FASD and Justice - Knowledge and Resources Building Conference

Kelly Holley (NS)
​FASD and Justice-Knowledge and Resources Building Conference took place on October 26, 2022, at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre in beautiful Unama’ki (Cape Breton).

Members of the Atlantic FASD Community Network attend the conference in Membertou.

 
The day was jam-packed with information, laughter, and great food! Katharine Dunbar Winsor from fasdNL started the day off by providing us with an overview of FASD. We learned that individuals impacted by the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure will likely experience some degree of challenge throughout their lives and that FASD is a lifelong disability.   It can affect people from all social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Understanding FASD and how it affects the person's daily living is critical so that justice professionals can provide more equitable service to their clients.  
 
Next, we heard from Francis Perry. Francis is a Mi'kmaq man living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. He was diagnosed at the age of 19, during a time when FASD was poorly understood, and very few resources were available to access. He shared his story, his successes and his challenges and provided the participants with a poignant first-voice account of living with FASD. 
 
Jonathan Rudin is a lawyer working with the Aboriginal Law Services in Toronto. He is the chair of the FASD Justice Committee and helped develop a website on FASD and the Justice system. 
(FASDJustice.ca). Jonathan reviewed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action as it relates to FASD and reminded us that governments should develop FASD prevention and awareness programs in conjunction with Aboriginal organizations. Jonathan explained that accommodations should be made in the justice system to allow for FASD diagnosis and that the diagnosis should be taken into consideration during dispositions and sentencing.
 
After a delicious Mexican-inspired lunch, we settled back to listen to the Honorable Mary Kate Harvie. Judge Harvie was part of a multi-disciplinary team that developed an FASD Justice Program in Manitoba. This Justice Program was designed to ensure that individuals with FASD in conflict with the law will receive the appropriate treatment plans/sentencing. This program can support youth and young adults through the diagnostic process, help individuals and families understand the diagnosis of FASD and provide follow-up services to help improve outcomes for individuals with FASD.
 
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Katharine Dunbar Winsor was welcomed back to the stage to share some FASD resources that professionals in the Justice System and others may use. Of particular interest to the participants were the pictorial representations of probationary conditions. These were icons/pictographs that illustrated various probation conditions like abstaining from alcohol, curfew, keeping the peace, and others.   
 
The day ended with Kelly Holley providing information about Jordan's Principle. We learned that Jordan's Principle is a funding initiative for First Nation's children and youth and may be accessed for diagnosis and other support services. Justice professionals were also encouraged to contact Jordan's Principle for additional client support.
 
Many thanks to the Nova Scotia Department of Justice for this exciting and worthwhile day.

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