Health Portfolio Involvement in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD) has been a concern in Canada for many years. Following the 1992 release of the Fifth Report of the Standing Committee on Health and Welfare, Social Affairs, Seniors and the Status of Women, entitled Foetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Preventable Tragedy, the Government of Canada published a Joint Statement on Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAS/FAE) in Canada in 1996.

Joint Statement

In that Joint Statement, Health Canada, along with the Canadian Paediatric Society and 17 other national associations representing medical, nursing and midwifery disciplines, Aboriginal and multicultural organizations, and other groups active in the area of FAS/FAE, recognized the use of alcohol during pregnancy as “a national health concern.” They urged health professionals to commit to identifying and implementing prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of FAS/FAE. In 1997, a follow-up meeting of those who signed the Joint Statement called for the creation of a comprehensive approach to the prevention of alcohol-related birth disabilities.

1999 Budget

The 1999 federal budget allocated $11 million over three years (with $5 million annually ongoing) for FAS/FAE as part of the expansion of the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program. Of the $5 million per year, $3.3 million was for the pan-Canadian portion, to be delivered through Health Canada's Population and Public Health Branch (now the Public Health Agency of Canada).The remaining $1.7 million was for First Nations and Inuit communities to be delivered through the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.

With these funds, the Government of Canada began to play a stronger role in the leadership and coordination of FAS/FAE activities so that consistent pan-Canadian approaches to FAS/FAE prevention and intervention could be developed.

Agreement on Early Childhood Development

In 2000, the federal/provincial/territorial governments committed to a five-year, $2.2 billion Agreement on Early Childhood Development ending in the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Under this agreement, the Government of Canada transfers $500 million each year to provincial and territorial governments to enhance programs and services for early childhood development. British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Yukon identified FASD as a priority and increased their support for those affected by FASD.

In 2002, the former Population and Public Health Branch of Health Canada initiated a strategic planning process and a series of consultations on FASD with Provincial/ Territorial representatives and key stakeholders, including community-based programs and organizations, Aboriginal organizations, parents, caregivers, and other front-line and professional organizations.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Framework for Action

These consultations led to the development of FASD:A Framework for Action by the National Advisory Committee on FASD and the Interdepartmental Working Group on FASD.Today, with an emphasis on a multi-sector and multi-disciplinary approach to programming, the Health Portfolio leads and coordinates program development and strategic advice from experts in the FASD field.