Organization: The Network Action Team (NAT) on FASD Prevention from a Women’s Health Determinants Perspective

Web site: Canada Northwest FASD Research Network

Blog: Girls, Women, Alcohol, and Pregnancy

How is your organization funded?

Our Network Action Team (NAT) is one of five collaborative teams supported by the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership. The Partnership is an alliance of seven jurisdictions that works towards the development and promotion of an interprovincial/territorial approach to prevention, intervention, care and support of individuals affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Please describe the types of clients you serve:

In our work, we focus on women’s health issues in the prevention of FASD. We do not provide services directly to clients. Instead, we work collaboratively to address the research and evaluation questions posed to us by governments, organizations, and communities. Ultimately, we hope to build a strong knowledge base related to FASD prevention through work with women and their support systems on a range of health and social issues, and to bring this knowledge into research, prevention, treatment, policy, and community settings.

What needs do your programs and services meet in the community?

Our Network Action Team has 40 core members that represent 40 different organizations, foundations and agencies. Our members are involved in a range of activities related to FASD prevention, including conducting research, developing and evaluating programs and services, and providing education and resources on preventing FASD by supporting women’s health.

What have been the most significant needs in your community in the past year?

In the past year, we’ve noticed increasing interest from the general public in learning more about FASD. As a result, members of our NAT and the Canada Northwest FASD Research Network have been interviewed for a series of articles published in The Vancouver Sun and The Winnipeg Free Press.

Is there anything that makes your agency or the clients you serve unique?

Working as a network of individuals and agencies across a wide geographical expanse is interesting and challenging! We meet once a year in person. Otherwise, we make use of technology (on-line meetings, e-mail, our blog, etc.) to collaborate, share, and inspire each other in our work.

Have you created a new program or service recently? If you have, why?

Last July, we started a blog called “Girls, Women, Alcohol, and Pregnancy.” The purpose of our blog is to share news, research findings, and perspectives on FASD prevention. We developed the blog because we realized that we needed a new way to share information across our Network, with agencies and groups we work with and to highlight our work to other audiences.

Have you changed any programs? If so, why?

In our work, we are always looking for new strategies for getting research findings and evidence to the people who can use it best. This could be policy makers who need information on how to evaluate program successes or health care providers who need the right information about alcohol use to share with their pregnant patients, or women looking for services that will address the needs of themselves, their families, and communities.

Just one example: “From Stilettos to Moccasins” is a song and music video developed by one of our members that “translates” the findings of a research project that examined the role of identity and stigma in Aboriginal women’s healing from illicit drug abuse in Canada. You can watch the video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QRb8wA2iHs

Do you partner with any other organizations in your community on programs and services? If so, which organizations and why?

Members of our Network Action Team work with organizations and institutions such as:

  • Addiction Recovery Coach of Canada Society, BC
  • Aurora Centre, BC Women’s Hospital, BC
  • BC Association of Pregnancy Outreach Programs, BC
  • BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, BC
  • College of New Caledonia, BC
  • Dawson Creek Aboriginal Family Resource Society, BC
  • Fir Square Combined Care Unit, BC Women’s Hospital
  • HerWay Home, BC
  • Inter Tribal Health Authority, BC
  • Sheway, BC
  • Thompson Rivers University, BC
  • University of British Columbia, BC
  • University of Victoria, BC
  • Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, BC
  • Vancouver Island Health Authority, BC
  • Women Abuse Response Program, BC
  • Alberta Health Services, AB
  • University of Calgary, AB
  • University of Lethbridge, AB
  • Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre, SK
  • Kids First, SK
  • University of Saskatchewan, SK
  • Centre for Aboriginal Health Research, MB
  • Healthy Child Manitoba, MB
  • New Directions, MB
  • University of Manitoba, MB
  • Pauktuutit Inuit Women’s Association
  • Department of Health and Social Services, NU
  • Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre, NU
  • Centre for Northern Families, NWT
  • Department of Health and Social Services, NWT
  • Stanton Aboriginal Health Authority, NWT
  • Yellowknife Association for Community Living, NWT
  • Yukon Alcohol and Drug Services, YK

We are always open to new members.

Please tell us of a “success story” that illustrates the value of the work you do:

An example of a community program that addresses FASD prevention is Project Choices. This program was initially developed in the United States and was launched in Manitoba in September 2010.  The program uses motivational interviewing strategies to support women who want to change their alcohol use and/or contraception use, thereby reducing alcohol-exposed pregnancies.

Last month, the Winnipeg Free Press published an article about Project Choices which highlights some of the great work being accomplished by the program – http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/choices-for-at-risk-women-118225889.html

How do people typically learn about your services?

Different ways – word-of-mouth, through presentations by our members, our blog.