Newsletter - September 3, 2025
September is FASD Awareness Month – and We’ve Been Busy!
It's a long one so grab a cup of tea, get comfy and read about what's going on!
This summer has been full, and busy in the most meaningful ways— First and foremost I need to share... my daughter is getting married!!! wowzers, these are exciting times. And also, because the needs of individuals and families continue to be urgent and deeply human. Across the province, I continue to hear from people who, despite incredible strengths, creativity, and a deep desire to succeed, are facing overwhelming challenges. They speak of struggling to maintain relationships, secure stable housing, find and keep employment, balance home and family demands, and navigate social situations that too often leave them feeling misunderstood and isolated.
I have sat with people who, after impulsive or explosive moments that hurt the people they love most, whisper in pain, “Nobody should have to live with a brain like mine.” I have taken calls from parents desperate for answers—seeking diagnostic clarity, pleading for educators and clinicians to truly understand their children, and simply asking for help; any kind of help for their kids and family that might make their lives safer, more stable, and allow a moment of peace and to breathe.
I have seen trauma and exhaustion in parents who feel like they are failing, and I have seen the heartbreak of children youth and adults who wonder why there is so much chaos in their world. But alongside these harsh realities, I have also witnessed remarkable resilience: growth, insight, creativity, tenacity, hope, and gratitude that remind me daily that I am exactly where I need to be, doing exactly what I am meant to be doing—and why prevention must remain at the heart of what we do. The people I see and support are demanding it.
And so, we’ve been busy. Busy enhancing awareness efforts, amplifying prevention messaging, and expanding our team so that we can respond to the ongoing call for understanding and support.
Our mission remains clear: to reduce both the impact and incidence of prenatal alcohol and substance exposure by listening to those most affected, honouring their experiences, and working every day toward a future where fewer families have to endure these struggles—and where those who do are met with understanding, support, and hope.
Here’s what we’ve been up to:
Book Releases: Second editions of A Complicated and Beautiful Brain and Not Your Typical Parenting Guide – now in French!
My latest and brand new Book: Not Your Typical Teaching Guide (English now, French coming soon
I was invited to share important messages at the Anchor Restaurant during the Ontario Country Music Awards wknd. back in June 2025.
At that time, John Chris Ford, Gabriella Bell and Nick Montague hosted an epic singer songwriter showcase where over 80 artists participated. All of these artists signed a guitar and this guitar was donated to Geddes Specialized Supports and Integrative Wellness Inc to help raise awareness and maybe even some dollars to go towards health promotion, prevention, education and access to support services. We are so grateful for the interest and commitment from all of them.
Imagine me talking about the risks associated with alcohol use in a bar at a country music event! But the response was amazing. It's not about judgement or blame. Adults get to weigh the risks for themselves, but we have a right to accurate information so we can make informed decisions about it; especially concerning the health and wellbeing of our growing babies.
For the month of September, proceeds from book sales will go towards access to services and health promotion messaging. To get a chance to win the guitar, all you have to do is let us know that you purchased a book or shared the PSAs!!
It's up to all of us to share this message and to support healthy pregnancies and families.
The guitar was signed by over 80 Ontario country music recording artists, including many ccma and ocma award nominees and winners including :
Andrew Hyatt · Jessie T · Kelsi Mayne · Thomas Wade · Jamie Warren · Katy Topham · Scotty James · Nicole Rayy · Ryan Langdon · Paige Rutledge
to name a few
Preconception Health Awareness and Advocacy: Created a book insert for What to Expect Before You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff – challenging some permissive and vague language and instead emphasizing the clear evidence that prenatal health begins before conception, and that both parents’ health and alcohol (and substance) use matters. We should avoid alcohol use in the 'Trying to Conceive' stage if at all possible because it can impact brain and body development even in those early weeks before the pregnancy is confirmed.
Pregnancy Preparation Packages: A gift package with books, recipe cards, sample alcohol free beverages, etc. Partnered with a local potter @ThistleStreetPottery - Laurie Danis, to create and include ‘alcohol-free for baby and me’ glasses and watch for more beautiful work that will help to keep conversations and prevention efforts going.
Community Outreach: Designed restaurant placemats, coasters, and travel mugs to spread health promotion and FASD prevention messages.
A Special thank you to a Canadian Military Veteran who sponsors and supports many of the awareness and prevention messaging. Thank you for your neverending service.
Public Awareness: Produced two new radio PSAs (30 & 60 sec) with my husband who happens to be a Canadian Country Music artist @jamiewarren – airing this month. Special thanks to Rick Hutt for the production and for Joe Wood for getting them out to radio. Have a listen here.
Creative Advocacy: Launched a professionally produced song co-written by Jamie, myself and young adults living with complex and varied mental health conditions including but not limited to ASD, ADHD, FASD, LD, Anxiety, Depression and Trauma – amplifying their voices. Check out Dusty Road to Home on Youtube and feel free to share. All the youth/young adults have an official co-write on this song and are pretty proud of their work!
Partnerships: Collaborating with Social Workers and Allied Health Providers from across the globe to enhance our skills, share research and ideas, and to increase the volume of our messaging regarding the integral role of front line providers in terms of accurate, informed screening and assessment which allows for a quicker path to the help families need. We are also collaborating with provincial health care providers to help make FASD and trauma informed brain-based supports accessible, while expanding our ability to offer more comprehensive functional and multi-disciplinary assessments.
Group Support: Registration is now open for an online group for caregivers who are experiencing intense anger and sometimes violence within the home. Angela and Kerri will be working with Dr. Maude Champagne for this group that is scheduled to begin September 29, 2025. See more details about the Nonviolent Resistance and AFFCA- Therapeutic Sessions here.
Education: My books are now required reading in more college programs, with students calling our training “eye opening, game-changing, non-stigmatizing, hopeful, and real.”
Growing Our Team: Welcoming new therapists, psychometrists, and community engagement and mental health workers to meet the growing demand for Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder and FASD-informed support. We now can support folks in-person in the GTA and in Hamilton.
Why this matters:
FASD is more prevalent than Autism, Down’s Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, and Tourette’s Syndrome combined – yet fewer than 2% globally have a diagnosis. In Ontario, 0.5% of the people who should have a diagnosis actually have access to an assessment. This matters because, without accurate diagnosis individuals and families are misunderstood and struggle more so unnecessarily.
What you can do:
Listen to and share our PSAs within your circles (EN/FR) and call your local radio station to request that they be played!
EN 30 sec PSA
EN 60 sec PSA
FR 30 sec PSA
FR 60 sec PSA
Attend our FASD Awareness Day Gathering - September 9, just before 9 AM at City Hall, St. Thomas ON. We will meet to demonstrate our commitment to awareness and to ensure that there are fewer 'wrong doors' for people in need. In St. Thomas, our famous elephant Jumbo. will be lit up in Red.. take a picture and post on socials linking it to other FASD awareness campaigns.
I've just found the first webinar that I have seen focussed on preconception health in terms of prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure! Check this out from the FASD Hub in Australia, plan to attend if you can and feel free to share! I'm so excited to see this as this has been a focus of our work as of late and this topic needs to be a more common at our #kitchentableconversations and broader health promotion efforts.
Don't forget to wear your red shoes, light up your front porches and check out the Red Shoes Rock Campaign for more ideas of how to raise awareness.
Check out canFASD interactive website for more educational opportunities, and ideas on how we can work together to raise awareness, prevent prenatal alcohol exposure and improve circumstances and outcomes for people who have been impacted.
Check out our training materials and resources and connect with us directly to learn more!
Check out FASD awareness activities in your community and bring them home to your #Kitchentableconversations
#whenweknowbetterwecandobetter. Together, we can protect future generations and create a more inclusive, informed support system.
With warmth and gratitude
Angela, and our team.