Our Initiatives:

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention Activities
• Early Childhood Screening Initiatives
• Parent Publications Initiative
• Core Public Health Functions Initiative
• Early Learning Initiatives
• Other Early Childhood Development Initiatives

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Prevention Activities

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term that describes the range of effects caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include physical, mental, behavioural and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. 

1. ActNow BC: Healthy Choices in Pregnancy (HCIP)

HCIP aims to improve the health and well-being of mothers and infants by promoting the holistic factors (physical, emotional, spiritual and social/cultural) that contribute to healthy outcomes for women who are pregnant and their infants.  Areas of support include:

• providing access to high quality prenatal health care and education
• providing specialized services for those most vulnerable during pregnancy and helping them access needed care, services, safe housing and other supports
• helping girls and women to avoid, quit or reduce smoking, alcohol, and other substances harmful to their health
• promoting pregnancy as a time to be well-nourished and supporting access to healthy foods and knowledge about healthy weight gain during pregnancy, and
• promoting and supporting breastfeeding.

A focus of this initiative is to encourage women to stop or reduce their use of alcohol during pregnancy.  The goal is to reduce the number of children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) born in the province.  Two provincial targets related specifically to Healthy Choices in Pregnancy are:

• to increase by 50% the number of women counselled regarding alcohol use in pregnancy, and
• to develop focused FASD prevention strategies in each health authority.

2. Ministry of Children and Family Development FASD Activities 

Through partnerships involving the provincial government, health authorities, school districts and community organizations, many community-based initiatives are being undertaken across B.C., in the areas of prevention, assessment and diagnosis, and support for FASD.

3. Canadian Northwest FASD Partnership

This alliance of seven jurisdictions is working towards the development and promotion of an interprovincial/territorial approach to prevention, intervention, care and support of individuals affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.