FASD: Principles & Strategies

Presenter: Susan Opie - Susan Opie (BA, BSW, MSW, RSW) has over 10 years experience working with individuals with FASD and their families, providing individual and family counseling, educational information, and advocacy with various systems impacting families and children. She has provided consultation for and individual therapy to youth with FASD in care, facilitated support groups for families affected by FASD, and provided education, consultation, and training to various systems working with families and/or children and youth with FASD.

Location: SVRSS - Room TBA

Day & Time: Mon. Feb. 2 & Tues. Feb. 3

Description: This two day session is sponsored by Child and Family Services’ Joint Training Unit and provides hands-on principles and strategies for those working and living alongside individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Participants are given a glimpse into how individuals with FASD experience and process their world, and how this might impact parents and caregivers as they care for children and youth.

Sessions topics will include:

• De-stigmatizing FASD
• Updating diagnostic terms and process
• A look at primary versus secondary disabilities, and protective factors for children and youth with FASD
• Building solid relationships with children, youth, (or adults) with FASD
• Accommodating specific brain differences when parenting and providing services
• Group exercise: Looking at ‘meltdowns’: prevention and responses
• Utilizing strengths with individuals with FASD
• Discipline with children and youth with FASD
• Difficult issues that may arise with individuals with FASD: ‘Lying,’ ‘Stealing,’ AWOLs/running away, substance abuse…

Session Limit: Maximum 25 participants – suitable for K – 12