Ottawa, ON – The Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) is pleased to announce the release of the report on “Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in Canada: Current Knowledge and Policy”, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
PHAC charged CAHS with answering key questions on uptake of FASD diagnostic guidelines, challenges associated with case identification and data collection, strengthening prevention activities, and identification of tools, resources, and supports for people with FASD and their families.
The report is the result of evidence reviews, extensive consultations across Canada, and panel discussions beginning in 2024. An independent fifteen-member Panel, including academic researchers and people with FASD and family members, provided the leadership for this assessment by reviewing the findings from the evidence, engagement input, and external peer review to prepare the report.
“This report will be helpful for policymakers and legislators, as well as for the groups and communities working to support people through their pregnancies to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure, and for those working to support people with FASD and their families to build healthy and rewarding futures and to mitigate the consequences of FASD across the lifespan,” said Professor Jennifer Chandler, the Chair of the Assessment Panel.
The report presents 28 key findings, specifically on:
- The significance and challenges of gathering epidemiological information to inform the response to this public health issue;
- The current best thinking on how to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure through education, alcohol policy, and access to health care and holistic wraparound supports;
- Issues with the diagnostic process and capacity, and the importance of early assessment;
- Key forms of interventions and supports needed and desired by people with FASD and their families in order to flourish across the lifespan.
The full report is available at this link. For further information, please contact sbuy@cahs-acss.ca