From rosse at ncf.ca Fri Sep 4 10:30:17 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Fri Sep 4 09:34:12 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Simcoe County FASD Advisory receives $77,
600: Ontario
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090904092452.020f1c60@ncf.ca>
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1728716
The Barrie Examiner
Barrie, Ontario
News - Local News
Nearly $700,000 in grants handed out to Barrie groups
Posted 18 hours ago [as of Sept. 4, 2009]
[Photo]
The Ontario Trillium Foundation handed out grants to five Barrie and
area organizations, including the Barrie Kempettes, Barrie Minor
Hockey, the King Edward Choir, the Season Centre for Grieving
Children and the Simcoe County Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Advisory. From left, in the front row, are Patricia Copeland, of
Season Centre, Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll, who is standing in front of
Barrie Kempette Julia Hoffman, Loreta Pavese, of the OTF and Trillium
program manager John Pugsley.
Ian McInroy photo
Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll congratulated five local groups on
receiving a combined total of $616,300 in funding from the Ontario
Trillium Foundation (OTF) this summer. Joining MPP Carroll at the
event were Loreta Pavese, the Chair of the OTF's local Grant Review
Team, and the Foundation's Regional Program Manager, John Pugsley.
"It is always a pleasure to share in the announcement of Ontario
Trillium Foundation grants," said Barrie MPP Aileen Carroll. "These
funds will further enhance the activities of five organizations that
provide much needed services or recreation for Barrie residents."
The celebration helped recognize a range of grants awarded to
not-for-profit organizations working in the arts and culture, human
and social services, and sports and recreation sectors. The grants
were made in line with two of the four Foundations granting
priorities; enhanced success for students; healthier and more
physically active Ontarians; more effective volunteers and more
people engaged in their communities.
Thursday's event was held at the Seasons Centre for Grieving
Children, one of the remarkable community groups who received OTF
funding. The event also gave Ms. Carroll an opportunity to
congratulate the Barrie Minor Hockey Association, who formally
announced their grant on August 17th.
The organizations recognized with grants were;
Barrie Kempettes Gymnastics Club received a $56,800 grant to purchase
new equipment that complies with Ontario Gymnastics Federation safety
and competition standards. The club will then be able to continue
hosting provincially sanctioned events that draw sport tourism dollars.
Barrie Minor Hockey Association received a $63,400 grant to fund web
hosting, computers and office equipment to enhance the organization's
efficiency and administrative capacity to effectively deliver hockey programs.
King Edward Choir received an $118,500, three-year, grant to build
organizational capacity and increase audience attendance. Funding
will be used to enhance marketing efforts, hire guest musicians as
well as commission work for the choir's 60th anniversary.
Seasons Centre for Grieving Children received a $300,000, two-year,
grant to complete much-needed repairs and accessibility renovations
to the Barrie facility. A review will also be conducted to ensure the
provincial standard of quality care is being provided to children,
youth and families.
Simcoe County Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Advisory, led by
the Catulpa Community Support Services Inc. received a $77,600 grant
to fund a project manager, surveys and travel expenses to create a
multisystem collaborative-intervention approach to detect, address
and assist children, youth and adults with fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder and other disabilities.
"On behalf of the Seasons Centre for Grieving Children, I would like
to say how honoured we are to host our fellow not-for-profits today,
and be in such good company for this important announcement", said
Patricia Copeland, Executive Director. "With our new grant, we will
be able to make sure our wonderful facility is safe and accessible as
well as expand our programming. We are thankful to the Ontario
Trillium Foundation and MPP Carroll for their support. We are proud
to be able to provide services that support Barrie's youth and
children during times of grief".
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of
Ontario. For over 25 years, the Foundation has supported the growth
and vitality of communities across the province. OTF continues to
strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments
in community-based initiatives. For more information, please visit
www.trilliumfoundation.org.
-
Article ID# 1728716
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From rosse at ncf.ca Tue Sep 8 22:14:02 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Tue Sep 8 21:16:15 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Ireland: Alcohol body backs call for drinks
pregnancy warnings
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090908210954.02080068@ncf.ca>
http://www.buzztracker.com/story/2538222f193f9c6b23186a1b/more_health
Buzz Tracker
IRELAND: Alcohol body backs call for drinks pregnancy warnings
September 7, 2009
Daily beverage news and comment - from just-drinks.com
Ireland's Alcohol Beverage Federation has backed a call for warning
labels targeted at pregnant women, but has rejected a proposal for
the Government to review weekly drinking guidelines.
http://www.just-drinks.com/article.aspx?id=98374
just-Drinks
IRELAND: Alcohol body backs call for drinks pregnancy warnings
This article is locked. You need to be a Full Member of just-drinks
to view this article. Existing users, please login at the top of the page.
Summary: Ireland's Alcohol Beverage Federation has backed a call for
warning labels targeted at pregnant women, but has rejected a
proposal for the Government to review weekly drinking guidelines.
Word count: 336
Date: 7 September 2009
Source: just-drinks.com editorial team
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From rosse at ncf.ca Wed Sep 9 21:32:54 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Wed Sep 9 20:34:11 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] FASD piece on CTV News Ottawa Sept. 9
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090909203245.0494f278@ncf.ca>
Sept. 9, 2009
Today in Ottawa we had one of our best yet FASD Awareness Day event.
After that Denise Rhodes was interviewed on CTV News At Noon today.
You can watch her interview by going to
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/
and under the 'CTV News Video Player' you will see the title 'Drawing
attention to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder'. Click on that link,
and you can watch the clip.
It's near the top of the page under
CTV NEWS VIDEO PLAYER
CTV News at 6 Sept. 9, 2009
Drawing attention to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
From Elspeth
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From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Sep 10 11:59:30 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Thu Sep 10 11:04:12 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] British doctors call for ban on all alcohol
ads: U.K.
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090910105911.020f7958@ncf.ca>
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsBMt0Qhu6wCi8hRu8aysw8bG--AD9AJEUB01
Associated Press
British doctors call for ban on all alcohol ads
By RAPHAEL G. SATTER ? 1 day ago [as of Sept. 9, 2009]
LONDON ? British doctors called for a ban on
alcohol advertisements Tuesday, saying the move
was necessary to challenge Britain's dangerous drinking culture.
The British Medical Association argued in a
report that a rapid increase in alcohol
consumption among young Britons in recent years
was being underpinned by "clever alcohol
advertising" and that a prohibition on
alcohol-related publicity was needed to help turn the situation around.
"Our society is awash with pro-alcohol messaging
and marketing," Dr. Vivienne Nathanson, the
association's head of science and ethics, said in
a statement. "We need to look beyond young people and at society as a whole."
The association, which represents more than
two-thirds of Britain's practicing doctors, has
repeatedly warned of the dangers of the country's
increasingly deadly drinking habit. In a widely
publicized report last year, the association said
Britain was among the hardest-drinking countries
in Europe and noted its alcohol-related death
rate had nearly doubled between 1991 and 2005 ?
from 6.9 to 12.9 per 100,000 people.
Although the group has lobbied for higher taxes
and stricter regulation in the past, its new
report called for a total ban on all alcohol advertisements.
The report said Britain's alcohol industry spends
800 million pounds ($1.32 billion) annually
promoting drinking, wielding its "prodigious
marketing skills and massive budgets to promote positive images about alcohol."
The report called for the drinks industry to be
banned from sponsoring sporting events like the
FA Cup ? currently backed by Danish brewer
Carlsberg ? or the Grand National race ? whose
title sponsor is John Smith's Ale. It also said
alcohol ads should be wiped from newspapers and
billboards and kicked off radio and television.
British brewers acknowledged that the country's
drinking culture could use changing, but said
bans and higher taxes weren't the answer.
"We believe culture change is more likely to be
achieved through long-term education and tough
enforcement," said Jeremy Beadles, the chief
executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.
Britain's government would not be drawn on the
idea of an ad ban. The Department of Health said
in a statement that "it's not always right to
legislate," while the Advertising Standards
Authority said its codes were already "among the strictest in the world."
___
British Medical Association report, in PDF
format: http://tinyurl.com/l6w246
(This version CORRECTS Corrects currency conversion graf 6.)
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From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Sep 10 11:59:47 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Thu Sep 10 11:04:16 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Doctors call for total alcohol advertising
ban: U.K.
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090910105939.038ce8b0@ncf.ca>
http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/09/08/eline/links/20090908elin006.html
Reuters Health Information
Doctors call for total alcohol advertising ban
Last Updated: 2009-09-08 10:26:20 -0400 (Reuters Health)
By Avril Ormsby
LONDON (Reuters) - A complete ban on alcohol advertising should be
imposed and a minimum drinks price set to help deter excessive
drinking in Britain, medics said on Tuesday.
The British Medical Association (BMA) said curtailment of the
industry's 800 million pound ($1.3 billion) annual promotional budget
should also cover sponsorship of sports and arts events.
It called for alcoholic drinks to be taxed higher than the rate of
inflation, and for licensing hours to be cut.
Alcohol consumption has increased rapidly during the past 20 years,
causing social problems and increased health care costs, showing
self-regulation had failed, the BMA said in its report "Under the Influence."
It said it was time the government imposed measures to deter heavy
drinking, similar those introduced against smoking in enclosed public places.
"We have a perverse situation where the alcohol industry is advising
our governments about alcohol reduction policies," said Dr Vivienne
Nathanson, head of BMA science and ethics.
"As with tobacco, putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop -- or
at least putting him on a par with the farmer -- is a dangerous
idea," she said.
The BMA said it supported the principle of a minimum price for
alcohol, but did not want to put forward a suggested figure. Instead,
it pointed to Scotland which is contemplating a minimum price of 40
pence per unit of alcohol.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown in March rejected a recommendation of 50
pence per unit of alcohol from chief medical officer Liam Donaldson,
saying he did not want to punish the majority for the actions of the few.
But the BMA said Britain had developed an "excessively pro-alcohol
social norm," of which young people's binge-drinking was a
predictable manifestation, boosted by cheap prices and targeted
sweetened drinks.
Between 1992 and 2006, household expenditure on alcoholic drinks
increased by 81 percent, and the BMA said there was a clear
relationship between the price and consumption of alcohol.
The medics rejected selective targeting of young people because it
was likely to make alcohol more attractive.
David Poley, chief executive of the Portman Group, which represents
drinks manufacturers, said: "The BMA is ignoring all the evidence
that advertising causes brand switching, not harmful drinking."
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) said alcohol consumption
had fallen 6 percent on 2004.
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From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Sep 10 12:00:05 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Thu Sep 10 11:04:19 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Saskatchewan recognizes FASD Awareness Day
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090910105956.038ce4d8@ncf.ca>
http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=c5e75827-abbb-4e77-80b9-a69b1ec6ed26
Saskatchewan
News release
September 8, 2009
SASKATCHEWAN RECOGNIZES FASD AWARENESS DAY
September 9 is International Fetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day. Here in
Saskatchewan, the day will be marked by various
events organized by regional FASD community networks.
FASD is a life-long disability caused when
mothers drink alcohol during pregnancy. In the
western world, including Canada, it's the leading
known cause of intellectual disabilities.
"I am dedicated to spreading the word about this
serious health issue and the fact that there is
no known safe amount of alcohol during
pregnancy," Crown Corporations Minister June
Draude said. "FASD is preventable, but many
individuals are unaware of how alcohol use during
pregnancy can cause permanent impairments to the
baby. That's why we support comprehensive
services through the Cognitive Disabilities
Strategy to help prevent FASD and to support those who have it."
Draude, an advocate for FASD awareness and
prevention, introduced Bill 203, The Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day Act in 2002.
Community FASD networks are volunteer
organizations made up of local service providers,
professionals and parents who meet regularly to
discuss FASD related issues and initiatives. Events include:
* Noon-hour awareness event at Frederick W.
Hill Mall on Scarth Street in Regina based on
this year's provincial theme "Pregnant Pause".
The event is hosted by the Regina FASD Community Network.
* The Saskatoon FASD interagency Committee
plans to host an FASD coffee time and ceremony at
Saskatoon City Hall Civic Square from 8 to 9:09
a.m., followed by a walk to White Buffalo Youth
Lodge to view an FASD documentary.
* Also in Saskatoon, the M?tis Addiction
Council of Saskatchewan will host a community luncheon at noon.
In collaboration with several other ministries,
Saskatchewan Health leads the implementation of
the Cognitive Disability Strategy that provides
individuals and families affected by cognitive
disabilities, including FASD, with better access
to supports and strengthened prevention and early intervention of FASD.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: karen.hill@gov.sk.ca
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From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Sep 10 12:00:20 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Thu Sep 10 11:04:22 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Canadian Foundation on Fetal Alcohol Research
grants awarded: Sept. 9
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090910110012.038ce248@ncf.ca>
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2009/09/c3458.html
CNW group
Canadian Foundation on Fetal Alcohol Research grants awarded
TORONTO, Sept. 9 /CNW Telbec/ - The second annual round of grants awarded
for research, prevention and treatment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
(FASD) was today announced by Dr. Gideon Koren, Director of Toronto's Hospital
for Sick Children's Motherisk Program on behalf of the Canadian Foundation on
Fetal Alcohol Research (CFFAR).
The announcement was made at the 10th Annual Fetal Alcohol Canadian
Expertise (FACE) Research Roundtable on the occasion of International FASD
day.
Created in September 2007 through a 5-year $1 Million commitment by the
Brewers Association of Canada (BAC), the CFFAR is an independent, non-profit
foundation created to promote interest and fund research related to the short
and long-term bio-medical, psychological and social effects of alcohol
consumption during pregnancy, and the prevention of fetal alcohol spectrum
disorders.
The recipients of this round of grants were selected after a peer-review
of applications. The 2009 grant recipients are:
- Dr. Bhushan Kapur, PhD, University of Toronto, for the research
project titled "Placental transfer of formic acid in the presence and
absence of folic acid"
- Dr. Katherine Malisza, PhD, University of Winnipeg. Her research
project is titled "Neuroimaging Cognitive in Children with ARND &
ADHD".
- Dr. Ronald Reusch, PhD, Simon Fraser University. His work is titled
"An examination of the abilities, risks and needs of adolescents &
young adults with FASD in the criminal justice system".
"The Canadian Foundation on Fetal Alcohol Research is happy to once again
support the work of talented investigators such as Dr. Kapur, Dr. Malisza and
Dr. Reusch. Their focus and dedication to furthering the knowledge of the
bio-medical, psychological and social aspects of alcohol consumption during
pregnancy is of critical value to the development of tools to treat and
prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder," said Dr. Koren, CFFAR's Director of
Research.
Ian Faris, President and CEO of the Brewers Association of Canada added:
"Canadian brewers are proud that year after year, we are able to fund research
into the effects of alcohol on pregnant women and on pre-natal development.
When we initially made this $1 Million commitment to funding research, we were
hopeful that our contribution would make a difference. Looking at the quality
of the projects selected again this year, we know that the research undertaken
with these funds will contribute to a better quality of life for the
individuals living with FASD and their families."
For further information: Andre Fortin at (613) 232-9092 or visit the
CFFAR website www.fasdfoundation.ca
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From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Sep 10 14:55:13 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Thu Sep 10 14:04:19 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Parents Reaching Out grants Ontario
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090910134937.0382b7e0@ncf.ca>
Sept. 10
Applying for a Parents Reaching Out grant; deadline is Oct. 16
See the information about the Parents Reaching Out Grants on the web
(see the links below).
You can also read see the list of projects from last year: "Parent
Reaching Out (PRO) Grants for Regional/Provincial Projects,
2008-2009" (1 page) & "Parents Reaching Out Grants (PRO) for School
Councils 2008-2009" (16 pages). I checked the list for school council
projects & found none for FASD, but three for alcohol & drug
awareness in Lambton/Kent, Ottawa at Frank Ryan Catholic Senior
Elementary School & Toronto. None for FASD or alcohol in
regional/provincial projects.
If people have ideas about doing this for FASD, please let me know.
Elspeth Ross
613 446-4144
http://www.news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2009/05/engaging-parents-in-their-childrens-education.html
Ontario
Newsroom
Engaging Parents In Their Children's Education
May 20, 2009 2:24 PM
McGuinty Government Gives Parents More Time To Apply For Local Grants
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/regional.html
Ontario
Parents Reaching Out Grants
Parents Reaching Out Regional/Provincial Grants
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/faqRegion.html
Ontario
Parents Reaching Out Grants
Parents Reaching Out Regional/Provincial Grants
FAQs for Applicants ....
Who can apply for funding?
Priority will be given to parent-led projects. Other organizations
can apply for funding as long as they partner with parents:
* Non-profit organizations operating in Ontario
* Parent groups operating in Ontario
* School boards operating in Ontario
* Post-secondary institutions in Ontario ....
What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Eligible projects must fall under at least one of the following areas:
1. Parents as Partners
These projects involve parents as partners in education. Examples are:
Training of teachers, principals and school staff on the
benefits of and strategies for involving parents and the community in
education
Research projects where parents and stakeholders (e.g.
teachers, high-school students) work together with academic
researchers to find solutions to an education-related issue
2. Creating a welcoming school board and school environment for all parents.
These projects make all parents feel welcome and included. Examples are:
Creating or translating materials in multiple languages to
keep parents informed
Workshops for board and school staff on how to remove
barriers for parents
Tools to help school staff recruit and recognize volunteers
3. Skill-Building Opportunities for Parents
These projects allow parents to take part in the education of their
children. Examples are:
Projects that provide information, ideas and activities to
families about helping students learn and succeed at school
Training workshops for school volunteers
Leadership development for parents....
What is the maximum grant available?
The maximum grant is $30,000. There is no minimum grant.
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sat Sep 12 15:11:47 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sat Sep 12 14:16:14 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] New FASD network brings help closer: Manitoba
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090912140934.03a28008@ncf.ca>
http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/manitoba/2009/09/09/10805641.html
Winnipeg Sun
News
Manitoba
New FASD network brings help closer
By Paul Turenne, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 9th September 2009, 1:57pm
Rural and northern Manitoba children living with
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder will now be able
to get a more thorough, and ultimately more useful, diagnosis.
The help should also come more quickly and be
available closer to home, thanks to a new FASD
health network that will reach beyond the Perimeter Highway for the first time.
The new Manitoba FASD Centre officially opened
its doors today ? on International FASD Day ? in
its new location at the Rehabilitation Centre for
Children on Wellington Crescent.
The centre was previously housed in a smaller
space at the Children's Hospital. It operated for
the past decade as the Clinic for Alcohol and
Drug Exposed Children. But the new and expanded
centre will now serve as the hub for an FASD
network that will allow for multi-disciplinary
diagnoses in rural and northern Manitoba, where
roughly half of Manitoba's FASD patients come from.
Patients previously had to come to Winnipeg to be diagnosed.
The wait time for a diagnosis, which currently
stands at about one year, should also be reduced
under the new program, said Sally Longstaffe,
medical director of the FASD Centre.
"To families and parents it's going to be
extremely significant because with the diagnosis
they'll get information on which of the domains
are impacted and what strategies they can employ
to best accommodate that," said Jocelyn
Bjorklund, a Winnipegger who has two children with FASD.
The province has kicked an extra $1.6 million
into the FASD strategy in order to allow a
multi-disciplinary team of psychologists, speech
therapists and other specialists to better
diagnose FASD patients outside Winnipeg.
Previously, only physicians were available to do that.
The difference, according to Bjorklund, is that
instead of parents simply learning what form of
FASD their child has, they will learn which of
their child's nine brain domains ? memory,
attention, etc. ? are affected and how to deal with that.
Bjorklund's family was living in Brandon more
than a decade ago when her own son was diagnosed,
and she did not benefit from the multi-disciplinary diagnosis.
Jessica Siddle, 20, also spoke at this morning's
announcement, describing her experiences growing up with FASD.
"Although I have a great life it has been a
struggle for me since birth," she said.
Siddle urged people not to drink during pregnancy
and pledged to continue delivering that message.
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sat Sep 12 15:12:06 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sat Sep 12 14:16:20 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Province increases diagnostic services,
support for Manitobans with FASD
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090912141158.03a27c28@ncf.ca>
http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2009/09/2009-09-09-112400-6674.html
Manitoba
News Release
September 9, 2009
PROVINCE INCREASES DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES, SUPPORT FOR MANITOBANS WITH FASD
- ? ?
Up to 30 Per Cent More Children to be Assessed,
Resources Enhanced to Help Prevent Disorder: Mackintosh
The province is investing more than $1.6 million
to improve access to diagnostic services and
expand resources for Manitobans living with fetal
alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), Family Services
and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.
?FASD is a serious disability that left
undiagnosed or untreated makes life difficult for
those who have it,? Mackintosh said. ?By doing
everything we can to improve access to diagnosis,
we have an excellent opportunity to help those
with FASD lead fulfilling lives.?
Nearly half of the new funding will be directed
to the Manitoba FASD Centre (formerly the Clinic
for Alcohol and Drug Exposed Children or CADEC),
allowing it to expand services to youth and to
increase the number of children who can access it by as much as 30 per cent.
In addition to the increase in assessment
capacity in Winnipeg, the new funding will
enhance diagnostic capacity in rural and northern
regional health authorities, Mackintosh said.
Health authorities will develop satellite
diagnostic sites and partner with the Manitoba
FASD Centre in Winnipeg to form the Manitoba FASD Network.
This expansion into rural and northern
communities will improve diagnostic access for
Manitoba families and build local capacity to
support individuals with FASD, the minister said.
The Manitoba FASD Centre will oversee the
administration of the network and provide its
expertise to satellite sites as they develop.
?Manitoba FASD Centre staff members are
profoundly grateful and enthusiastic about the
opportunities of responding to the critical need
for more available FASD diagnosis and for the
first time providing FASD diagnostic services to
adolescents,? said medical director of the FASD
Centre and network Dr. Sally Longstaffe. ?We are
equally eager to work collaboratively in
development of the Manitoba FASD diagnostic
network, allowing enhanced access to diagnosis
and support everywhere in Manitoba.?
To increase support services to families,
$342,000 has been provided for new respite day
camps for children aged three to 12 called
Stepping Out on Saturdays in Manitoba. This new
initiative will be launched this fall in
Winnipeg, Brandon, Little Grand Rapids and
Thompson. These camps will provide respite for
caregivers while also helping up to 72 children a
year develop healthy social and problem-solving skills.
?We?ll use this strategy to reach out to people
in our region, sharing information about
prevention, diagnosis and other supports,? said
Drew Lockhart, chief executive officer of the
NOR-MAN Regional Health Authority. ?We?re
building our capacity to reach out to
individuals, families and communities so anyone
who needs to access FASD resources is able to do so.?
A total of $80,000 has been allocated for the
fall launch of the Winnipeg pilot of Project
CHOICES, a new prevention initiative aimed at
reducing alcohol-exposed pregnancies, Mackintosh
said. Project CHOICES provides information and a
brief intervention to women and adolescent girls
who are at high risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.
Other new and expanding initiatives that build on
Manitoba?s FASD strategy include:
? the development of the Visions and
Voices project, which will help adults with a
FASD diagnosis speak publicly about their
experiences living with this disability;
? three new Stop FASD prevention programs
in Portage la Prairie, Flin Flon and Dauphin,
increasing the total number of sites to seven;
? support for 12 FASD community-based
coalitions across the province including the
Coalition on Alcohol and Pregnancy based in Winnipeg;
? an Aboriginal elders gathering that
will provide information and resources for FASD prevention;
? support for Reclaiming our Voices, a
healing gathering for women affected by
addictions who may have children with FASD; and
? FASD resource packages for
child-welfare agency staff and alternative
caregivers, and the creation of FASD resource
libraries within each of the four child and family service authorities.
?We welcome these new initiatives and believe
they will go a long way to help tackle FASD
within our communities,? said Elsie Flette, chief
executive officer of the Southern First Nations
Network of Care. ?We all know FASD is a very
complex issue that needs strategic approaches and
much-needed resources for our families and our communities.?
The Manitoba FASD Centre and the Manitoba FASD
Network will be funded by Manitoba Health and
Healthy Living, and Changes for Children, an
initiative of the four child welfare authorities
and the Manitoba Family Services and Housing.
The Project CHOICES pilot is being funded through
the Healthy Child Manitoba Office. The remaining
initiatives will be fully funded by Changes for
Children, which improves the child and family
services system and protects children from harm
through strategic investments, said Mackintosh.
- 30 -
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHED
----------
Backgrounder
FASD
Supports -
http://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2009/september2009/FASDBG.FH.doc
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sat Sep 12 15:18:48 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sat Sep 12 14:22:13 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] More cash to identify fetal alcohol disorder:
Manitoba
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090912141840.03a27478@ncf.ca>
More cash to identify fetal alcohol disorder
Kevin Rollason. Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Man.: Sep 10, 2009. pg. A.6
Victims, parents applaud new programs, support
Jessica Siddle is 20 and has lived with the effects from fetal
alcohol spectrum disorder her whole life.
Siddle said that's why she doesn't want any other child to be born with FASD.
"I have graduated from high school, but it has been hard for me to
accomplish what I have," she said.
"FASD is totally preventable. The only cause of it is alcohol.
Although I have a great life it has been a struggle for me."
Now, the province is joining Siddle to help tackle FASD.
Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced on
Wednesday the provincial government will spend more than $1.6 million
to increase its ability to diagnose children with FASD and provide
them with services.
Noting it was International FASD Day, Mackintosh said half the
funding would be to rename and expand the former Clinic for Alcohol
and Drug Exposed Children into the Manitoba FASD Centre. It is being
located in a section of the building that houses the Rehabilitation
Centre for Children on Wellington Avenue.
"Manitoba is a leader in providing the appropriate initiatives with
FASD," he said. "We have learned diagnosis is very important.... It
can make all the difference in supporting someone in the community."
Mackintosh said it is estimated that nine out of 1,000 children born
have FASD. "It is not a small number ---- just one is too many."
The funding will allow the province to set up satellite diagnostic
sites with the first six being set up this year in the Brandon,
Burntwood, Interlake, Norman, North Eastman and South Eastman
Regional Health Authorities.
Other FASD initiatives announced include:
$342,000 to create a Saturday day camp in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson
and Little Grand Rapids for children aged three to 12 with FASD. The
72 children, who will be able to go one Saturday per month for 12
months, will receive social and problem-solving skills.
$16,000 to help adults with FASD speak publicly to help educate the public.
$24,000 to organize a day-long gathering for aboriginal elders in The
Pas to give information and resources on FASD prevention.
$67,000 to produce and distribute FASD resource packages for social
workers and alternative caregivers.
$80,000 to create a pilot project in Winnipeg to counsel women who
are not yet pregnant.
The provincial government is also opening three new Stop FASD
prevention programs in Portage la Prairie, Flin Flon and Dauphin this fall.
Jocelyn Bjorklund said two of her four children have FASD. "Had we,
and other parents, received support from multi-disciplinary teams and
assessment... our children would have been supported more effectively."
Drew Lockhart, chief executive officer of the Norman RHA, said he's
pleased the program includes a satellite centre in The Pas. "Nearly
half of all children with FASD come from rural and northern Manitoba," he said.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sat Sep 12 15:19:04 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sat Sep 12 14:22:15 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] New Manitoba fetal alcohol centre opens;
will speed up diagnoses
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090912141856.03a27160@ncf.ca>
New Manitoba fetal alcohol centre opens; will speed up diagnoses
The Canadian Press. Toronto: Sep 9, 2009.
WINNIPEG _ Rural and northern Manitoba children with fetal alcohol
spectrum disorder will be able to get a more thorough diagnosis
faster and closer to home.
The new Manitoba FASD Centre officially opened its doors Wednesday in
its new location at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children in Winnipeg.
The centre was previously housed in a smaller space at the Children's
Hospital and operated for the past decade as the Clinic for Alcohol
and Drug Exposed Children.
The new and expanded centre will serve as the hub for a FASD network
that will allow for multi-disciplinary diagnoses in rural and
northern Manitoba.
That's where roughly half of Manitoba's FASD patients come from.
Sally Longstaffe, medical director of the centre, says the wait time
for a diagnosis, which currently stands at about one year, should
also be reduced under the new program.
``To families and parents it's going to be extremely significant
because with the diagnosis they'll get information on which of the
domains are impacted and what strategies they can employ to best
accommodate that,'' said Jocelyn Bjorklund, who has two children with FASD.
The province has kicked in an extra $1.6 million to allow a team of
psychologists, speech therapists and other specialists to better
diagnose FASD patients outside Winnipeg, where previously only
physicians were available.
The difference, according to Bjorklund, is that instead of parents
simply learning what form of FASD their child has, they will learn
which of their child's nine brain domains, such as memory and
attention, are affected and how to deal with it.
Bjorklund's family was living in Brandon more than a decade ago when
her son was diagnosed, and she did not benefit from the
multi-disciplinary diagnosis.
Jessica Siddle, 20, also spoke at Wednesday's announcement,
describing her experiences growing up with FASD.
``Although I have a great life it has been a struggle for me since
birth,'' she said.
Siddle urged people not to drink during pregnancy and pledged to
continue delivering that message into the future.
(Winnipeg Sun)
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sat Sep 12 15:54:08 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sat Sep 12 14:52:09 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] FAS sufferer educating students about
preventable syndrome: Belleville, Ont.
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090912142852.02fc8430@ncf.ca>
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sat Sep 12 15:59:46 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sat Sep 12 15:04:09 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Fetal Alcohol Spectrum day: Camrose, Alberta
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090912142920.02fc8430@ncf.ca>
http://www.camrosecanadian.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1747902
Camrose
Alberta
News
Camrose News
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum day
Posted By SUBMITTED
Posted 1 day ago [as of Sept. 12, 2009]
FASD Network Coordinator
On Sept. 9, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day was held to
celebrate the successes of families and individuals affected by FASD
and the communities that support them.
The collective goal is to raise awareness and recognize the
importance of fetal alcohol prevention and early intervention. This
day was celebrated around the world. People are encouraged to help
support pregnant mothers to have an alcohol free pregnancy in order
for future generations to be healthy, productive and happy.
"This year the Prairie Central Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
Network has partnered with TIPS (CAFCL), Alberta Health Services
Addiction and Mental Health, and Alberta Health Services Health
Promotion and Pediatric Rehab to hold an event to raise awareness
about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and to celebrate the successes
of families and individuals affected by FASD.
Devona Gibson, Prairie Central FASD Network Coordinator explains, "On
the ninth minute of the ninth hour of the ninth day of the ninth
month of 2009, bells will toll throughout the world to begin a minute
of reflection by parents, caregivers and professionals who will be
reminding others that women should not drink alcohol during their
nine months of pregnancy."
The local event will also involve a balloon release to remind us of
the millions of individuals who will not reach their genetic
potential; to celebrate the families and caregivers of individuals
with FASD; andto remind us that it is a community effort to prevent
FASD and support individuals and families. This ceremony is open to
anyone in the community interested in attending.
"Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is 100 per cent preventable
by abstaining from alcohol during conception and pregnancy," says
Gibson. "However, many pregnant women are still not aware of the
dangers in consuming alcohol.
"Damaging effects of drinking during pregnancy include growth
retardation, physical, mental and behavioral disorders, central
nervous system impairments such as developmental delays, small head
size, speech and language delay, and facial abnormalities."
There is no cure for FASD. A child with FASD grows up to be an adult
with FASD. Individuals with FASD may require extensive support and
services related to health, social services, education and training,
justice, addictions, and family supports throughout their lives.
According to the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Cross-Ministry
Committee in Alberta, it is estimated that each child with FASD may
require as much as $1.5 million in special care, support and/or
supervision during his or her lifetime. In addition, there are costs
to the individual and family.
The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Cross-Ministry Committee
maintains that Preventing FASD should not be considered just a
woman's responsibility. The attitudes and behaviors of partners,
families, friends and society play a critical role in reinforcing the
importance of not drinking during pregnancy and while nursing. It is
easy to say "just don't drink"; it's not always easy to do so.
Pregnant women who drink alcohol need compassionate, non-judgmental,
intensive and often long term support to stop drinking or reduce
their drinking.
If you or someone you know needs help to stop drinking, contact a
healthcare professional, FASD service Network or the Alberta Health
Services, Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322.
Article ID# 1747902
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sat Sep 12 17:24:26 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sat Sep 12 16:28:14 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] A pregnant pause for FASD: Woodstock, Ont.
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090912142941.02fc86c0@ncf.ca>
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sat Sep 12 17:28:20 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sat Sep 12 16:34:12 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Awareness key in FASD struggle: Langley, B.C.
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090912142958.02fc86c0@ncf.ca>
http://www2.canada.com/langleyadvance/news/story.html?id=f7a499e6-e0cc-4f5a-b24c-f13ce92fd808
Langley Advance
Langley, British Columbia
Awareness key in FASD struggle
Problems can be prevented by simply not drinking.
Matthew Claxton
Langley Advance
Friday, September 11, 2009
[Photo]
CREDIT: Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance
Parents, grandparents, children and support workers walked to promote
FASD awareness on Wednesday.
It was nine minutes after nine o'clock, on the ninth day of the ninth
month that bells rang in Langley City to mark Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder (FASD) awareness day.
The day and time were chosen to symbolize the most important time for
mothers to abstain from drinking alcohol: the nine months of pregnancy.
As several speakers mentioned, women should also abstain when trying
to become pregnant and while breast feeding to avoid FASD affecting
their children.
FASD is a blanket term for a number of related conditions, of varying
severity, all caused by exposure of a developing fetus to alcohol.
Alcohol damages the developing brain, and those with FASD may have
learning disabilities all their lives. Common problems include
difficulty with adding, subtracting and handling money, problems with
thinking things through or learning from experience, and difficulty
understanding the consequences of actions, getting along with others,
and memory problems.
The Langley Centre for Child Development hosted the event, held in
the foyer of Langley City Hall. Karen Janzen, whose title of key
worker sums up how much she does for local families dealing with
FASD, read a brief poem at the Wednesday event.
Langley City Mayor Peter Fassbender, MLA Mary Polak, and MP Mark
Warawa all attended.
Polak mentioned that her daughter's generation seems to take it for
granted that everyone now knows not to drink when pregnant.
"It's a message we need to keep hammering home," Polak said.
Warawa noted that FASD is the leading cause of disability in Canada.
"We all need to work together," he said.
After the bell ringing and speeches, participants made a short walk
through downtown Langley City bearing signs to raise awareness.
mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
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From rosse at ncf.ca Sun Sep 20 13:54:20 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Sun Sep 20 13:04:17 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Cause and effect: fetal alcohol syndrome...
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090920125156.0394a5d0@ncf.ca>
[Lynn Cunningham, an associate professor at
Ryerson University in Toronto, won the National
Magazine Award Foundation's outstanding achievement award in 1998]
http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2009.10-memoir-cause-and-effect/
illustration by Chantal Rousseau
The Walrus magazine
Memoir
Cause and Effect
Fetal alcohol syndrome is preventable, incurable,
and surprisingly common. Still, it brought me Boop, who has redefined my life
by Lynn Cunningham
illustration by Chantal Rousseau
Read
the October 2009
issue.
It was one of those life-changing phone calls,
only not the kind announcing you?ve won a lottery
or been nominated for some big-deal award. The
woman on the other end of the phone was a
Children?s Aid worker in a community just north
of Toronto. ?Ms. Cunningham? I?m calling about
your grandson, Andrew. Come and get him, or we?re
taking him into care. Meet me at the hospital.?
I had the forty-five-minute drive to imagine what
exactly had transpired. Andrew?s mom, my
twenty-six-year-old stepdaughter, had been an
alcoholic since her early teens, so I guessed
booze was going to figure into the narrative in
some way. Alas, I was right. Kira, nine months
pregnant with child number five, had been found,
again, wui ? wandering under the influence ?
accompanied by number four, Andrew, and the two
of them had been scooped by the police. She was
still very slurry by the time I got there, and
far from capable of reining in sixteen-month-old
Andrew, who was busily toddling around the
emergency ward, grabbing anything solid to whack on the walls........
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From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Sep 24 11:31:06 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Thu Sep 24 10:34:15 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] B.C. scraps healthy pregnancy project
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090924103057.03800450@ncf.ca>
B.C. scraps healthy pregnancy project; Hospital stuck with $100,000
bill in battle over alcohol abuse effects
Lindsay Kines. Times - Colonist. Victoria, B.C.: Sep 19, 2009. pg. A.1
The B.C. government has pulled the plug on a program aimed at
reducing the number of babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome.
Healthy Living and Sport Minister Ida Chong recently shut down the
Healthy Choices in Pregnancy project a year before it was slated to finish.
The abrupt cancellation left officials unable to assess the program's
effectiveness, and stuck the ministry's partners -- B.C. Women's
Hospital and the B.C. Centre of Excellence for Women's Health -- with
a $100,000 bill.
Hospital president Jan Christilaw said the program had already spent
a quarter of its $420,000 annual budget when the government yanked
funding at the end of June. "We're expected to be cutting back ...
within the hospital itself," she said. "And to have to find the money
that's already been spent on this project ... means that the cuts
that we're already having to make will just be that much deeper."
Elimination of the project came to light after the NDP slammed the
government for adding a junior minister under Chong and then cutting
Chong's budget. "They increased -- get this -- executive and support
services by five per cent, and they cut programs to protect the
population and public health by 42.9 per cent," said NDP health
critic Adrian Dix. "It's a simple question for the minister ... What
did they cut in her budget?"
Chong refused to provide a list for Dix or the media. The Times
Colonist began going through the ministry's past press releases, and
investigating previously announced programs and projects to see if
they were still around.
The Healthy Choices in Pregnancy project was announced last
September, and the press release noted that the launch included a
national online video-stream of the event.
"Through this pillar of ActNow BC, we are working to improve the
health of mothers and their babies and ultimately decrease the number
of infants born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder," then-minister
of healthy living Mary Polak said in the release.
The project produced a number of educational materials, and trained
doctors and other health-care providers in how to talk to women about
substance abuse during pregnancy. By doing so, officials hoped to see
a 50 per cent increase in the number of women who received expert counselling.
But Chong cut short the program before officials could evaluate its success.
"It leaves us in a bit of bind in that we won't be able to actually
learn as much as we should have been able to learn from this
program," Christilaw said.
But she still believes the program "focused attention on the role of
the caregiver in fetal alcohol syndrome in a substantial way."
lkines@tc.canwest.com
- TOMORROW: From seal pups to seniors' parks, it's hard to find
someone unaffected by budget cuts. So why doesn't the government put
out a comprehensive list and be done with it?
Credit: Lindsay Kines; Times Colonist
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From rosse at ncf.ca Thu Sep 24 11:31:42 2009
From: rosse at ncf.ca (Elspeth Ross)
Date: Thu Sep 24 10:34:20 2009
Subject: [Fasd_canadian_link] Grant mess leaves Liberals fumbling: B.C.
Message-ID: <6.2.5.6.2.20090924103133.03998d48@ncf.ca>
"...It soon came to light that Chong's ministry recently killed a
program that aims to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome..."
Grant mess leaves Liberals fumbling
Lindsay Kines, Rob Shaw. Times - Colonist. Victoria, B.C.: Sep 20,
2009. pg. A.3
Late Thursday morning, just after 11 a.m., the B.C. Liberal
government issued a press release under the headline: "Communities
Receive $55 Million in Local Priorities."
It was one of a half-dozen releases issued by the government's public
affairs bureau that day. And it might have gone unnoticed, except
that it included something the bureau has been claiming it can't
produce: A list.
The release directed reporters to the ministry's website, where they
could download a helpful, colour-coded chart of all the communities
receiving money -- right down to the last dollar.
The list was sorted alphabetically -- apparently using computer
software -- with different columns breaking down the sources of the money.
It was all quite interesting, given that government has been refusing
to release a similar list of organizations who -- instead of
receiving money -- have had their grants cut or eliminated.
The universal response from public-affairs officials has been that
it's just not possible to do. They don't have the technology, or
they've never done it before.
"Government does not provide information on those who did not receive
grants," a document released by Environment Minister Barry Penner's
communications staff said last week.
The Ministry of Housing and Social Development, meanwhile, rejected
the Times Colonist's request for a breakdown of sport, arts and
culture cuts under freedom of information laws. The reason? They lack
the technology to provide such a list -- even though the ministry has
Excel spreadsheets of grant recipients posted on its website.
The government's critics, however, don't buy the explanations.
If ministries can send rejection letters en masse to organizations
around the province, they must have a list, said NDP housing critic
Shane Simpson.
"It's unbelievable they can't get to the details of who they are
giving money to," he said. "I just believe they are unwilling to
provide that information at this point."
The absence of a single, comprehensive list meant the Opposition was
able to hammer the Liberal government every day last week as news
trickled out of one more cancelled grant or program.
It has proven a public-relations nightmare for government, and one
that appears likely to continue.
"I think it's going to come out more and more in a death of a
thousand cuts, versus one big discussion," said Simpson.
Healthy Living and Sport Minister Ida Chong bore the brunt of the
Opposition's wrath over a $20-million cut to the public-health
portion of her budget. She stumbled through a full-out attack in
question period last week and then told reporters that most of the
money was saved by wiping out discretionary money for "one-year pilot
programs."
"I can tell you that some of the most critical programs for
population and public health are being continued," Chong told reporters.
Without a list of cuts, however, reporters began going through her
ministry's press releases from last year and checking to see if any
of the programs had been slashed. It soon came to light that Chong's
ministry recently killed a program that aims to prevent fetal alcohol
syndrome -- a full year before it was slated to finish. The cut left
health officials unable to evaluate the program's effectiveness, and
stuck B.C. Women's Hospital with unpaid bills.
The NDP suggested government save money by booting ineffective
ministers like Chong, who can't even explain her own budget. But
Opposition Leader Carole James warned last week that the Oak
Bay-Gordon Head MLA isn't the only minister likely to face a roasting
in coming weeks.
"I think the ministers better get prepared because we're going to
continue to ask the questions. The public deserves to know where
those cuts are coming from. The government thinks they're going to
trickle them out and continue hoping no one will notice. Well, I
think they'll be surprised."
lkines@tc.canwest.com
rfshaw@tc.canwest.com
Credit: Lindsay Kines and Rob Shaw; Times Colonist
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