Atlantic Region FASD Networking Session
January 24-25, 2012
Moncton, NB at Delta Hotel
Report by: Barbara Broom
Approximately 35 people attended the session. All eight FASD projects in Atlantic Region were
represented (Tobique, Woodstock, St. Mary’s, Elsipogtog, NSMDC, PEI-AWA, CMM and Eskasoni), plus
the communities of Sheshatshiu and Natuashish. North Shore MicMac District Council (NSMDC), a New
Brunswick tribal organization, organized the networking session through a contribution with FNIHB
Atlantic.
Joe John and Irene Sanipass, Elders from Elsipogtog, provided opening prayers, at the start and close of
each of the two days. A contact list was circulated to collect everyone’s name, community/organization,
email address and telephone number. This list will be shared with all participants post-conference, by
NSMDC. All participants were asked to let NSMDC know if they do not want their contact information
circulated to the participant group.
The participants from the eight projects presented their projects. A participatory exercise was
completed during which the project participants answered the following questions:
1. What activities have been happening with your FASD project over the past two years, from April
2010 to now?
2. How are language, culture and traditional healing/ceremonies incorporated into your FASD
home visits and other activities?
3. Who are your partners? (within your community, outside your community, with the
province/local health region, and any other partners)
4. What are your biggest successes over the past 2 years?
5. What have been the challenges?
Project participants answered the five questions on coloured “stickies” – each project had distinctive
coloured “stickies.” The “stickies” were put on five poster boards – one poster board for each of the five
questions. This created a colourful visual display that described the projects. The posters remained on
display throughout the two days. The information harvested from the posters is being rolled-up into a
document that will be shared with the networking participants.
In addition, each project did a presentation to the group about their FASD project and work in the
community or communities. Various methods were used to present – talking, powerpoint, video clips, a
dvd film, booth displays, and real examples of resources used in FASD prevention and health promotion
activities, such as books, pamphlets, dolls, etc.
The cultural component was strong for all projects. People gave many examples of how they use
culture, ceremonies and language to deliver program.
Alisar Ibrahim and Rena Morrison, Senior Program Officers, Healthy Pregnancy and Early Infancy
Programs, Child & Youth Division with FNIHB in Ottawa presented on the FASD Program from a national
perspective. They participated in the entire day and half session, and joined in discussions. Their
presence was most helpful. A meeting was held the afternoon of Jan. 25 to debrief, with Alisar, Rena
and Barbara Broom.
Stacy Taylor, Health Consultant, Addiction and Mental Health Services, Department of Health, NB
Department of Health presented on the NB FASD Centre of Excellence. She attended the entire first day
of the networking session. Stacy commented that hearing the presentations first hand and being in the
room to answer questions about the NB Centre of Excellence was a valuable opportunity for her. She
learned a lot about the NB FASD projects. Five of the eight FNIHB funded FASD projects are located in
NB. Stacy made connections with these projects and follow-up community visits are planned.
Kari Patles, from “Rising Sun,” NNADAP Treatment Centre in Eel Ground First Nations presented on
addictions work with First Nations women. Kari shared information about NNADAP and about the Rising
Sun treatment centre. Rising Sun serves eleven bands in NB – Eel Ground, Eel River Bar, Pabineau, Fort
Folly, Indian Island, St. Mary’s, Woodstock, Oromocto, Madawaska, Red Bank and Buctouche.
Participants at the session indicated that they find it difficult to link with NNADAP workers in their
communities. Kari’s presentation was an important first step in building links between FASD and
NNADAP workers in communities and with treatment centres. Kari also showed a video about the life of
Francis Perry. The video was filmed by students at the high school in Eel Ground. Francis Perry is a man
diagnosed with FASD who teaches others about FASD by sharing his life story.
Kelly Bower, Regional Epidemiologist, Health Information Management/e-Health Solutions Directorate,
FNIHB, Health Canada, Atlantic Region facilitated a hands-on exercise on reporting and the Cluster Based
Reporting Template (CBRT). Kelly phoned in and directed the exercise through six hand-outs that people
in the room had in hand and worked through, guided by Kelly. None of the people in the room had
previously filled in the CBRT. Everyone said that they are responsible for keeping records of their work
with clients. The tracking tool introduced by Kelly is new. People had next to no problems filling out the
tracking tool and the FASD question in the CBRT. There was discussion about how the information will
be used, and how this ties in with work-planning and with the community health planning processes in
communities.
Barbara Broom, Clinical Nurse Specialist with FNIHB, Atlantic Region facilitated a conversation with the
group about work planning and evaluation. The value of evaluation for community health planning was
discussed.
Two articles were distributed:
 FASD and Mental Health (by Dr. Lori Vitale Cox)
 Consensus on 10 fundamental components of FASD prevention from a women’s health
determinants perspective (CanFASD Northwest)
Information on the Atlantic Regional Surveys of skills, knowledge, and training needs of First Nations
community based staff working in health program areas was distributed.
2012-02-10