In 2004, Dr. Streissguth et al released a ground-breaking study on FASD that shocked
everyone. Within this large sample group
of 415 adults with FASD, it was discovered that 80% of these adults went
through the foster care system and were extremely vulnerable to five primary
adverse outcomes. The study showed
generally 50% of these adults experienced disrupted school experiences, trouble
with law, confinement, inappropriate sexual behaviour, and addictions. The study also showed, however, early
intervention while they are a child will reduce those prevalence numbers of 50%
to 12%.
The youth within the Rural FASD Support
Network know first hand the legitimacy of this study. Most of our youth have came through the foster
care system, experienced all five adverse outcomes multiple times and have
found their success through interventions and support.
CanFASD has also done multiple studies since
2004 on this subject of preventing these five adverse outcomes and just
released its latest paper by Dr. Pei and others.
We understand there is a direct link between
Health, Education, Justice and MCCSS as it applies to FASD. The U.S. Congress in the House of
Representatives have introduced a bill which passed the first two readings
with support from both parties and has now gone to committee. In their bill which states 5% of first
graders in America have FASD, they have linked Health, Mental Health,
Education, Justice and Social Services together.
There are also four youth in our support group
who have experienced firsthand how mental health and justice go together. With FASD, life for a teenager can be very
overwhelming at times. In those
situations, what we have seen is an overpowering desire to escape pain and not
really understanding why. Kim Barthel, Occupational Therapist and Counselor to Theo Fleury, former NHL player, has proven that traumatic events
that happen to a infant will remain within their body’s memory. When you consider an adopted child journeys
through traumatic events in their life and their brains with FASD is not
physically equipped to deal with the trauma, it is not surprising that 90% of
individuals with FASD have mental health challenges. However, when they don’t get proper support,
they eventually become stigmatized and isolated. They are now vulnerable to the five primary
adverse outcomes. Three of the four families have been
able to turn their lives around because of one primary reason. They are surrounded by strong communities
including their relatives, their support group, and their service providers who
have supported them in an informed way throughout these challenges. Stephane Grenier has demonstrated the
importance of peer-based mental health education, and our support group reflects
this complementary role.
This is why the Rural FASD Support Network is
thrilled to now announce a special panel presentation at Queen’s Park in Room
230 at 1pm on FASD: Linking Health, Mental Health and Justice as part of the
Feb. 24 FASD Awareness Day at Queen’s Park. Dr. James Reynolds
of Queen’s University, Dr. Kaitlyn McLachlan of Univ. of Guelph, Lorena Crosbie, Executive Director of
Children’s Mental Health of Leeds-Grenville, Chief Mark
MacGillivray of the Smiths Falls Police, Rebecca
Fromowitz, Executive Director of Lanark Mental Health and Skylar More, adult with FASD will share their
expertise in this area. These six
individuals will show with evidence why supporting mental health creates
positive outcomes for everyone in society and in particular youth with FASD.
Aidan Moore, one of our youth who recently
had his first show in Almonte, will also be recording the presentation and will
be happy to share it with you afterwards if you are unable to stay. If you want to learn how policing and mental
health are supporting each other with proven positive results in Lanark County
and how it could be done in your riding, we would encourage you to stay with us
after the noon presentation. Boxed
lunches and wraps will also be served by Dana Hospitality. We look forward to seeing you there and thank
you for all your positive comments. For any questions, please feel free to contact Rob at ruralfasd@gmail.com
