Services delivered: FASD worker/coordinator services

Component: Coordinated Service Planning

Legislation: Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017

Service description

FASD workers/coordinators will deliver child, youth and family-centred services to children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and/or suspected FASD and their families.

People served

FASD worker/coordinator services are expected to be available to children and youth with, or suspected of having, FASD under the age of 18 or up to age 21 if they are in school, living in Ontario. A formal diagnosis of FASD will not be required to access the services and support of a FASD worker/coordinator.

Program/service features

The goal of services is to build capacity of communities to respond to the needs of children, youth, and families impacted by FASD by hiring FASD workers/coordinators who will provide support within the respective Coordinating Agency service delivery areas.

Specific service provided

FASD workers/coordinators will provide direct services to children, youth, and families with FASD, including consultation and system navigation support, as required. FASD workers/coordinators will

• work with children/youth with FASD, or suspected FASD, and their families to develop a service plan based on individual strengths and needs and informed by the child/youth and family’s vision, goals, and concerns
• support connections to diagnostic supports (as available) and provide information to families as post-diagnosis support
• support connections to other services and, with consent, share information and the service plan so the family doesn’t have to repeat their story
• work with the family, service providers and educators supporting the child/youth to build capacity, identify strategies and make adaptations to meet the child’s needs
• explore flexible and innovative approaches (e.g., a neurobehavioral approach) for service delivery to meet the needs of children/youth and families and to bring forward innovative solutions
• provide information to parents, caregivers, and school personnel about behavioural symptoms associated with FASD and helpful approaches
• if a child/youth has multiple and complex needs and their family requires the more intensive support of a Service Planning Coordinator and the Coordinated Service Planning Process, support a transfer to a dedicated Service Planning Coordinator and remain involved as part of the Coordinated Service Planning team
• work with youth, and their family and service providers across sectors to plan for a transition from child and youth services to adult services, if required
• at a local system level, work to improve awareness of FASD and support local cross- sectoral planning tables to identify gaps and opportunities to increase capacity among other service system providers serving children and youth with FASD (e.g., Service Planning Coordinators, rehabilitation service providers, health care providers, educators and providers in the justice sector)
• engage with diverse populations (e.g., Indigenous, Francophone) to discuss how to best meet needs of children and youth with FASD in their communities
• facilitate parent-to-parent connections to promote peer supports
• participate in provincially offered training to increase both their own and their organization’s capacity to support children and youth with FASD and their families

Program goals

Services will be

• proactive and responsive to individual child/youth, family, and community strengths and needs
• sensitive to the social, linguistic, and cultural diversity of families and communities, including Francophone and Indigenous children/youth, and their families
• staffed by individuals with the appropriate range of skills and abilities necessary to respond effectively to the needs of adults, children, and their families
• delivered in a manner that is collaborative in nature and coordinated with schools and other service providers

Ministry expectations

• services are child and family-centred and support the diverse needs of families in a way that is culturally safe, promotes equity, anti-racism, and anti-oppression
• FASD worker/coordinators will expand support for children, youth and families affected by FASD , including working with local service providers to increase awareness of the disorder, how it can be prevented, and how to support children/youth and their families impacted by FASD
• each FASD worker/coordinator is expected to provide service to a minimum of 50 children/youth per year

Reporting requirements

The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final period. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.