Introducing FASDlive 2012: Expanding our Vision

It is always busy at the Prevention Institute, but we have happily added to our workload this past year. We have partnered with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Canada Northwest FASD Partnership and the FASD Support Network of Saskatchewan to host FASDlive 2012. This conference will be held on September 12 and 13, with two post conference symposia available on September 14. It is being held at the Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

FASDlive 2012 has five keynote speakers and over 30 concurrent sessions about prevention, diagnosis, support and intervention. It will be an exciting and informative few days.

Saskatchewan Presenters

It is always a joy to promote Saskatchewan. Here is some information about two Saskatchewan presenters.

Dr. Caroline Tait (BA, MA, PhD): Keynote

Dr. Tait is Métis from near MacDowall, Saskatchewan. In 2003, she received a PhD in Medical Anthropology from McGill University, Montreal. The following year she completed post doctoral studies in Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, McGill University before moving home to Saskatchewan to take a position with the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Tait is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and a member of the Indigenous Peoples’ Health Research Centre.

Dr. Tait’s research focuses on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples, specifically mental health and addictions. Her work on FASD includes:

• Her doctoral thesis: The tip of the iceberg: The “making” of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Canada
• A Study of the Service Needs of Pregnant Addicted Women in Manitoba commissioned by the Prairie Women’s Health Centre of Excellence and Manitoba Health
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome among Canadian Aboriginal Peoples: Review and Analysis of the Intergenerational Links to Residential Schools commissioned by the Aboriginal Health Foundation
• Disruptions in Nature, Disruptions in Society: Aboriginal Peoples of Canada and the ‘making’ of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Healing Traditions: The Mental Health of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada

Dr. Tait has been a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Fellow at Harvard University. In 2008, she won the YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Science, Technology and Research, which recognized her work with “indigenous people and women on the edge of mainstream society”. (Saskatoon Star Phoenix)

In recent years Dr. Tait has turned her attention to the role of ethics in policy and funding decision making targeting First Nations and Métis peoples. Her presentation will discuss the role of ethics in rethinking the link between child welfare policy and practices and FASD prevention.

Rand Teed (B.A, B. Ed, Certified Prevention Specialist): Concurrent Session

One of our concurrent presenters is Rand Teed, from Saskatchewan. He has been working with teens for over 35 years. For the past 15 years, he has been helping young people understand how substance use can get in the way of having the life they want.

Rand developed the Drug Class program which has been offered in many Regina High Schools. He also writes and hosts the award winning Drug Class TV series. Rand, himself, has won many awards including;

• Gemini Award for Best Direction in a Youth Series (2008)
• Kaiser Foundation Award for Excellence in Media reporting (2010)
• University or Regina Teaching Development Centre - Inspiring Teaching Award (2005) 

At FASDlive 2012, Rand will talk about the importance of doing a better job in education and prevention about adolescent alcohol use and abuse. He will model why and how to do it.

Intrigued by what you’ve read? Register for FASDlive 2012!