Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): The Prevention Conversation Project
This project ‘The Prevention Conversation: A Shared Responsibility’ focuses on engaging communities in conversations about drinking during pregnancy or drinking before a woman even knows they are pregnant. The project is based on the first and second levels of the Four-Part Model of Prevention (PHAC, 2008).
It is important for youth, women and their partners, and communities to have access to information and services related to prenatal alcohol use. The communication strategy and messaging component of the project focuses on raising public awareness of the negative effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. As outlined in the Four-Part Model of Prevention, this first level will utilize community development strategies to raise awareness among the target populations, highlight support mechanisms and promote involvement by community members and primary care providers (PHAC, 2008).
Supporting primary care providers to develop the necessary skills to engage in non-judgmental, empathetic conversations about alcohol use is paramount in the prevention of FASD. The second project component will focus on community engagement as a means to train and support primary care providers in the use of screening tools and techniques to engage women in the ‘prevention conversation’. Level two of the Four-Part Model of Prevention promotes the use of collaborative discussion on alcohol use and related risks with all women of child-bearing age and their partners (PHAC 2008). If you would like more information on the FASD Prevention Conversation, A Shared Responsibility project, please click here.
The Project objectives include:
Increase the capacity of education, health and social service providers across the province to educate and support youth, women and their partners, and communities using evidence-based practices to screen for alcohol use in pregnancy and intervene appropriately and effectively.
Increase awareness among youth, women of child-bearing age and their partners, and communities about the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure.
Increase knowledge of community resources available to youth, women and their partners, and communities who may be concerned about alcohol consumption during early pregnancy.
Create community connections between the education, health and social services and the FASD Service Networks to develop wrap around services.
Target Populations:
Primary: Education, health and social service providers that work with youth, women of child-bearing age and their partners, and communities across Alberta.
Secondary: Youth, women and their partners of child-bearing age, and communities in Alberta
For more information or to book a free presentation by a Prevention Facilitator near you (Alberta) please email: Project Manager, Hazel Mitchell: hmitchell@safasd.ca