Rotary Luncheon Highlights F.A.S.D. Awareness

Nancy Neufeld, F.A.S.D. diagnostic coordinator for Southern Health-Santé Sud

Research and information about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder was the theme at this week's Rotary luncheon in Portage la Prairie.

Nancy Neufeld is F.A.S.D. diagnostic coordinator for Southern Health-Santé Sud, and was one of the presenters. She notes she shared the complexity of the process of referral assessment.

"I think what I was trying to summarize is that it's really a complicated process to go through the whole referral assessment, and trying to ensure that the youth or child who does receive an F.A.S.D. diagnosis is accessing appropriate help and appropriate resources. And just understanding that the diagnosis is really not a label, it's to help us understand the child better."

Neufeld says the Rotarians were very interested.

"I just really appreciate that there's an interest and that they're willing to listen. Really, help is only going to come from understanding. If people have an understanding of what the diagnosis is about, they're more able to offer the best assistance or the best help, and what will really help that child and that youth. It requires patience, it requires understanding, it requires trying different things. There's likely going to be a lot of trial and error in supporting that child or youth into really being as successful as possible."