SOS FASD – A social emergency
Virtual conference (bilingual) on September 17, 2021 organized by the NPO SafEra with the financial participation of the OPHQ.

FASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, often invisible, known internationally since 1975 (ICD-9: 760.71 F.A.S.) but late in being recognized in Quebec. This is why SafEra is organizing a conference in order to respond to various needs associated with FASD.

Register now!

Science, Knowledge, and Experience: A Shared Journey

Join us for a comprehensive day of virtual learning, including:

• keynote addresses from Canadian field leaders
• current findings and implications of FASD research
• strategies for evidence-based treatment
• interactive knowledge exchange during a choice of breakout educational workshops
• regional resources, supports, and services for families and individuals with FASD
• personal accounts of lived experiences

Save the date – Registration opens in August

On Saturday, June 19, starting at 10:30am, the Rural FASD Support Network welcomes Ken Inbar of the Lanark Children and Youth Advocacy Centre from Open Doors Children Mental Health of Lanark County. Ken will be sharing how this rural project from the Department of Justice is changing the way children and youth who are victims or witnesses of crime are being supported in a trauma-informed way and receiving one-stop service.

To participate live in this Q&A presentation through Zoom, please contact us at ruralfasd@gmail.com. to receive the link.

This is a group for YOU! We want to hear your ideas about topics that are important and relevant to YOU, someone with FASD or suspected FASD.
Share ideas and topics that are important to you to help plan for the coming year. This group is all about YOU!

Pre- Registration Required
REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3oYOZ1p

Participate in the discussion at your comfort level, everyone is welcome!

Breathe & Blossom is a mindfulness meditation and yoga program designed for individuals ages 12-29 with a Developmental Disability (DD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Facilitated by trained mindfulness meditation and yoga practitioners, individuals will learn to connect to their mind, body and breath. This program uses innovated modifications to mindfulness meditation and traditional yoga to accommodate individuals of all abilities.

Thanks to the MLSE Foundation’s support, Breathe & Blossom is FREE to participants.

Note: This program will not run on May 24.

Community Living Hamilton is excited to welcome acclaimed teacher, researcher and inclusive education expert, Shelley Moore, as a special guest speaker at their virtual event on June 2 in celebration of National AccessAbility Week.

Reserve your spot by registering here!

Becoming Trauma-Informed: How Understanding Leads to Efficacy and Hope

Dr. McLeod will describe the impact of trauma on the developing brain and present a model for better understanding how neurodevelopment, attachment and regulation are related. Responding to some of the most challenging behaviour in children and youth, and how to best advocate for individuals with FASD will be explored.

Breakout sessions:

• Confabulation: When Lying Isn’t Lying
  with Nate Sheets
• Gaining Traction: Professionals and Caregivers Working Together to Improve Outcomes
  with Laurie Whyte
• Screen Time, Sexting & Safety – Promoting Digital Health and Wellbeing for Children and Families
  with Dr. Michelle Ponti
• Digging Deeper into Trauma and Regulation
  with Dr. Kristen McLeod
• Understanding and Managing Sleep for Children with FASD
  with Dr. Ana Hanlon-Dearman
• Education & Treatment for Individuals who Engage in Concerning Sexual Behaviours
  with Tiffany Charbonneau & Christa Outhwaite-Salmon
• Medication Algorithm for Individuals with FASD
  with Dr. Mansfield Mela

FREE For Parents and Caregivers on May 18, 2021 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Surviving the Storm: A Caregiver Evening with Dr. McLeod
An intimate session offered to parents and caregivers where Dr. McLeod will cover common topics of self-care, advocacy, building resilience and recognizing one’s own triggers as it relates to supporting individuals with FASD.

A research project evaluating a virtual Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) series for caregivers of individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)

ACT seeks to help individuals to struggle less with difficult things in their lives and mindfully connect with things that are most important in a way that is loving and respectful. With an introduction to the concept of mindfulness, ACT does not attempt to directly change or stop unwanted thoughts or feelings, but to develop a new mindful relationship with those experiences that can free a person up to being open, and to take action consistent with what they care about. This is a research project evaluating the benefits of ACT for caregivers.

About the Virtual Series
The virtual ACT intervention is spread over 4 consecutive Wednesday evenings followed by a refresher evening session, held 4 weeks later.

About the Facilitators
Two facilitators are caregivers of a child with FASD and the other facilitator is a health care professional.

Who Should Attend?
Primary caregivers of individuals with FASD.

Dates & Times
Wednesday March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21 & May 19: 7:00pm-9:00pm
Location: Virtually via WebEx
*You must attend all dates

Want more information?
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP1HFpw_3aY&feature=youtu.be
Articles: http://rdcu.be/I6jT & https://bit.ly/2tSUbcZ

Interested?
Contact: ACT.Research@camh.ca

Learn more about the role of grief and loss and understand how it impacts our journey in understanding ourselves, our relationship with others, and how grief/loss are connected to our developmental stages all throughout our adulthood. Start a journey to heal it and embrace the learnings from it so we can move forward and not feel stuck.

This month’s guest speaker is Karen Moore a registered social worker who is a permanency competent clinician. She works with children, youth and adults who are walking the journey of life working through loss, grief, prenatal exposure to drugs/alcohol, adoption, foster care, trauma, LGBTQ2. Karen is the clinical director at a children/youth mental health centre, and has a private practice providing counselling and training support. Her family was formed through permanency adding 4 children through adoption.

Based on the acclaimed work of FASD expert and published author Diane Malbin, this training series back by popular demand!

In This Webinar You Will Learn…

• About Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and other brain based conditions
• The effects of pre-natal exposure to alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy.
• Best practices and how to create person-centred accommodations to increase understanding.
• How to reduce frustration and improve outcomes for children, youth and adults.

Spring 6 Part Webinar Training Open for Registration Now! Spaces are Limited!

For more information contact: fascetscanadaeast@gmail.com.

Join us to meet others with FASD throughout the province. You will see some old friends and make new friends. During these sessions, we will talk about what matters to you. We will share information and learn something new, all from the comfort of your home. Participate in the discussions at your comfort level, everyone is welcome!

Applications are accepted for subsidies (up to $4,500 per group) for existing and new FASD Support Groups to provide a forum for families and caregivers to:

• Support each other and share information about Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) and FASD.
• Contribute to knowledge exchange across the province.
• Share effective/best practices between communities.
• Support parent/caregiver mentorship.
• Organize and mobilize local FASD initiatives to improve outcomes for individuals living with FASD.

Groups must be Ontario-based. Funding is not available for for-profit organizations.

The purpose of this FASD Family/Caregiver Support Groups funding is to bring together people who are providing care for a child, youth, or adult with FASD or those living with FASD. Groups may be facilitated by service providers, volunteers or ideally both. FASD Support Groups provide a ‘gathering spot’, whether virtual or in-person, and an opportunity for mentorship, information sharing, emotional support, and awareness activities.

You can find the application package on the FASD Support Groups page. It contains the Application Form, the Application Guidelines and the FAQs.

We are hosting a webinar in French on May 12, 2021 from 12 to 1 PM where the call for proposals will be explained and questions will be answered. Register now!