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Recovery and sobriety key themes for this years’ FASD awareness day

Aug 27, 2017 | 11:00 PM

On September 9th, Red Deerians are invited out to a morning of information followed by a free BBQ hosted by the Central Alberta Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Network.

Starting at 8:30 a.m. at The Hub on Ross there will be  breakfast refreshments, followed by an opening prayer and a proclamation.

Deputy Mayor Lawrence Lee will read the proclamation on behalf of The City of Red Deer acknowledging International FASD Awareness Day.  This will be done on the 9th day of the 9th month at 9 minutes past 9 a.m. to acknowledge the nine months of development during pregnancy.

Betty Lou Benson, executive director the Central Alberta FASD Network, said there will also be an awards presentation of the Starfish award.

“[The Starfish award] recognizes individuals who have gone over and above to support FASD in their work place or community. One of the men with FASD who has become a long-time supporter of the network creates a star blanket that is the cherished award for the day,” said Benson.

Guest speakers include Blair Charters and Cassandra Fink as well as Don Choyis. Choyis the founder of the White Bison Organization out of Colorado as well as the Wellbriety Movement, will follow two other guest speakers and a musical introduction.

“Then we will be doing a nine block walk from the Hub on Ross and end up at City Hall Park where we will have a BBQ that’s open to everybody and it’s free,” said Benson.

The BBQ begins at noon in City Hall Park and will be running in conjunction with Red Deer Recovery Day. Benson said it’s a great fit for the two organizations to celebrate sober pregnancies alongside a celebration of addiction recovery. 

FASD Awareness Day is meant to provide information to those who are living with the disability, those caring for someone with FASD, and to the general public, who Benson said are more affected by the disability than they know.

“There’s still a lot of mixed information and a lot of mixed messages around FASD. It affects everyone, people assume that it doesn’t affect them,” said Chris Chabot, prevention conversation facilitator with the Central Alberta FASD Network.

Chabot added that because of the high number of people who are incarcerated with FASD or who remain homeless with FASD, the disability affects everyone in some way shape or form.

A staggering 25% of cases entering the courts involve someone affected by FASD or prenatal alcohol exposure. “We have begun to address that be working with the courts,” said Chabot.

One of the other awareness issues that both Benson and Chabot agree is an ongoing issue is the mixed information provided to pregnant women.

“We just want people to be aware that no alcohol is best. We want to take away the judging, we don’t want to blame and shame pregnant women, we just want to offer support and encouragement,” said Chabot.

On top of affecting everybody, Benson said the responsibility to prevent FASD falls into the hands of those who know a pregnant woman.

“It’s not just professionals [jobs to prevent it]. We all know women in our lives who become pregnant and it’s that relationship with those people that we know so well who are pregnant that is key to preventing this disability,” said Benson.

The Central Alberta FASD Network provides life long resources to people affected by FASD and also have access to both assessment and diagnosis clinics through the network. They also have a parent/child assistant program that works with at risk moms for upwards of three years.

The network serves a region of 64,000 sq. km. and is funded through the Government of Alberta. They then fund several other agencies throughout the region to provide prevention, outreach, and awareness.

For more information about FASD services visist www.centralfasd.org.