September 9, 2008
Province Launches Spectrum Connections, A First-In-Canada Mobile Support Team For People With FASD
– – –New Supports, New FASD Specialists Hired, Number of Stop FASD Sites Expanded to Seven: Mackintosh, Irvin-Ross
The province today launched Spectrum Connections, a first-of-its-kind program of community-based services, supports and preventive initiatives for Manitobans living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh and Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross have announced.
“A year ago we unveiled our $7.5-million co-ordinated FASD strategy to support people with FASD and to prevent it,” said Mackintosh. “Today, I’m pleased to announce the implementation of important components of that strategy.”
The new initiatives include:
· implementing the new Spectrum Connections FASD Services program for people who have been diagnosed with FASD,
· hiring FASD specialists in each of the four child and family services authorities,
· increasing the number of Stop FASD program sites to seven from four,
· investing $70,000 to co-ordinate and improve services for women with addictions,
· enhancing diagnostic services for FASD in Manitoba,
· expanding the FASD Youth Justice Program to The Pas, and
· providing funding for a new FASD research award.
“Input from our partners in the community was vital to developing this co-ordinated strategy to expand our approach to addressing and preventing FASD,” Irvin-Ross said. “We are committed to continuing our work with our community partners to improve services for Manitobans affected by FASD.”
Today’s launch builds on initiatives implemented through Changes for Children, which involves all four child and family service authorities.
“The new FASD specialists will strengthen the resources and skills of families within their communities,” said Elsie Flette, chief executive officer of the First Nations of Southern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority. “As part of the provincial strategy, communities and families will be given the opportunity to share their wisdom about FASD and receive information and resources on a community and provincial level.”
“We are pleased the provincial FASD strategy is moving forward to develop much-needed programs and services,” said Marie Lands, acting chief executive officer of the First Nations of Northern Manitoba Child and Family Services Authority. “We look forward to working with the government to develop community-based initiatives to support families and children who are dealing with
FASD-related issues in our northern communities.”
FASD-related issues in our northern communities.”
“With this new FASD specialist position, we will be able to support front-line staff by providing enhanced training to build on their expertise and helping them in their efforts to access services for children and families affected by FASD,” said Jay Rodgers, chief executive officer of the General Child and Family Services Authority. “We also look forward to working with our partners to develop broader FASD initiatives.”
“The FASD specialist positions present an exciting opportunity to develop and offer culturally appropriate services to promote the well-being of children, adolescents and adults with FASD and their families,” said Leilani Buschau, acting chief executive officer of the Métis Child and Family Services Authority. “The authority looks forward to the continuation of inclusive partnerships with our child welfare counterparts, our collaterals and within our own Métis communities.”
The ministers also announced that, in partnership with the University of Manitoba, faculty of medicine’s department of community health sciences, an FASD Research Scientist Award has been granted to Dr. Ana Hanlon-Dearman, a developmental pediatrician at the Clinic for Alcohol and Drug Exposed Children.
“We are confident and excited that this research award will stimulate and facilitate more research in the important area of FASD,” said Lawrence Elliott, acting head of the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba.
Manitoba is a founding partner of the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership, an alliance of seven jurisdictions including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Yukon. Irvin-Ross is the Manitoba representative of the partnership, which works towards the development and promotion of an interprovincial/territorial approach to prevention, intervention, care and support of individuals affected by FASD.
“Today, each minister involved in the partnership is taking the opportunity to speak out about the work happening in the area of FASD,” said Irvin-Ross. “After only three years, the research network we fund is providing us with excellent results that are helping our province develop evidence-based policy and programming decisions.”
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION ATTACHEDBackgrounder
FASD Strategy - https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/newslinks/2008/2008sept/SpectrumConnections.FS.HL.HLY.doc