Healthy Child Manitoba

FASD Initiatives

What the government of Manitoba is doing to address FASD through Healthy Child Manitoba

The FASD Program and Policy Consultants at Healthy Child Manitoba provide expertise and work as partners with the community to build new services and improve existing supports at a local level. Healthy Child Manitoba also gives assistance to our partner departments and other governments to coordinate efforts to better meet the needs of communities and families.

Healthy Child Manitoba's efforts include creating and supporting community partnerships, supports for families and individuals living with FASD, prevention initiatives, and resource development.

Partnerships

Support

Prevention

Resources

Partnerships

• Coalition on Alcohol and Pregnancy brings together families, service providers, community organizations and representatives from government from across the province to share information and resources, co-ordinate activities and plan together to address issues related to FASD. The coalition regularly holds lunch hour information sessions, which are broadcast via the telehealth network, and brings expert speakers to Manitoba. A regular newsletter also facilitates the province wide communication. To subscribe to the free newsletter, e-mail us.  

• Canada Northwest FASD Partnership is an intergovernmental partnership between the four western provinces - British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and the three territories, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. The partnering jurisdictions have agreed to share best practices, expertise, and resources, and to develop joint strategies and initiatives to better address the issue of FASD.  For more information, visit the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership website.

• Canada Northwest FASD Research Network aims to build research capacity across Western Canada and the Territories to address high priority research questions, to devise more effective prevention and support strategies for women, for individuals with FASD and their families, and to better inform policy. For more information visit the Canada Northwest FASD Research Network website.

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Support

• The Fetal Alcohol Family Association of Manitoba is a provincial organization dedicated to providing advocacy, support, and education to families caring for, and professionals working with, children and adults affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. For more information visit the FAFAM website.

• FASD Information Manitoba is a toll free phone line which provides information and support to anyone, anywhere in Manitoba regarding alcohol related disabilities. This confidential phone line is staffed by experts in the area of FASD and can provide information on substance use during pregnancy and strategies for supporting an individual affected by FASD. To contact FASD Information Manitoba call 1-866-877-0050.

• Bridges FASD Intermediate School Program is a partnership between Healthy Child Manitoba, Manitoba Education, Citizenship, and Youth and Winnipeg School Division to support students with FASD in grades 3 to 6 at David Livingstone School. The purpose of this program is to identify and disseminate best practices in the education of students with FASD. 

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Prevention

• InSight Mentoring Program (formerly StopFASD) is a three year community outreach program for women who are using drugs and alcohol heavily during their pregnancy. Women are assigned mentors that help them obtain drug and alcohol treatment, stay in recovery, and resolve the myriad of problems related to substance abuse.

• International FASD Awareness Day is held every year on September 9th to create public awareness of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The significance of the 9th day of the 9th month of the year is to remind the world that during the nine months of pregnancy, no alcohol is best. Healthy Child Manitoba participates in FASDay and supports communities in their efforts to observe this day annually. For more information on hosting FASDay events in your community, visit www.fasday.com

• With Child – Without Alcohol is a program of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) to prevent alcohol-related disabilities using television and radio commercials, posters, brochures, information kits and a website to raise public awareness about alcohol use during pregnancy.

• Healthy Child Manitoba provides various health professionals with information and training about alcohol use and pregnancy.

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Resources Available through Healthy Child Manitoba

• What Educators Need to Know About FASD: Working Together to Educate Children in Manitoba with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | Download
  (1356 KB, 86 pages)

What Early Childhood Educators and Caregivers Need to Know About FAS manual

• FASD Services in Manitoba: Newly updated resource list | Download
  (140 KB, 4 pages)

To order any of these resources free of charge (within Manitoba) please phone (204) 945-2266 or 1-888-848-0140.