Tomorrow is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Prevention and Support Day in B.C. and several community events are taking place in Surrey to help raise awareness about the disorder and the struggles that families living with FASD go through every day.

On Sept. 9, the Centre for Child Development will host a community barbecue at the centre's Surrey site (9460 - 140 St.) and public information booth at the North Surrey Recreation Centre to raise awareness about FASD. Pacific Community Resources will host two workshops on FASD awareness, prevention and support, and an afternoon open house. Sources BC, serving the communities of South Surrey and White Rock, will host a gathering for parents at the White Rock office.

Throughout the year, these three community organizations run Key Worker and Parent Support Programs, which provide direct support to families raising children and youth with FASD. Five key workers in Surrey help hundreds of families each year.

Key workers provide family-centred support services to meet the needs of individual families. Services include providing information, educational workshops, parenting support programs, help with life skills development and links to family services and advocacy.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development launched Key Worker and Parent Support Programs in 2006. Thousands of children and their families have accessed services provided by 52 contracted agencies across the province.

Quick Facts:

• FASD is an umbrella term that describes the range of effects that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include physical, mental, behavioural and/or learning disabilities with lifelong implications.
• Health Canada estimates approximately nine in every 1,000 infants are born with FASD.
• B.C. is considered a world leader in the field of FASD prevention, diagnosis, assessment, intervention and support.
• In March 2008, B.C. released a 10-year provincial plan called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Building on Strengths (2008-2018). The plan establishes a guide to provincial, regional and community efforts to address FASD.

Learn More:

For more information on the Centre for Child Development, go to: www.centreforchilddevelopment.ca/.

For more information on Pacific Community Resources, go to: www.pcrs.ca/.

For more information on Sources BC, go to: www.sourcesbc.ca/

Contact:

Cindy Rose
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Children and Family Development
250 356-1639