Early Childhood Development Strategy for Aboriginal Children:
A Focus on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/FAE)
- In September 2000, Canada's First Ministers established Early Childhood
Development as a new national social priority, recognizing the importance
of children's early years in shaping long-term outcomes. The federal government
committed to transfer $2.2 billion over five years to provinces and territories
to improve and expand their ECD programs and services.
- Federal, provincial and territorial governments also agreed to work with
Aboriginal peoples to find practical solutions to address the developmental
needs of Aboriginal children. This strategy reflects the federal ECD investments
for Aboriginal children and addresses the federal commitments outlined in
the January 2001 Speech From the Throne.
- Additional resources of $25 million over the next two years for the FAS/FAE
Initiative, as announced in the December 2001 Budget Speech, will help address
these difficult issues in First Nations communities.
Context:
- In Canada, FAS/FAE is one of the major known preventable birth defects
among children. The rate of FAS is estimated at one to three per 1,000 live
births, indicating that each year more that 350 children are born with FAS.
Initial studies suggest that the rates of FAS/FAE in some Aboriginal communities
may be significantly higher.
- FAS and other related disorders are national health concerns, constituting
a life-long disability requiring ongoing support. The causes of FAS are complex,
deep-rooted and related to more than just alcohol and pregnancy.
- Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause intellectual deficits, learning
disabilities, hyperactivity, attention and/or memory deficits, inability
to manage anger, and difficulties with problem solving. Potential secondary
disabilities (that could be ameliorated through appropriate interventions)
include early school drop-out, alcohol and drug abuse problems, unemployment,
homelessness, trouble with the law, mental health problems, and premature
death.
- In the 1999 Budget, the federal government increased funding for the expansion
of the existing Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP), to support a sustained
focus on FAS/FAE and to further improve the health of pregnant women at risk
and their babies.
New Measures:
- The expansion of the FAS/FAE Initiative to include a stronger focus on
First Nations children and families will increase efforts in raising awareness
of this important health issue and will assist in the prevention of FAS/FAE
and in providing supports for those affected by FAS/FAE.
- Initiatives will be put in place to help mobilize community action and
contribute to enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals and
families, including the improvement of family and parent supports in federal
community-based programs.
- Current efforts will be expanded to enhance professional training and to
develop practical screening tools for physicians and health care providers
working with First Nations children and families on reserve.
- This expansion will also support the development of new programming - through
demonstration projects in First Nations communities. Working collaboratively
with other federal departments, provincial/territorial governments, professional
associations and non-governmental organizations, Health Canada will continue
to play a key role in the overall strategy to prevent FAS/FAE.
Definitions:
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a medical diagnosis referring to a specific
cluster of anomalies associated with the use of alcohol during pregnancy.
Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) is a term used to describe the presence of some,
but not all, FAS characteristics when prenatal exposure to alcohol has been
confirmed (also used occasionally when use is uncertain).
|
