Many individuals with FASD require life-long daily ongoing assistance to support physical, cognitive, behavioural, and social-emotional functioning. As individuals with FASD grow and develop they frequently interact with multiple systems. Children and families often receive support from many sources so that communication is essential and critical to system navigation. Success requires coordinated responses, collaboration and cooperation between service providers and individuals with FASD and their families.
The nature of FASD as a lifelong disability will commonly differ depending on the individual. Pathways to successful outcomes often need to be tailored to be the right fit for each person to promote well-being and generate opportunities for meaningful success. The complexity of FASD creates obstacles for systemic approaches to targeting skill growth and development and finding and putting a custom pathway in place can be challenging.
Healthy Outcomes is founded on core beliefs that reflect integration of research with wisdom from communities and caregivers, as well as the lived experiences of those with FASD, reminding us that meaningful outcomes arise from meaningful understandings.
The Healthy Outcomes model supports FASD intervention approaches across the lifespan. The model is aligned with three assumptions. A developmental lifespan perspective is necessary at all ages and stages; interactive systems have additive and ongoing influences; and our approaches must always be strength-based, empowered, and goal-oriented.
From this prospective we build on existing strengths, and we address areas of challenge to help move toward healthy outcomes. We ensure that interventions are implemented appropriately, in a timely and proactive manner, and tailored to the individual and their community. Thinking carefully about healthy pathways we engage communities and individuals with FASD in developing intervention approaches that are meaningful and feasible.