CanFASD Overview
The Canada FASD Research Network (CanFASD), formerly known as the Canada Northwest FASD Research Network, was established in March of 2005, through the support of the Canada Northwest FASD Partnership (CNFASDP). CanFASD is a formally and informally connected group of professionals from a range of research
sciences, and located across Canada.
Initially, CanFASD undertook a consultation process to develop a strategy for the networking and collaboration of research involving FASD across the Canada northwest region. This strategy involved three primary activities.
- Identify all FASD-related research projects
- Evaluate these projects to determine if they meet the criteria for networking
- Conduct consultation process with groups that met the networking criteria
The outcome provided the initial direction and focus for CanFASD which is in our report, Three Forums: Final Report on the Research Opportunities and Challenges. Based on recommendations from this report, CanFASD formed five collaborative Network Action Teams that are currently conducting research in the areas of diagnostics, intervention and prevention. These teams answer questions posed by governments, organizations and communities, that require research and evaluation. Members pursue common goals under the leadership of the Scientific Director.
Moving forward, CanFASD plans to expand nationally, and work with all existing Canadian researchers, programs, organizations, families and professionals, including existing grassroots organizations that want to collaborate on research on the complex issues surrounding FASD.
CanFASD is not a funding body nor can it provide direct services.
Our Vision
We support Canada's leadership in addressing the extraordinary complexities of FASD.
Our Mission
To create, nurture, and sustain a collaborative environment which produces relevant research leading to:
- Prevention of FASD and,
- Significant improvement in the lives of affected individuals, their families, and communities
|
Our Purpose
- To build a sustainable research network
- To build research capacity and knowledge across and within all communities
- To identify priority research questions and themes relating to FASD policy and practice
- To develop comprehensive and culturally appropriate prevention, surveillance, diagnosis & intervention research programs to answer research questions in ways that can be understood, utilized and applied
|
Our Goals
- To develop and foster relationships, research programs, and initiatives across the spectrum of FASD activity
- To be sensitive to community and cultural needs
- To facilitate and enhance productive linkages across jurisdictions, communities, and disciplines
- To answer high priority questions about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of FASD
- To disseminate empirically validated knowledge about the prevention, surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of FASD
- To inform policy, practice and decision making
|
|
