June 1, 2026 - 9:55pm - by John Luxford

The MB FASD Coalition is pleased to share this news release from September 9, 2025 (click here to view the full article):

The Manitoba government is marking fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) Awareness Day and making progress on its FASD strategy with $946,000 in new annual funding, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine announced today.

“Raising awareness about FASD helps Manitobans support people impacted by FASD and substance use, and their families,” said Fontaine. “When we centre their voices, increase access to the supports they need, and celebrate their strengths and abilities, we help create a path to a better future.”

The Manitoba government announced a renewed five-year FASD strategy last September to co-ordinate government departments and community partners working together to support people impacted by FASD and alcohol use during pregnancy.

Budget 2025 included $946,000 in new annual funding to advance the strategy, increasing total spending through the Department of Families on FASD initiatives to $5.6 million a year and supporting the following initiatives:

• expanding the Manitoba Key Worker Program to more of rural Manitoba by establishing a new program site in Thompson supporting 30 additional families and increasing capacity in Selkirk;
• expanding the Spectrum Connections Program through Life’s Journey Inc. to support more youth and adults with FASD;
• expanding the FASD Family Support, Education and counselling Program at New Directions, reducing wait times, expanding eligibility to include youth ages 15 to 17, and supporting more families of children and youth with FASD;
• increasing Indigenous cultural supports for families at Manito Ikwe Kagiikwe — the Mothering Project at Mount Carmel Clinic;
• increasing funds to the Dauphin Friendship Centre for the InSight Mentoring Program for people who are pregnant or have recently had a baby and use substances;
• adding a new Project Choices counsellor position educating men, boys and gender-diverse individuals about FASD, alcohol use and healthy pregnancy;
• increasing funds to the Rehabilitation Centre for Children to support the Manitoba FASD Family Network, Building Circles of Support and Stepping Out on Saturdays programs for children and youth with FASD, their families and caregivers;
• increasing funds for Initiatives for Just Communities to expand the Visions and Voices program, allowing individuals with FASD to educate Manitobans directly; and
• expanding the Manitoba FASD Coalition, supporting FASD awareness, learning and community mobilization throughout Manitoba in partnership with regional FASD coalitions.

The minister noted the new funds will directly support an additional 138 individuals or families, stabilize funding within existing programs to enhance service quality, increase opportunities for individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to educate and advocate, increase Indigenous cultural support services within FASD programs, and increase FASD service access in rural and northern Manitoba.

The Manitoba government has also established an annual community grant fund to support initiatives led by community organizations to advance the goals of the FASD strategy, with up to $2,000 available per initiative. Seven community FASD projects will receive funding this year.

In honour of FASD Awareness Day, the Legislative Building will be lit up in red tonight. Events are held around the world throughout the month of September to raise awareness of FASD.

To learn more about FASD in Manitoba and read Manitoba’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Strategy for 2024-29, visit www.gov.mb.ca/fs/fasd/mbstrategy.html.