Foothills Fetal Alcohol Society

04/01/2026

From diagnosis to dignity.

This article from the Mental Health Commission of Canada Commission de la santé mentale du Canada highlights something we see every day:

👉 A diagnosis is not the finish line.
👉 It’s the starting point.

For individuals with FASD, diagnosis can bring clarity, relief, and understanding.
But without the right supports?
Too many people are still left navigating systems that weren’t built for how their brain works.

FASD is a lifelong disability that can impact memory, learning, emotional regulation, and daily life — but with the right supports, people can thrive.

This is about shifting from:
❌ labels and limitations
➡️ to
✔️ dignity, support, and possibility

At FFAS, we believe:
Support should meet people where they’re at.
Conversations should be stigma-free.
And every individual deserves the chance to succeed.

🟢 Read the full article here:
https://mentalhealthcommission.ca/catalyst/from-diagnosis-to-dignity-rethinking-support-for-people-with-fasd/

We are here. 💚

🌐 www.foothillsfas.com
📧 general@foothillsfas.com
📞 403-652-4776

Dramatically overrepresented in Canada’s courts and prisons, advocates, researchers, and families are coming together to push for systemic reform

03/28/2026

We’re really excited to share a new partnership that expands the support we can offer our community.

We’ve partnered with Storify Therapy Services to provide access to adult FASD assessments.

At Storify, the focus is on listening — because when people feel seen and understood, it opens the door to real change. Their team of experienced clinicians brings a thoughtful, individualized approach to care, grounded in the belief that each person is the author of their own story.

For many adults, receiving an FASD assessment can be life-changing. It can bring clarity, validation, and access to the right supports moving forward.

We’re proud to be working together to make that possible.

💚 We are here.

🌐 www.foothillsfas.com

📞 403-652-4776
✉️ general@foothillsfas.com

03/27/2026

When we think about executive functioning, we often think about school-aged children—homework, organization, time management.

But the foundation for these skills begins much earlier.

Executive functioning starts developing during pregnancy, as the brain begins wiring itself for the world ahead.

At the same time, pregnancy itself asks a lot:
• remembering appointments
• taking prenatal vitamins
• planning meals
• managing stress
• preparing for a baby

That’s a significant mental load.

For individuals whose executive functioning works differently, this can feel especially overwhelming—not because they don’t care, but because there are so many moving pieces to manage.

This is where support matters.

provides practical support like:
• one-to-one connection
• grocery vouchers
• prenatal vitamins
• community and care

These supports don’t just help with daily needs—they reduce cognitive load and create space for stability and confidence.

Because strong beginnings are supported beginnings.

Read the full article on Substack: https://intheffaslane.substack.com/p/supporting-executive-functioning

💚 We are here.
🌐 www.foothillsfas.com
📞 403-652-4776

03/26/2026

For a long time, we misunderstood what we were seeing.

Forgetting instructions.
Struggling to start tasks.
Big reactions to small changes.

It was often labeled as:
“Not trying”
“Not listening”
“Being difficult”

Looking back, we see it differently.

Executive functioning is brain-based.
And when it works differently, behaviour looks different too.

That shift in understanding changes everything.

📖 Read more: https://intheffaslane.substack.com/p/what-weve-learned-about-executive

💚 We are here.

03/24/2026

Morning starts with good intentions.

The alarm goes off.
The plan is there: get ready, make breakfast, get out the door, remember the appointment.

None of it sounds complicated.

But executive functioning isn’t just about knowing what needs to happen.
It’s about organizing the steps that get you there.

Getting ready can involve dozens of small decisions:
What to wear.
Where things were left.
What to eat.
What time it is.

For individuals with FASD, these steps don’t always feel automatic.

Sometimes it means needing reminders.
Sometimes it means starting something… and realizing later the original task is still waiting.

And leaving the house?
That can come with a whole new set of questions:
Did I grab my keys?
Did I remember the form?
Was today the appointment?

This isn’t about effort.
It’s about how the brain processes and organizes information.

💚 We are here.

Read the full article here: www.foothillsfas.com/life-in-the-ffas-lane-blog/in-the-drivers-seat-march
📍 Caregiver support available in High River, Strathmore, and Airdrie
🌐 www.foothillsfas.com
📞 403-652-4776

03/17/2026

The March edition of Life in the FFAS Lane is here.

This month, we’re taking a closer look at executive functioning —
the behind-the-scenes skills that impact daily routines, school, caregiving, and more.

Because it’s not just about knowing what to do —
it’s about being able to do it.

Real stories. Practical tools. Clear, accessible research.

🔗 Read the March issue:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5da88a7e1d16a03ba94b2a37/t/69b846719de952254879c353/1773684348688/FFAS_LITFLMar2026_pdf_Final_2026-03-16.pdf

We are here. 💚

02/27/2026

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is estimated to affect about 4% of Canadians.

It impacts brain development — including executive functioning, memory, regulation, and adaptive skills.

It intersects with:
•Education
•Mental health
•Justice
•Housing
•Employment
•Family wellbeing

FASD is not rare.
And it’s not simply a health issue.
It’s a community issue.

Learn more about the supports available in your region.

www.foothillsfas.com

02/26/2026

We launched something new.

Life in the FFAS Lane is our monthly newsletter exploring FASD the way it’s actually lived — from every seat in the vehicle.

• Lived experience
• Caregiver insight
• Research in plain English
• Assessment & diagnosis
• Prevention & pregnancy support

Because understanding reduces stigma.
And conversations create change.

If you’re not subscribed yet, now’s the time.

https://www.foothillsfas.com/home-1

01/28/2026

Did you know FFAS offers a Healthy Futures Program to support pregnant women through a healthy, supported pregnancy? 💚

Healthy Futures is about care, connection, and practical support — not judgement.

Our program includes:
🤍 A Pregnancy Pantry with essentials
🍽️ Cooking Circles focused on nourishment and confidence
🤝 Grocery Vouchers and Vitamins
👩‍👩‍👧 Outreach Support and community connection

If you are pregnant — or supporting someone who is — you don’t have to do this alone.

👉 Follow Healthy Futures Rural South on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/HealthyFuturesRuralSouth

📸 Follow on Instagram:


🌐 Learn more:
https://www.healthyfuturesruralsouth.com

Support should feel safe, accessible, and welcoming.

We are here. 💚

01/26/2026

Rethinking What We Think We Know About FASD

There’s a story people quietly tell themselves about FASD.

It’s a comforting one.
A distancing one.
The kind that says, “That couldn’t happen to me.”

But that story is incomplete — and the damage it does is real.

In our latest Substack, we explore why FASD doesn’t have a “type,” why many pregnancies go unrecognized in the early weeks, and why stigma doesn’t prevent FASD — it delays support.

FASD can affect any family.

And when we reduce it to blame or assumptions, families are left isolated instead of supported.

The question that matters most isn’t “How did this happen?”
It’s “What support is needed now?”

📖 Read the full piece: Rethinking What We Think We Know About FASD
https://intheffaslane.substack.com/p/rethinking-what-we-think-we-know?r=582hn7

If this challenges an assumption — sit with it.
If it helps someone understand — share it.

Because understanding grows when truth travels.
And support changes lives.
We are here. 💚

01/13/2026

💚 FFAS Strathmore Caregiver Group — Tomorrow 💚

You’re not alone — and you don’t have to do this by yourself.

Join us tomorrow for connection, conversation, and support with others who truly understand.

🗓 January 13, 2026
🕘 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Strathmore United Church
410 4th Street

This is a safe, welcoming space for caregivers to share, learn, listen, and take a breath together. Come as you are. 💚

We are here. 💚

12/25/2025

Wishing our community moments of joy, connection, and care this holiday season. We’re grateful to walk alongside you. 💚