Family Support Resources

Parent Support Groups

For information about support groups for parents and caregivers of children, youth and adults with FASD and related support services, click here.

Let's Talk FASD

The Vancouver Order of Nurses (VON) has released Let's Talk FASD: Parent-driven strategies in caring for children with FASD (2005), available online in pdf format. This resource, developed from the shared experiences of parents and caregivers of children with FASD and was intended as a parenting tool to be used by front-line workers, parents and care providers. For more information visit www.von.ca/FASD/

Living with FASD: A Guide for Parents

The Society for Special Needs Adoptive Parents has released the latest version of Living with FASD: A Guide for Parents, 3rd Edition, by Sara Graefe with a foreword by Dr. Julianne Conry. This resource is available for purchase at Groundwork Press or by linking to www.snap.bc.ca, or call (604) 687-3114. Other relevant resources also made available by SNAP include: Living with Prenatal Drug Exposure: A guide for parents, Adoption Peice by Peice Series and many more books and videos to choose from.

A previous version of this resource, FAS: Parenting Children Affected by Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Guide for Daily Living, BC Ministry for Children & Family Development & the Society for Special Needs Adoptive Parents (1999), is available online in pdf format: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/publications/ecd/fas_guide1.pdf

FASD Connections: Serving Adolescents and Adults with FASD

FASD Connections is a volunteer based organization of parents and professionals who recognize the needs of adolescents and adults with FASD and their families. Included in the services offered: support groups for parents of individuals with FASD, training and consultation, links to research and resources on FASD, "In Their Own Words": stories from adolescents and adults with FASD, and "The Missing Voices": information for birth mothers, and a forum for discussions with parents and professionals.

For more information: Email: info@fasdconnections.ca or visit their website http://www.fasdconnections.ca

Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia (AFABC)

The AFABC provide support and services to those considering adoption and those who have already adopted a child. This website provides useful information and resources for families, including a links to support groups for adoptive parents, and a bimonthly FOCUS magazine on adoption.

For more information:

Adoptive Families Association of British Columbia (AFABC)
200 - 7342 Winston Street
Burnaby, BC, V5A 2H1

Phone: 604-320-7330
Fax: 604-320-7350 or Website: http://www.bcadoption.com

Saskatchewan Fetal Alcohol Support Network

The Saskatchewan Fetal Alcohol Support Network is a parent-run organization whose primary goal is to provide support to parents and caregivers of individuals with FASD. This website provides useful information and resources for families and professionals, including a newsletter and series of FASD Tip Sheets for Parents and Caregivers. The Support Network hosts Parents and Caregivers Support Groups and is involved in awarness and training initiatives.

For more information: 1-866-673-3276 (FASN) or email fasdnetwork@sasktel.net
Visit their website: http://www.skfasnetwork.ca

Trying Differently: A Guide for Daily Living and Working with FAS and other Brain Differences. 3rd Edition. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon (2005).

For more information contact:

FASSY, Box 31396 Whitehorse,

Yukon Y1A 6K8,

Telephone: 1-867-393-4948 or email fascap@yknet.yk.ca .

The Broken Cord, by Dorris, M. (1989). Harper Collins & Row.

Michael Dorris writes this heartfelt story of his son growing up with fetal alcohol syndrome. This resource is available at most public libraries and for purchase at local book stores.

Damaged Angels: a mother discovers the terrible cost of alcohol in pregnancy, by Bonnie Buxton (2004). Knopf Canada.

Damaged Angels recounts Bonnie Buxton's struggles to raise an adopted daughter whom she didn't realize was afflicted with fetal alcohol disorder. Her book offers guidance to parents who have children with FASD and is available at most public libraries or for purchase at local book stores.

Trying Differently Rather Than Harder. Malbin, D. (2002). Hazelden.

An order form for this publication is made available online at: http://www.fascets.org/market_place.html. Also available from this author is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Strategies for Professionals. (1993), and is available from Fascets or the FAS Bookshelf.

Fantastic Antone Succeeds: Experiences in Education Children with FAS, by Kleinfeld, J. & Westcott, S. (1993). University of Alaska Press.

This publication is available at most public libraries or for purchase at local book stores

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Guide for Families and Communities, by Streissguth, A. (1997).

This publication is available for purchase from the University of Washington Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit: http://depts.washington.edu/fadu/ or from the FAS Bookshelf.

FASD: Strategies Not Solutions.

A strategies booklet to educate caregivers and the community in managing the behaviours associated with FASD. The publication is made available by the Region 6 FASD Committee, Alberta and is available online: http://www.acbr.com/fas/strategies_not_solutions.pdf

Iceberg Newsletter

Iceberg, the quarterly international educational newsletter published by FASIS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Information Service - a parent/professional partnership), is now accessible on-line: http://www.FASiceberg.org

FAS Tool Kit

The Canadian Centre for Subsance Abuse has put together this tool kit for parents, caregivers, and professionals with information about FASD, prevention, and useful strategies to help care for individuals with FASD. This is an online searchable guide: http://www.ccsa.ca/toolkit/introduction.htm

State of Evidence Review: Interventions for children and youth with FASD (2004).

A final report released by the University of Lethbridge, Alberta Centre for Child, Family, and Community Research that examines best practices in intervention for children with FASD. To view an online pdf version of this report, click here.

Journey Through the Healing Circle

Video / Book Series by Robin LaDue and Carolyn Hartness. This is a series of publications and videos that can be shared with children, youth, and adults with FASD and their families and community to help explain the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome on the lives of individuals of all age groups. It is a series of stories told in the Native tradition and can be ordered online by visiting: http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/ca/Fosterparents/journey.asp or by contacting the

BC Aboriginal Network on Disabilities (BCANDS)

1179 Kosapsum Crescent

Victoria, B.C. V9A 7K7
Phone: (250) 381-7303
Fax: (250) 381-7312
Toll-free: 1-888-813-5511
http://www.bcands.bc.ca/

Booklet on Strategies Parents Find Helpful

Here is a 32 page PDF version of the booklet "Strategies parents find helpful in raising their children living with FASD." Brought to us by St. Michael's Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Diagnostic Clinic and prepared by Czaee Rajwani, a nursing student from the University of Toronto. Czaee would like to thank all the caregivers/families who contributed their invaluable strategies She and Dr. Brenda Stade are working on having the booklet printed, and will let us know when the booklets are available in hard copy.

For more information contact Czaee Raywani at czaee.rajwani@utoronto.ca