation. Click here for more.

Terrace, British Columbia – Free pancake breakast, sirens and bells at 9:09; family activities, entertainment, FASD info and BBQ at George Little Park. See a schedule of the day’s events here.

Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories – Parade hosted by Dehcho Health and Social Services, the Village of Fort Simpson and the RCMP.

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – “Stop.Check.Be Sure! ” event on Friday which offered free pregnancy tests in women’s public washrooms. Free mocktails for women at the Hot Shots Pub, The Ravens Pub and the Boston Pizza Sports Bar. See the news coverage here.

Hay River, Northwest Territories – Information sheets distributed at the liquor store and restaurants; a short quiz on the TV in the hospital waiting room throughout September; Lunch and Learn presentation.

Inuvik, Northwest Territories – Community baby shower at Ingamo Hall. See the news coverage here.

Check out this awareness video developed by the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services on YouTube.

And, as a finale to this roundup, you may want to read a message from the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, from September 9, 2012 on International FASD Awareness Day.

For previous round-ups, see FASD Awareness Day 2011 and FASD Awareness Day 2010.

2012 Alcohol and Pregnancy Media Campaign in Ontario

FASD Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE) Campaign: August 27 – September 30, 2012

2012 Ontario Alcohol and Pregnancy Campaign

FASD Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE) is a group that works to address issues related to FASD in the province of Ontario in Canada. The Prevention Working Group develops and promotes effective strategies, resources and programs that address alcohol use in pregnancy with a priority focus on high-risk groups.

One of the main activities of the Prevention Working Group this year has been the organization of media buys for an alcohol and pregnancy campaign in September 2012 (to coincide with International FASD Awareness Day on September 9th).

With funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada – Ontario Region, the Group has bought media buys that include transit ads, mall ads, cinema ads, and information through web, print and social media in approximately 30 communities. The focus has been on provincial media buys that are usually beyond the scope of local groups.

You can learn more about the media buys on the Best Start Resource Centre website here. There are also links to short articles that organizations are welcome to include in newsletters, media releases, and other activities to support FASD awareness.

2008 Ontario Alcohol and Pregnancy Campaign

You can learn more about FASD ONE on the organization’s website and read the May 2012 newsletter here.

FACE, FASDLive, and a Public Forum: A Few Upcoming Events

Not only is it International FASD Awareness Day on September 9th, there also seems to be a lot of other events happening in September. Several of them touch on the issue of FASD prevention.

2012 FACE Research Roundtable

This annual scientific research conference will be held on September 11, 2012 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Be sure to check out Caroline Tait‘s presentation on Transformative change: can a community-based ethical framework improve FASD prevention and interventions in indigenous health? Dr. Tait will be introducing an indigenous community-based ethical toolkit.

Currently there are no ethical reviews completed by government policy makers and program funders before they introduce “best practice” programming for FASD prevention and interventions into Indigenous communities and this toolkit will help to protect vulnerable individuals from experiencing undue harm resulting from the design, implementation, or termination of a health care initiative.

FACE also has an annual research poster competition – keep an eye out for the poster on our Network Action Team.

Learn more about Caroline Tait on the University of Saskatchewan website.

Learn more about the FACE Roundtable here.

FASDlive 2012 Conference: Expanding our Vision

Following on the heels of the FACE Roundtable is FASDlive on September 12-14th. Dr. Tait will also be a keynote speaker here and will present on Linking FASD Prevention to Child Welfare Reform. Several Canada FASD Research Network members will also be presenting, including:

• Sterling K. Clarren, CEO and Scientific Director will be delivering a keynote address on CanFASD Research Network and Comprehensive Approaches to FASD Prevention. Time to Get Serious
• Linda Burnside will co-facilitate a session on Hearing Their Voices: The Experiences of Women Who Have Completed a Mentoring Program to Prevent FASD
• Nancy Poole will present on Reflecting on Developments in FASD Prevention and  The Power of Networking – Highlights of the Work of the Network Action Team on FASD Prevention from a Women’s Health Determinants Perspective
• Deb Rutman and Nancy Poole will present on Evaluation Approaches for FASD Prevention and Support Programs: Strategies for Community Programs and Organizations

There’s lots more on FASD prevention happening so check out the program here.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Public Forum

This forum will be held on September 22, 2012 in Toronto, Ontario.

Part I is on Neuroethics and FASD: An interdisciplinary examination of the ethical and social challenges associated with the development and implementation of biomarkers for prenatal alcohol exposure with James Reynolds (Queen’s University); Gideon Koren (University of Toronto); Anna Zadunayski (University of Calgary); Nina DiPietro (University of British Columbia).

Part II is on How Much Is Too Much? Understanding Prenatal Alcohol Exposure And Its Impact On Individuals, Families And Society and panelists include Dr. Sterling Clarren, Director of the Canada FASD Research Network (CanFASD) Sharron Richards, Chair of FASD Ontario Network of Expertise (FASD ONE) Steve Catney, Operator of Alliance Youth Services Kamille Shulman, a teenager with FASD and her family.

Learn more here.

And, of course, as I mentioned, September 9th is FASD Awareness Day. Check out previous posts to see how you can participate or create an event to honor the day:

• FASD Awareness Day 2011 (September 13, 2011)
• Today is International FASD Awareness Day (September 9, 2011)
• Getting ready for FASD Awareness Day 2011 – September 9 (August 15, 2011)
• FASD Awareness Day 2010 (September 20, 2010)