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Past Projects
Parent Support Grouptrack 7 6:56
Seeking Alternatives
Finding Alternative Solutions
Fun and Success Game
Parent Support Group (written by Marjorie Wilson)
In the early 1990's Chris Robertson and I were busy raising special needs children and were advocating for services. Unknown to us, Ro deBree was doing the same thing in Duncan.
In 1993, we signed up for training through SNAP (Special Needs Adoptive Parents) to begin a Parent Support Group. It was then that we met Ro deBree. We learned about FAS and began to use every opportunity to educate anyone who would listen, and provide support to families experiencing extreme parenting issues.
We soon realized that dealing with crisis after crisis in our homes, and managing the Support Group was not possible to maintain -- we were burning out and becoming ill.
In 1997 we put on a conference, the goal being to mobilize the community by creating a set of workable Action Plans.
In the intervening years since then, The Cowichan Valley Action Team Society has applied for and received funding for 3 projects. Unfortunately, one of our founding members, Chris Robertson, passed away in 2002, but her legacy continues in the ongoing work of The Action Team.
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Seeking Alternatives
Date of Project: July 2000 – March 2001
The project was proposed in response to needs identified in a community consultation process. It was a one year community development project that was designed to identify and mobilize existing community resources to support people with FAS.
General Outcomes: The Seeking Alternatives project helped to build a more responsive community environment: through workshops intended to bring together young people with neurological disabilities, family members, caregivers, service providers of various disciplines, and advocates of community safety and crime prevention measures. It also provided a unique platform for young people living with FAS to voice their ideas and concerns.
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Finding Alternative Solutions
Date of Project:
The purpose of the Finding Alternative Solutions Mentorship Program was to address the barriers of marginalization and socio-economic exclusion experienced by many youth and young adults with FAS. The work of this project was based on a positive alternative approach that reflects the skills and potential of young people to grow, to succeed and to educate others.
A number of workshops and presentations were held and were very well received. Educational handouts and information were provided, community events to raise awareness were organized: from car washes to displays in the local mall. A video “Moving On” was made in February of 2001. A pilot “audit” of a local resource was conducted. This assessment and the process developed formed the basis of the on-site assessments and future “audits”.
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Fun and Success Game
Date of Project: Spring 2001
The game was proposed to educate community leaders and community members about FASD and other invisible disabilities that affect learning and behaviour. It helps to build strategies for inclusion for children, youth, recreational leaders and for people living with FASD and other invisible disabilities. It enables people to learn through fun. People learn that by building understanding and caring, and by giving friendship and support, they can make a difference.
The game was tested and was a success. Manuals and video’s were created and given to the participants. Email info@cvfasd.org if you would like information about this game.
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