Addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in New Brunswick

1. Addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in New Brunswick Stacy Taylor Department of Health January 24 , 2012

2. We’ve come a long way…….

3. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Provincial Initiative In May 2007, the former Beauséjour RHA received funding from the Department of Health to hire a FASD project coordinator who was charged with the task of investigating potential service delivery models to address FASD in NB. Activities associated with this project included: • Reviewing current literature on FASD • Exploring FASD services in place in other jurisdictions • Consulting with key provincial stakeholders on FASD • Presenting findings to the Department of Health (DoH) and the RHAs for consideration

4. FASD Community Consultations • Provincial Think Tank (100 participants – Moncton) • Senior hospital administrators and health-care professionals from each of the former RHAs (8) • Service providers from various government departments and NGOs (7) • Members of First Nations communities in NB (1) Purpose: • Introduce the project • Solicit feedback on current capacity to address FASD • Solicit feedback on existing gaps in service • Explore possible future involvement in a provincial model of service delivery

5. Additional considerations • Availability of personal and financial resources • Cultural and linguistic needs of our population • Sustainability • Need to start where we were at BUT also look to the future

6. Putting the Pieces Together

7. The preferred model was presented to senior administrators with the DoH and both RHAs for consideration. Agreement was reached on the preferred model for NB. DoH – Addictions and Mental Health Division took a leadership role for a provincial FASD implementation strategy.

8. Priority Areas Model needed to: • incorporate elements of prevention, diagnosis and intervention • development of core expertise so that knowledge exchange could take place in order to expand services in the years to come • take into account the services that already exists • build in a certain flexibility to meet the needs of individual communities • be consistent with recommendations contained in the Canadian Guidelines for the diagnosis of FASD • emphasize the coordination of services

9. Recommended model The creation of a provincial FASD Centre of Excellence in partnership with an existing community-based, non-profit NGO that would be responsible for supplying the infrastructure to support the coordination and service delivery related to FASD prevention, diagnosis and intervention for New Brunswick in partnership with RHAs who would be responsible for providing some of the required specialized clinical services.

10. NB FASD Centre of Excellence Creation of a bilingual multi-disciplinary team that would include: • a provincial director (NGO) • an administrative assistant (NGO) • a physician (RHA) • a psychologist (NGO) • a speech-language pathologist (RHA) • an occupational therapist (RHA) • an aboriginal liaison coordinator (NGO/Community) • regional coordinators (NGO/community)

11. Role of regional coordinators and Aboriginal liaison coordinator • community capacity building • assisting individuals and families – pre and post diagnosis • linking families with community supports following diagnosis • providing consultation to those working with individuals affected by FASD • providing awareness and education to service providers, families and the public • Supporting existing formal and informal FASD networks

12. Required partnerships • Regional Health Authorities • Department of Health • various government departments • community-based NGOs • private sector • educational institutions • Eastern Door Centre – Elsipogtog and other First Nation communities in NB • Individuals and families

13. Governance and accountability • NGO would have direct responsibility to the DoH based on contractual agreement • NGO would be managed by their existing Board of Directors • Regional Health Authorities would remain responsible for health care professionals employed by the respective RHA • Creation of a provincial program management committee • Comprehensive evaluation component to ensure the cost effective and efficient delivery of services to clients and departmental stakeholders

14. Current Status • RFP process was initiated to determine a suitable vendor to manage the operations of the Centre of Excellence • Intergovernmental committee established to review proposals • Privacy Impact Assessment was completed and submitted to the Department of Health’s Corporate Privacy Office • Negotiations are underway with a potential not-for-profit NGO

15. Accompanying efforts Information and resources related to FASD prevention, diagnosis and intervention are provided when requested. Requests for training and/or awareness initiatives are accommodated when possible. An interdepartmental committee has been established to work on the development of a comprehensive FASD Strategy for New Brunswick. Provincial Networking Conference hosted by the DoH (introduction to communities of practice)

16. The impact • Increased awareness • Early identification • Early intervention • Better outcomes for individuals, families and communities • Reduced incidence • Reduced cost to health care and related systems • Reduction of secondary disabilities

17. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead