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Manitoba Government Investing more than $946,000 to Advance Provincial FASD Strategy

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.

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Level 2 CanFASD e-learning courses – now offered for FREE to Manitobans!

We are pleased to share that yesterday, CanFASD shared that Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries is now funding access for all Manitobans to Level 2 CanFASD e-learning courses! As it has always been, CanFASD’s Level 1 e-learning course, Foundations in FASD, is free for all Manitobans as well.  This is a really amazing way to bring accessible FASD education to all Manitobans.

These courses are designed to build knowledge and practical strategies for supporting individuals with FASD across a variety of sectors, including community and social services, judicial and legal professionals, solicitor general professionals and school staff.  This initiative will help strengthen education, legal, and social service systems across the province, making Manitoba a leader in FASD awareness and support.

Click here to access the courses

The CanFASD courses available include:

• FASD for Community and Social Services Professionals Level II
• FASD for Judicial and Legal Professionals Level II
• FASD Solicitor General Professionals Level II
• FASD for School Staff Level II : Practical Strategies for the School Environment
• Identifying Best Practices for FASD
• The Prevention Conversation
• Substance Use and Treatment in FASD

These courses are excellent resource for French speakers as Foundations in FASD, FASD for School Staff Level II, FASD for Solicitor General Professionals Level II, Identifying Best Practices, and Substance Use & Treatment are available in French.

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North FASD Coalition – FASD Awarness Month Recap

This year for FASD Awareness Month, the North FASD coalition organized a walk and barbecue.  The event was open to the community of Thompson and publicized through partnerships and social media.  The event’s theme was “everyone plays a part” and invitations were provided to a wide range of roles in the community.

On the afternoon of September 20^th, community members gathered at City Hall for the mayor address, (by Mayor Colleen Smook) and then began a walk to Keewatin Tribal Council’s- Jordan’s Principle Initiative office for a barbecue.  Approximately 100 people attended including various partners, professionals and students from elementary schools.  Hotdogs, chips and drinks were provided, along with “all brains are beautiful” stickers and tattoos.  A speech was made by our coalition to commemorate the occasion.  Various coalition partners were part of making the event a huge success including the Northern Health Region, Mystery Lake School Division, Keewatin Tribal Council, Frontier School Division, Marymound, StreetReach, Manitoba Justice, University of Manitoba- Northern Social Work Program and the Manitoba Foster Family Network.

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2024 Portage and Area FASD Day Fundy Recap

The 2024 Portage and Area FASD Day Fundy Event was planned with hopes of creating an annual community event to occur after the busy summer but before back to school time.

In years past, the event has included allied professionals who have client groups or areas of focus with higher rates of FASD and encouraged displayers to bring games and small prizes to create a fun fair carnival atmosphere.

The event included:

• Mascots
• Professional face painter who painted many children’s faces  
• Bouncy Castle to add to the carnival atmosphere 
• A Drum group and pow wow dancers to provide a mini pow wow demonstration
• Silent auction with prizes donated by local businesses and individuals.
• Good support from Health who attended with the Families First Program as well as Community Health who offered free vaccination checks and vaccinations if required onsite

Organizers engaged Golden West broadcasting to create and broadcast radio spots to promote the event.  These were broadcast prior to the long weekend and on the day of the event.  In both the Commercials and the radio interviews a dual message included information about the event but also about FASD in general.

Attendance estimated to be about 100 over the day. Stay tuned for more information regarding a 2025 event – see details on the poster below!

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MB FASD Coalition featured in Winnipeg Free Press

The work of MFCI cannot happen without its many dedicated volunteers in a wide variety of roles.

Shannon Foster, one of our new volunteer board members, had a chance to speak with a reporter at the Winnipeg Free Press about volunteering with us. Her passion for people impacted by FASD shone through loud and clear.

Thank you Shannon for sharing your story about volunteerism with everyone.

Thank you to all the volunteers who work with us to make change every day.

FASD Indigenous Led Training for Service Providers – The Manitoba FASD Strategy consultations revealed a need for Indigenous-led initiatives, and Ka Ni Kanichihk has led the way in the development of this FASD training. The FASD training is an Indigenous-led training designed for service providers and helpers who may be working with Indigenous peoples and communities, particularly those who are part of the FASD community. For full details and registration information click here.

CBC News: Years-long wait for Manitoba FASD diagnosis highlights ‘critical’ need for more resources. Youth in Manitoba are waiting years to be diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder — a delay one occupational therapist says is putting already vulnerable kids at risk as they wait for an assessment that could give them the help they need. Read more….

Canadian Academy of Health Sciences will be undertaking an assessment on FASD. They will be consulting with organizations and individuals with FASD. If you are interested in participating, click here for more information.