What We're Doing

The Health Portfolio has two major initiatives on FASD: the Pan-Canadian FASD Initiative and the First Nations and Inuit FASD Program.

Pan-Canadian FASD Initiative

The Pan-Canadian FASD Initiative is a collaborative effort designed to ensure that everyone committed to action on FASD is working towards common goals. The Initiative is reflected in the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): A Framework for Action that was developed in consultation with organizations at the community, provincial, territorial and national levels.

The Pan-Canadian FASD Initiative has evolved from the original expansion of the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) to enhance Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/FAE) activities.

The vision for both the FASD Initiative and the Framework for Action is to prevent future births affected by alcohol, and to improve outcomes for those affected by this life-long disability.

In addition the FASD Initiative is closely linked with the development of the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada , and the National Alcohol Strategy Working Group.

The Initiative and Framework have five goals:

• Increasing awareness and understanding
• Increasing capacity
• Creating tools
• Expanding knowledge
• Supporting action

First Nations and Inuit (FNIHB) FASD Program

FASD programming for First Nations on-reserve and Inuit communities is delivered through the First Nations Inuit Health Branch Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FNIHB FASD) program . This program is focused on reducing the number of FASD births and improving the quality of life for those affected by FASD. This is achieved through education and training in order to increase awareness and community readiness to deal with FASD, targeted initiatives for those at risk of having an FASD birth, supports for parents and families of FASD affected children and collaborative initiatives with partners on issues such as early identification, assessment and diagnosis.