Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder promising practices for children in the care of Alberta Children & Youth Services

Badry, D & Pelech, W., University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The 2011 FASD Community of Practice Final Report reflects the efforts of five regions carrying out casework on behalf of children in care, the Ministry of Alberta Children and Youth Services, researchers and policy makers. [...] The FASD Community of Practice was a collaborative effort between the University of Calgary, Faculty of Social Work, and partners working under the broad umbrella of the Alberta Ministry of Children and Youth Services working in teams and units identified below. [...] For the purposes of the data collection a comparison group was identified in the Edmonton area (Region 6) and actively participated in the project with the support of Diane Vigeant and Julie Mann who ensured linkages were made and forms collected on a regular basis, despite the challenges in doing so. [...] Themes emerging from the focus groups included: child behaviour; the relationships between child and foster parent, child and caseworker, and caseworker and foster parent; challenges of foster care; challenges in casework; training; project impact; the importance of specialized training; the value of expert case consultation/review; and the importance of both communication and teamwork. [...] The FASD CoP project was driven by the commitment of Alberta Children and Youth Services to respond differently to the needs of children with FASD in care and their families by offering fiscal support to decrease caseloads and increase contact between caseworkers, children and their foster parents/caregivers.