(Central Alberta FASD Network Facebook page)

By Alessia Proietti

From 8:45 a.m. - 12

Local organization hosts event this Saturday for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Day

Sep 8, 2023 | 5:35 PM

This Saturday, Red Deerians can celebrate and learn about International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Day at Bower Ponds.

On September 9, the Central Alberta FASD Network will be hosting a gathering at the Fireside Lounge (4715 Fountain Dr.) from 8:45 a.m. to noon, with the goal of raising awareness and understanding of the disorder and to improve prevention, diagnosis and supports.

The event will have a free barbeque for guests, snacks, beverages, games, and a scavenger hunt, alongside a proclamation by Mayor Ken Johnston and a prayer from local elders.

The non-profit says that currently, there are over 174,000 Albertans impacted by FASD, with a prevalence rate of four per cent in Canada.

“It is more prevalent than autism, down syndrome and cerebral palsy all put together, and people aren’t generally aware of that,” said Julie Nanson-Ashton, Executive Director for the Network.

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According to the Government of Canada, FASD is a life-long disability caused when a baby is exposed to alcohol in the womb, affecting the brain and body.

Symptoms include challenges in memory, learning, motor skills and behavioural. Nanson-Ashton says teenagers can be seen to struggle with academics, impulsiveness, lack of good judgment, and are easily influenced. This can lead to disproportionate representation in the justice system as an adult. She adds people with FASD have a higher tendency to lean towards addictions and unstable housing as they struggle with basic life skills.

Nanson-Ashton says that no amount of alcohol is safe at any point during a pregnancy and each case is different; she has seen some babies severely impacted by low exposure and vice versa.

However, she says there are various reasons why a mother may drink during their pregnancy such as domestic violence, being mired in addiction, and not knowing they are pregnant through unplanned pregnancies.

“There’s so much stigma surrounding FASD. No bio mom wants to harm their child on purpose and it’s very difficult, when you think about it, if a child has autism we all feel really empathetic towards the parents. When a child has FASD, we look in judgement at mom,” she said, adding that more empathy is needed.

As diagnosis cannot be determined through blood sample, she says it is typically discovered around age seven through a strenuous assessment consisting of psychological testing, occupational and speech language therapy, and a physical exam for facial indicators, which are rarely found.

While there is no cure for FASD, Nanson-Ashton says supports can prove beneficial for those diagnosed and their caregivers.

The Central Alberta FASD Network offers community outreach and support, connections to addictions resources, and educational seminars in schools. They provide life skills courses like cooking, budgeting, and tenant etiquette, as well as group meetings for caregivers. The Network also has court diversion and restorative justice programs for crime prevention and communal healing from wrongdoings by those with FASD.

Without supports, the Network says FASD can cost the economy $1 billion per year in the criminal justice system, permanent supportive housing, and government-funded financial aids.

Nanson-Ashton says there is still lots of research being done on the disorder, including if a male’s drinking habits can affect a fetus, which has not shown any proven results.

Since the Network’s inception in 2008, she says they have grown from a team of two to 25 and increased their medical assessments from 18 per year to 55 this year. She claims the central Alberta branch is leading nationally and internationally in terms of FASD advocacy, education, and awareness initiatives.

(Central Alberta FASD Network Facebook page)

PROVINCIAL SUPPORT

This week, the Government of Alberta announced an additional investment of close to $3 million to increase wages for front-line workers supporting individuals with FASD, on top of the $25 million in operating funding already provided to the 12 FASD networks in the province.

In 2022-23, they say the networks assisted 5,426 Albertans and their caregivers.

“Front-line workers supporting Albertans with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder show great dedication in caring for some of our province’s most vulnerable people, and we depend on their hard work to make sure people get the help they need. Alberta’s government is committed to supporting these workers by increasing wages to better attract and retain staff to care for vulnerable Albertans,” said Jason Nixon, Minister of Community and Social Services.

The funding raises average wages by roughly 10 per cent and is in addition to the $330 million announced by Alberta’s government as part of Budget 2023 to support front-line workers across the social services sector.

To register for the event, visit their Eventbrite page.

The Network will also be hosting a “Let’s Talk” Conference in Red Deer on October 12.