The focus of the resource is on understanding and preventing FASD. It can be used to provide information and education about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) to students enrolled in professional programs leading to a career working with women of child bearing age.
Examples of programs include that this resource might be helpful for include: health care, education, justice, addictions, psychology, social work, and other community services’ programs (e.g., Early Childhood Education, Disability Support Worker, and Correctional Studies.)
The teaching package contains 11 modules with references. These modules provide evidence-based information on topics such as “What is FASD”, “Alcohol, Women, and Pregnancy”, “Prevention of FASD”, and “Primary and Secondary Disabilities”.
A downloadable PowerPoint with teaching notes is ready for use in class. Both the PowerPoint and written modules contain case studies, activities, and discussion questions that may be used with any group.
Download the package from the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute’s website.
Next week, September 9th, is International FASD Awareness Day and there are numerous events happening across the province of Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute is a non-profit organization that works to raise awareness and educate others about the prevention of disabling conditions in children. This year, the Institute filled requests from over 35 groups for resources and their “FASD: Let’s talk about it” T-shirts. The Institute is sponsoring a one-week tour by Myles Himmelreich who will be appearing in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Mossbank, Prince Albert, and Swift Current.
Other activities that are happening across the province include:
Agency Chiefs Tribal Council (Big River, Pelican Lake and Witchekan)
Community members are invited to pancake breakfasts. Materials about alcohol and pregnancy will be on display and shared with those who would like information. There are poster contests for the younger children. Grade 3 students have colouring books on pregnancy.
Ahtahkakoop Health Center
Ahtahkakoop has planned an FASD Awareness walk which will include the school and community. T-shirts were ordered that have last year’s winning design (from a local contest) on them. A lunch will be provided at the Band Hall as they introduce the winners of their FASD poetry and art contest! On September 5, presentations about FASD will be made to students.
Athabasca Health Authority
Events are taking place in Black Lake, Fond du Lac, Stony Rapids, and Uranium City. Pancake breakfasts will be held at each of the primary schools. Some communities will hold walks and a candlelight vigil.
Creighton/Flin Flon
Creighton/ Flin Flon is bringing awareness about FASD to children and parents through:
participating in story-time for pre-school children
providing storybook about FASD for each child
donating books to library about FASD
holding myths and facts about FASD radio quiz with daily prizes
Gordon First Nation
Gordon First Nation has a speaker from the FASD Speakers’ Bureau.
Humboldt
Posters and information will be distributed around town for Awareness Day.
Kawakatoose
Kawakatoose has a guest speaker from FASD Speakers’ Bureau.
Moose Jaw FASD Regional Committee
Moose Jaw FASD Regional Committee is hosting two school presentations (Mossbank School, Moose Jaw Peacock Auditorium) with Myles Himmelreich.
Muskeg Lake
Muskeg Lake is having a display at kihiw waciston school on September 9 and ringing the bell at 9. They will have a display booth at noon to talk with kids.
North Battleford
The Regional FASD Committee is holding a high school hot dog/water promotion in parking lot, targeting high school students, to promote healthy lifestyles during pregnancy.
North Battleford Tribal Council
At Battle River Treaty 6 Health Centre, they are having FASD Awareness Walkathons with the schools in the 6 communities they serve. Each walkathon participant will receive a bottle of water with a label that states Prevent FASD, 0-4-9. Kanaweymik ICFS Agency will also have a display at community BBQs they are having (Red Pheasant on September 9, and Moosomin September 17).
One Arrow First Nation
Prevention worker Nicole Fontaine will be guest speaker as well as a nurse and Linda Paintednose. They are serving lunch and having draws for t shirts.
Prince Albert
Prince Albert FASD Committee members have worked together to set up a mini-conference targeted at inter-professional capacity building and community awareness in Prince Albert. The FASD Support Network of Saskatchewan will present Principles and Practices in the morning. Myles Himmelreich will be a guest speaker in the afternoon.
Regina
In Regina, partner agencies have collected pledges for people to “Talk about FASD”. On September 9, they are gathering as a group to share the pledges. People will be wearing FASD Awareness t-shirts. Beverly Palibroda from the Metis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan (MACSI) will address the crowd to explain about September 9th and the pledges. There will be a walk to Aboriginal Family Services for a BBQ from noon to 1:00. There is also a media release and a digital sign message.
Saskatoon
MACSI is holding its 13th annual walk for FASD Awareness and lunch on September 9. Myles Himmelreich is a guest speaker at West Winds Primary Health Centre on September 8 at 11:00 a.m.
Swift Current
Myles Himmelreich is a guest speaker at the Safety Expo at the Cypress Hills Hospital on September 10. It will be broadcast on Telehealth so interested rural locations can partake in the presentation. A mini campaign is being held for Awareness Day. People will be taking “No Thanks I’m Pregnant” tent cards to local bars, lounges, and restaurants and baby stores.
Sunrise, Regina Qu’Appelle, and Sun Country Health Regions
Regional Kids-first is doing Mock-tails for Moms in different liquor stores in partnership with SK Liquor and Gaming, across 3 health regions. At each location they will have a table set up with 2 different types of MockTails along with promotional materials and recipe cards for people to take home.
For more ideas about FASD Day activities or to see what is happening around the world, visit FASDay.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Girls, Women, Alcohol, and Pregnancy 