Key Services

Diagnostic and Assessment Services

Diagnoses and assessments for children, youth and adults affected by FASD are based on a family-centred, multidiscipline team approach. Our team includes a physician/pediatrician, a registered psychologist, a speech and language pathologist, a family nurse clinician, and our centre coordinator. The Asante Centre provides family support throughout the assessment and diagnosis.

It has been our experience that families and caregivers often seek services for their children during transition periods such as elementary and high school entry, pre-adoption, and transition to adulthood. Individuals sometimes seek assessments during times of crisis such as problems in school, trouble with the law, and employment issues. We also receive requests for assessments for adults who may be struggling with mental health issues, substance misuse, and independent living.

Click here to find out about our Referral Process.

Outreach Service

The team is available to provide assessment services in remote communities (outreach).

Coordinated Care Plans

The staff at The Asante Centre works with individuals, families and advocates to develop detailed plans for the future care of a child, youth or adult affected by FASD. The Asante Centre recognizes the value of the unique experiences of families, care workers and advocates and all are encouraged to contribute to the planning process.

Support Services Before, During and After Diagnosis

Support services are provided for those individuals and their families throughout the assessment process. Preparing for an assessment can be a major step for the family of a person with FASD. The Asante Centre assists families by showing them how to prepare for the assessment, by starting a dialogue about the process and by providing emotional support.

During an assessment, The Asante Centre team helps families and care providers to understand the individual's strengths and challenges. The team provides encouragement and hope, through dialoguing, listening, and acknowledging grief.

After diagnosis, the Centre is available for intervention assistance and to help care providers to access services available to individuals with an alcohol related diagnosis. The Centre also helps care providers to become more knowledgeable about the disability and the appropriate methods for assisting an individual living with FASD.

Download our Support Services Brochure available in a printable version!

Counselling Services

The Asante Centre is pleased to offer counselling support and services to individuals & families affected by FASD, including:

Pre-referral Counselling
Post-Assessment Counselling
Brief Family Intervention
Behaviour Consultation
Brief Behaviour Consultation

A full description of the above services and information on how to make a referral can be found in our Counselling Program Brochure and Counselling Program Poster!

* counselling services are currently unavailable at the Asante Centre. Referrals can be made to the centre and names are placed on a waitlinglist for services.

Family Centered Intervention Groups

The Asante Centre now offers the following intervention services for children, adolescents, and caregivers:

Caregiver and Child Intervention
Caregiver Therapy Group
Caregiver Informational Workshop
Children's Play Group
Children's Intervention Groups
"Learning About Your Disablity" Group for Youth

A full description of the above services and information on how to make a referral can be found in our Family Centered Intervention Groups Poster!

*currently, the Asante Centre is unable to provide intervention groups. Please inquire at the centre for future dates and oppertunities.

Speech and Language Intervention Services

The Asante Centre now offers speech and language therapy services tailored to fit the needs of individuals with FASD and other complex children and youth. A full description of the speech and language services offered and information about how to make a referral can be found in our Speech and Language Intervention Brochure and Speech and Language Intervention Poster!

Consultation Services

The Asante Centre provides professional consultation services to a range of individuals dealing with FASD. Whether you are a teacher working with a child with FASD in the classroom, a lawyer who is representing a client with FASD, a social worker, or family members, The Asante Centre can provide the appropriate expert advice and one-on-one instruction to help you in your work with a child or adult with FASD.

Training

a) Onsite Experiential Learning: Professionals and paraprofessionals are offered the chance to attend the Asante Centre to observe the assessment and diagnostic process and learn about FASD. Service providers, ranging from medical doctors to parole officers, can learn about prevention, intervention, parenting, teaching strategies, and best practices.

b) Multidisciplinary Diagnostic Team Training: The Asante Centre provides multidisciplinary diagnostic training to professionals who are ready to establish community diagnostic teams of their own. Training is based on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Canadian Guidelines for Diagnosis.

Educational Activities

Members of the The Asante Centre team develop and host workshops, present at conferences and participate in a variety of community educational activities. In addition The Asante Centre maintains a resource library with up-to-date information on programs, materials and resources related to the topic of FASD including print and video resources produced by the Centre, available in our store.

Networking

The Asante Centre actively networks with various community partners to build community capacity to address the issues of FASD. All team members participate on regional, provincial and national committees.

Research

The Asante Centre conducts research studies, utilizes research findings that contribute to best practices, and participates in coordinated research program planning with other agencies and academic institutions.

Maintaining a Clinical Database

The Asante Centre is continuously building and updating its clinical database. This database will assist researchers who seek new knowledge about FASD and its impact on individuals, families, and communities.

Youth Justice FASD Program

The Asante Centre is proud to announce our service partnership with PLEA Community Services Society of BC

One of the foremost concerns of The Asante Centre is that young people with FASD have a propensity to get into trouble with the law. Accordingly, the Centre has formed a partnership with PLEA as a means to provide high-risk youth with FASD, who are before the courts, with effective alternatives to custody and providing individualized assessments, intensive support and supervision, residential placements and post-program family follow-up services.

In addition to assessing these high-risk youth, The Asante Centre provides intensive training to the PLEA staff, family caregivers and probation officers. Training and education topics include: health; language; mental health and behavioural issues; understanding the diagnosis and assessment of the client; reading and comprehending the psychoeducational evaluation; grief and loss issues; parenting strategies; advocacy in the legal system. Click here for more information about making a referral to our youth justice FASD program.