PHAC October 2009 Update

Public Health Agency of Canada Updates
October 23, 2009

If you have any questions or comments regarding the updates please do not hesitate to contact:

North Zone: Jane Yi, Program Consultant (780) 495-5086, jane_yi@phac-aspc.gc.ca
South Zone: Ann Pasquill, Program Consultant (403) 292-5154, ann_pasquill@phac-aspc.gc.ca

Extensions/Renewals 2010 – 2011
• At this time, there is no new information. Your program consultant will inform you as soon as we receive information regarding future project funding.

Mental health, childhood obesity and injury prevention scan
• Mental health, childhood obesity and injury prevention has been long standing issues for CAPC/CPNP projects in Alberta. In order to support and represent projects' needs to multiple stakeholders, PHAC will be undertaking an environmental scan this fiscal year to determine what activities Alberta CAPC/CPNP projects are involved in related to the areas of mental health, childhood obesity and injury prevention. How CAPC/CPNP projects define mental health, childhood obesity and injury prevention will also be an area of focus for the scan. PHAC is planning on engaging coalition members through focus groups.

Audio Resources for Immigrant Families

These resources will be accessible to CAPC and CPNP projects when they are completed.

Background
For the past year, the Audio Resource Committee of the Alberta Network for Safe and Healthy Children has been developing an audio parenting resource for immigrant and refugee families. The rationale is that new Canadians may be:
• unable to afford translated materials
• illiterate in their first language
• too busy to read print materials.

In a 2008 survey, we asked various Alberta organizations involved with newcomers about suitable content and languages for our project. They recommended content related to babies and toddlers. Of the 25 languages requested at that time, the most frequently mentioned were Amharic, Farsi, French, Hindi, Kurdish, Low German, Middle Eastern Arabic , Oromo, Persian, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Sudanese Arabic, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

We need you
If you work with immigrant and refugee families, we would greatly appreciate receiving your responses to the very brief survey attached. This will help us focus on the parents of young children who would benefit the most from our project. Feel free to share this survey with other agencies and services you believe should be consulted. Please return the survey by email or fax by Oct 15.




FASD Update

I. Institute of Health Economics (IHE) Consensus Conference on FASD: Across the Lifespan:
The Institute of Health Economics hosted a Consensus Conference on FASD on October 7-9, 2009 in Edmonton. The conference was a unique and compelling approach to examine the following questions: 1) what is FASD and how is it diagnosed? 2) what is the prevalence and incidence of FASD in different populations? 3) what are the consequences of FASD on individuals, families and society? 4) How can FASD be prevented? 5) What policy options could more effectively support individuals with FASD and their families across the lifespan? 6)What further research into FASD is needed?
Jury Chair: Honourable Anne McLellan (former Deputy Prime Minister and federal Health Minister) led a distinguished jury of citizens and experts in the development of a consensus statement that included practical policy recommendations.
Scientific Chair: Dr. Gail Andrew (Pediatrician and Medical Director, Glenrose FASD Clinical Services, Edmonton, AB) led an expert panel that presented available scientific evidence to the jury during public sessions to help with their deliberations.

Here is a copy of the program that was presented.


The link to the final consensus conference statement on FASD:
http://www.ihe.ca/publications/library/2009/consensus-statement-on-fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder-fasd---across-the-lifespan/



The event presentations were videotaped and will be available through www.fasd-cmc.alberta.cain the near future.

II. Alberta FASD Cross Ministry Committee (AB-FASD-CMC) Update (some examples of recent activity below):
a) FASD Learning Series 2009-10: The FASD Learning Series is part of the Alberta government’s commitment to programs and services for people affected by FASD and those who support them. Please find attached information about the upcoming learning sessions that are open to all interested individuals. Any assistance in getting the word out is much appreciated! Please feel free to pass on the information to anyone you think may be interested in participating. The attached poster may also be printed and posted in public areas at your worksite(s). For more information and to register go to: http://www.fasd-cmc.alberta.ca/home/videoconferencingSeries.cfm .
Videoconference e-learning contact: Erin Day, e-Learning Coordinator, FASD Initiatives, Alberta Children & Youth Services, p 780.422.0420, c 780.405.3376
f 780.644.2671, www.fasd-cmc.alberta.ca.

Alberta FASD 10 Year Strategic Plan: Alberta continues to implement the 10 Year FASD Strategic Plan.
12 FASD Service Networks: There are 12 active FASD Service Networks in place, which provide a single point of access for services and resources for individuals seeking assistance regarding FASD across Alberta. The Networks also provide mentoring services, assessment and diagnosis, and supports and services for individuals affected by FASD and their caregivers across the lifespan. Janice Penner will speak to the 12 FASD Service Networks at the CAPC/CPNP Coalition meeting on October 23, 2009.

III. Promising Practice 2010 Provincial Conference on FASD:
SAVE THE DATE: When: February 8-9, 2010

Where: The Hyatt Regency Hotel, Calgary, Alberta
Summary: The 2010 Alberta FASD Conference is planned in Edmonton Alberta.
Presenters: General Roméo Dallaire is providing a keynote address along with plenary sessions by Dr. Bruce Perry and Dr. Mark Gold.
Note: The Canada Northwest Partnership on FASD (CNFASDP) - National Action Team is planning a symposium on FASD intervention on February 10, 2010 in Calgary as well.
Cost: $150/2 days. Subsidies available. As outlined in the HCYS workplan, a MOA for ACYS and PHAC is underway. More to follow.

IV: Alberta Aboriginal Head Start FASD Training Conference- January 2010
Theme - "Experiences - Challenges & Best Practices"
The Alberta Aboriginal FASD Training sub-committee is planning a two-day training session at the end of January, 2010.

The first day will consist of an opening plenary with dignitaries and a Keynote Speaker to set the tone for the training. There will then be 3 separate panels of 5 speakers per panel. Panel 1) Young adults afflicted with FASD who will speak on their experiences, challenges and best practices in addressing FASD in their lives; Panel 2) Parents of children with FASD who will also speak on their experiences, challenges and best practices from their perspective; Panel 3) Professionals in the field working with FASD and they will also speak on their experiences, challenges and best practices.

Day 2 will consist of 5 simultaneous sessions of FASD workshops which will be either 1.5 to 3 hours in length. They anticipate to have approximately 133 delegates in attendance. Suggestions/ recommendations for panelists are welcomed. Please send any of your recommendations to Laurie Fownes, Alvin Manitopyes and Brad Martin, AHS team, Alberta Region.

V) PHAC FASD – National Update:
a) In 2009/10, the Minister’s Office approved the following projects on FASD (until March 2010):
i) Pregnancy Related Issues in the Management of Addictions (PRIMA): The University of Toronto (U of T) is providing six PRIMA Train-the-Trainer Workshops in Canada. Each PHAC Region in Canada has provided information to the FASD National team on regional FASD contacts – including contacts in Alberta with the AB-FASD-CMC. There are six PRIMA workshop locations and dates confirmed, including: Saskatoon May 1-2, 2009; Montreal June 5-6, 2009; Winnipeg June 12 -13, 2009; Halifax September 11-12, 2009; Thunder Bay October 16-17, 2009; and St. Johns November 6-7, 2009.

ii) The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada is receiving funding to establish FASD Consensus Clinical Guidelines – Screening Women on Alcohol Use (working title). This project includes the development of a national standard of care for the screening and recording of alcohol use in women of child-bearing age and pregnant woman and counselling women by front-line health care providers.

iii) Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centre (CAPHC) - FASD Screening Toolkit Development and Evaluation: Funding has been approved to support the development and piloting of a manual for an FASD Screening Toolkit. The implementation and evaluation uptake of the toolkit is to be done in selected regions and across various sectors (TBA).

iv) Other: The MDCME project with Memorial University has received support in previous years through PHAC for FASD online training. In the 2009/10 year, a project is being explored to enhance the course outcomes, including the development and implementation of a post course outcome evaluation for an existing on-line module. More information to follow (pending approval).

v) National FASD Team Staffing Updates: Manager (Mary Johnson), Team leader (Holly MacKay), 2 Program Officers, Research Policy Advisor, Research Policy Consultant, Policy Analyst, Program Consultant, Policy Evaluation Analyst and Administrative Assistant.

vi) FASD Day – September 9, 2009: FACE meeting took place (Ontario - see Just the PHACs for more information). In Alberta, there were various FASD related activities including a Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network fundraiser and breakfast. Please refer to various emails circulated on events that took place led by various FASD Service Networks and communities.

vii) FASD Tracking Tool:National FASD Team has drafted an FASD specific tracking tool to monitor funding for FASD related Grants and Contributions (G & Cs) and Operations and Management (O & M) programs through the Public Health Agency of Canada. This will pertain to funding for FASD specific initiatives provided through the National Strategic Projects Fund (as of October 15, 2009, there has not been any regional FASD NSPF funding allocations in Alberta for 2009/10).

SAVE the DATE:
The Fourth National Biennial Conference on Adolescents and Adults with FASD – Facing the Future Together: Where do we go from here? April 14-17, 2010 – Hyatt Regency – Vancouver, BC. www.interprofessional.ubc.ca. Deadline for presentation submissions: September 15, 2009.