People and snowflakes have much in common. Individually we are all beautiful and unique, but when we stick together

we manifest an incredible force

-Cory Booker

NETWORK NEWS

V O L U M E 1 6 , I S S U E 1 6 Table of

contents

Invitation—

community

meeting

2

Network move

information

3

Fasd language

guide

4

5

Moctail recipes 6

Fasd education

mornings

8

FLYING WITH BROKEN

WINGS 9

HOLIDAY STRESS

REDUCERS

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11

FASD SERVICES + CONTACT NUMBERS

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13

CIRCLE SERIES 14

CLINIC UPDATE 15

IMPORTANT DATES 16

Merry Christmas!

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P A G E 2 V O L U M E 1 6 , I S S U E 1 6

In preparation for writing the 2018-19 Business Plan for the

Central Alberta FASD Network, I would like to invite you to let us know

what our individuals diagnosed or suspected of having FASD need to live

successful engaged lives! While there is NEVER a guarantee of additional

funding for our community, we must continue to let the Government of

Alberta and its Ministries know what

our community needs!!!!

In preparation I need you to gather

the following information to be

shared:

What is working well for the

individuals with FASD you support?

What services or supports do the individuals with FASD who you

support need “right now” that are not accessible or available?”

What services or supports do the individuals with FASD who you

support need “in the next year” that are currently “not available or

accessible?”

——-B.L. Benson, Executive Director, Central Alberta FASD Network

We Need to Hear From You!!!

Join Us on January 17—1:00-3:00

at the CATZ Training Room—

4826—53 St. Free Parking at the

rear of the building.

Refreshments! Networking!

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V O L U M E 7 , I S S U E 7

P A G E 7 7

THE CENTRAL ALBERTA FASD NETWORK’S

CHANGES…COMINGS…& GOINGS

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LANGUAGE GUIDE

Promoting dignity for those impacted by

FASD

This guide is intended to provide alternative

words or phrases for those commonly used in society. We propose these be used in

an effort to promote the dignity of those with FASD and their families.

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EDUCATION MORNING

Our FASD team invites you to join us monthly on the last Monday of

every month for an information learning experience.

FREE INFORMATION!

Every month we have a different community agency present information on the programs they offer and how it could be beneficial to the individuals we

support

This month’s session will run from 9:30-11:30

Next Session: December 18, 2017

Featuring:

Canadian Mental Health Association

TO REGISTER – Call Krystal Waldo - 403-304-6364

Where: Catholic Social Services—5104 -48 Avenue

When: The last Monday of every month! 9:30-11:30

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“FLYING WITH BROKEN WINGS”

Flying With Broken Wings is a Facebook group for people with FASD, and those who

work with or care for us. Share…vent...express yourself…ask questions…give opin-

ions...This is for anything we feel we need to share. Please respect everyone and

their opinions and feelings.

ANY disrespect or inappropriate or hurtful behavior WILL NOT be Tolerated.

It’s a roller coaster people… get bugs in your teeth and ENJOY THE RIDE!

Connect on Facebook by entering the following in the search bar:

FASD (a) ”Flying With Broken Wings”

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P A G E 1 2 V O L U M E 1 6 , I S S U E 1 6

PREVENTION—TARGETED prevention for those most at-risk of giving birth to a child with FASD.

Parent Child Assistance Program (PCAP)

The Goals:

To help mothers build and maintain healthy, independent family lives

To assure that children are in safe and stable homes

To prevent future births of alcohol and drug exposed children.

The Approach:

Trained and supervised Parent Advocates provide home visitation and intervention for 3 years.

Parent Advocates Assist in:

Setting goals

Obtaining alcohol/drug treatment

Solving housing, domestic violence, child custody problems

Resolving system service barriers and more…….

FASD ASSESSMENT & DIAGNOSIS for Ages 15—through Adulthood

Assessment-Diagnostic services include medical, cognitive, behaviour, communication, adaptive functioning assess-

ments completed by a “multidisciplinary team” that meets the Canadian Clinical Guidelines for diagnosis. Referrals re-

quire the history of prenatal alcohol exposure.

If you are interested in requesting an assessment for yourself or on someone’s behalf, contact the Diagnostic Coordinator.

All the options will be explored and necessary paperwork can begin. In order for the FASD Network to cover the costs of

an assessment, certain criteria needs to be met.

SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS—OUTREACH

Ongoing FASD skill building FASD knowledge and informational opportunities for agencies and their staff.

OUTREACH workers in the region provide the following:

Advocacy

Community links to service

Family and individual support for children and adults impacted by FASD

Basic life and community living skills

Information

Services for adults denied PDD support due to I.Q.

Assistance in developing strategies that will be successful in the home and other environments such as school or the

workplace

Strategies to reduce secondary disabilities such as trouble with the law, alcohol and drug

problems, mental health problems, inappropriate sexual behavior etc.

Disruptive school experience

Referral for FASD Assessment and Diagnosis

FASD SERVICES AVAILABLE IN CENTRAL ALBERTA

There is no “Safe”

amount of alcohol use

during Pregnancy.

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Central Alberta FASD SERVICE CONTACT NUMBERS

CENTRAL ALBERTA FASD NETWORK 403 342-7499

E.D./Regional Network Coordinator: Betty Lou Benson: fasdnetwork@shawbiz.ca

Clinic Diagnostic Services Coordinator: Trina Kennedy: tkennedy@fasdca.ca

Resource Coordinator: Vicki Scott: vscott@fasdca.ca

FASD Corrections Services Coordinator: Meghan Hunter: mhunter@fasdca.ca

FASD Prevention Facilitator: Chris Chabot: cchabot@fasdca.ca

Admin. Assistant: Cassandra Pander: cpander@fasdca.ca

www.centralfasd.org

Like us on Facebook!!!

Central PCAP: Red Deer and area:

Red Deer Native Friendship Society

Family Services of Central Alberta

South Central PCAP

Accredited Supports to Community

West Central PCAP

Mountain Rose Women’s Emergency Shelter

403 340-0020

403 343-6400

403 556-4110

403 845-5339

FASD Outreach— Catholic Social Services

Red Deer + Area

403 347-8844

FASD Outreach— McMan Youth Family and

Community Assn. Olds-Sundre + Area

403 556-7877

FASD Outreach— McMan Youth Family and

Community Assn. Rocky Mountain House + Area—

403 845-6306

FASD Outreach—South Central FASD Committee-

Drumheller, Hanna, Three Hills, 3 C’s

403 854-2099

#213

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The Circle Series:: Circle of Art & Support is a bold vision of restorative practices, connection and

arts for social change that builds on an already established and successful concept related to building an ef-

fective and safe community of support for persons living with FASD (and others too!!). Central Alberta

FASD Network is thrilled to announce the project will continue in 2018 with the first Circle—January 9,

2018 at The MAPLE ROOM—5000 Gaetz—Ground floor in the Scotia Bank Building on the corner.

The Circle Series of Arts & Support offered the following opportunities for exposure to Arts + Culture ses-

sion: Water colour painting….. Comedy…..Yoga….. Dance…..Drumming Circle….. Improvisation…..!!!

Art and Culture with Emily Thomson one week and Sharing Circle with Blair + Meghan the Next

The Circle of Arts and Support is EVERY Tuesday from 6:30—8:00.

Don’t Be Afraid to Open the Door to Something

You Have Never Done Before!!!!!

Connections! Fun! +++ Good Company!+++FREE!

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE + FACEBOOK for more details or

call the network for more information. 403-342-7499.

ARTS + CONNECTION for SOCIAL CHANGE!!!!!!

We asked the previous participants of circle to

describe circle in one word and they said….

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OBD CLINIC UPDATE

Season’s greetings, it is hard to believe that it is almost time to say farewell to 2017. December is always

a great time to look back at the year and reflect on all the amazing things that happened at the OBD

Clinic. This year was a very busy year for clinic and I am thankful I had assistance from Cassandra Pander

who was hired early this year to help with Network Office Administration.

Through clinic between January and December of this year 46 assessments will have been completed.

Thank you so much to all our community partners who helped to get individuals through the assessment

process from start to finish, we could not do it with out you! Due to our wonderful partnerships I am

proud to say that we have a 95% success rate in getting individuals from intake to completion, which is

the highest in all of the province (26 clinics in Alberta). This just shows what amazing things can happen

when passionate and committed professionals work together.

This year the Network had a project with Persons with Developmental Disabilities. This project

supported 12 PDD clients to receive a multidisciplinary assessment. Individuals referred for assessment

presented with very complex needs. Goals were to have an up to date assessment. Support,

consultation and training was provided to the individuals support team which included Guardian, PDD

Case worker, COMPASS Team, group home and support staff. This has been a great partnership and this

project has received great feedback!

Lastly I have to announce that Dr. Jim Saunders will be retiring from clinic at the end of December. Jim

has been an integral part of clinic having been involved in its planning prior to 2010 when our clinic was

developed. In fact Jim was one of the first FASD pioneers in Central Alberta. Jim was assessing

individuals through his medical clinic long before most clinics through the CMC (Cross Ministry

Committee) existed. Jim was attempting to do assessments on his own but he quickly realized the

complexity and need for a multidisciplinary approach for FASD assessment. He eagerly joined the clinic

team which provided the opportunity to continue his role as Physician.

Since Jim has been with the clinic he has been part of assessing 318 patients! Jim approached all our

patients with kindness, patience and understanding. His gentle approach instantly made patients feel

comfortable and heard. Jim, I am so honored that you walked along side the team as we developed

clinic over the past eight years. Your wisdom and insight were appreciated, you will be truly missed.

Everyone at the Network wishes you all the best in this new chapter in your life, traveling the world and

enjoying those grandbabies.

I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and all of the best in 2018!!

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FASD

Websites

Lakeland Centre for

FASD Northern

Alberta site with links to

information from across

Canada and around the

world.

www.lakelandfas.com

The FASD Center of

Excellence is a project of

the Substance Abuse and

Mental Health Services

www.fascenter.samhsa.g

ov/gg/index.cfm

The Canadian FASD

Training Online Database” found at

www.ccsa.ca

The FASD Support

Network of

Saskatchewan Inc. www.skfasdnetwork.ca

—Download FASD Tips

for Parents and

Caregivers

Justice Website:

www.fasdjustice.on.ca

FASLink maintains an

extensive website of

more than 100,000 FASD documents in a

searchable database.

www.faslink.org

} www.centralfasd.org

FASD CMC Alberta

Information about the

FASD Network initiative

and access to the FASD

Learning Series online.

www.fasd-

cmc.alberta.ca/fasd-

service-networks

Several publications on

FASD are available at

the Red Deer Regional

Library + at the Dawe.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR -

IMPORTANT DATES!!!

January 17, 2018: FASD Com m unity Needs Assessm ent!

Please join us to share what is working and what is needed for the

individuals you support with FASD. 1:00—3:00 at the CATZ

4826—53 St., Red Deer. Refreshments! Good company! Network!

SAVE the DATE: April 17, 18, 19—Liz Lawryk will be offering 3

days of top notch FASD training. The training will be the same each

of the 3 days so that our Central Alberta Organizations can send

some of their team members each day leaving someone to mind the

shop! Awesome opportunity for Networking with your

colleagues who are doing the same work!

_____________________________________________

Christmas

“A time of peace, a season of wonder, a moment of joy we

quietly hope will last Forever…”

From All of us from the Central Alberta FASD

Network to All of You!!!!!

Wishing you all the best now and

throughout the coming year!