Subcommittees

Common Language

• Develops words and images that promote dignity and respect for people with FASD and women who use alcohol during pregnancy.

• Creates a common language that will act as the foundation for all projects and materials developed by the Looking After Each Other project.

The Common Language subcommittee has developed an FASD language guide. The guide is intended to provide alternative words or phrases for those commonly used by society when discussing FASD. We propose these alternatives be used in an effort to promote the dignity of those who use alcohol during pregnancy and those with FASD and their families.

The Looking After Each Other project contracted with the Fameworks Institute in 2019 to identify the discrepancies between the “expert view” of FASD and the public’s view. This process (called “Mapping the Gap”) provided a greater understanding of what Manitobans currently know about FASD and will suggest effective ways to guide future communication that is accurate and dignity promoting. Check out the link to the report in the left hand menu.

If you would like to join the Common Language subcommittee, visit how to get involved and fill in the form.

Research

• Engages strength-based research to identify and inform best practice interventions to promote dignity.
• Aims to identify the philosophies and practices used in successful interventions so individuals, families, and communities impacted by FASD can engage and thrive.

In 2017, the Research subcommittee received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada ($2.5M). The research proposed the exploration of the impact stigma and societal prejudices have on individuals, families and communities impacted by FASD and how we can promote more dignity within our systems and services, between families and providers, within community and within different cultural beliefs. The Manitoba FASD Coalition Inc. and the Department of Families are two of several partners that supported the development of the research proposal and the work of the researchers once funding was received.

If you would like to join the Research subcommittee, or if you have some ideas about materials you would like to see created, visit how to get involved and fill in the form.

Popular Education

• Creates and supports the development of materials, events and projects that promote dignity in relation to the global responsibility concerning FASD
• Creates and facilitates avenues for sharing messages that promote dignity in relation to the global responsibility concerning FASD

The Popular Education subcommittee developed a series of mini documentaries, that:

• answer some broad questions about how service providers, caregivers, and communities can get started when supporting someone with FASD, and
• focus on how communities can foster resilience and strength with women who use substances by providing effective, person-centred support that promotes healing and connection.

If you would like to join the Popular Education subcommittee, or if you have some ideas about materials you would like to see created, visit how to get involved and fill in the form.