Download the one page conference flyer.
Speaker presentations are now available on the program page
Alcohol can hurt the brain and body of an unborn baby and cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a serious lifelong condition that impacts both the individual and their family. A child with FASD becomes an adult with FASD, facing birth defects, developmental and learning delays and social, educational, and employment challenges.
The IHE Consensus Development Conference on FASD: Across the Lifespan, will be held October 7 – 9 in Edmonton, Alberta. This conference, with its unique and compelling “jury trial” format, will examine:
- What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and how is it diagnosed?
- Do we know the prevalence and incidence of FASD in different populations and can the reporting be improved?
- What are the consequences of FASD on individuals, families and society?
- How can FASD be prevented?
- What policy options could more effectively support individuals with FASD and their families across the lifespan?
- What further research into FASD is needed?
The Honourable Anne McLellan (former Deputy Prime Minister and federal Health Minister) will lead a distinguished jury of citizens and experts to develop a consensus statement with practical policy recommendations based on these questions.
Dr. Gail Andrew (Scientific Chair of the Expert Panel; Pediatrician and Medical Director, Glenrose FASD Clinical Services; Member, Board of Directors, Canada Northwest FASD Research Network) will lead an expert panel to present available scientific evidence to the jury during public sessions to help with their deliberations.
Program accreditation
The program is accredited by the following professional organizations:
Canadian College of Health Service Executives
Attendance at this program entitles certified Canadian College of Health Service Executives members (CHE/Fellow) to 6 Category II credits toward their maintenance of certification requirement.
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
The Division of Continuous Professional Learning at the University of Alberta has approved this as an Accredited Group Learning Activity under Section 1 of the Framework of Continuing Professional Development options for the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
The College of Family Physicians of Canada
This program meets the accreditation criteria of The College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been accredited by the Alberta College of Family Physicians, for up to 13 Mainpro-M1 credits.
Committees
Planning Committee |
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Egon Jonsson, Executive Director and CEO, Institute of Health Economics Amanda Amyotte, Project Officer, Alberta Children and Youth Services Mary Berube, Director, Intergovernmental Initiatives, Alberta Children and Youth Services Laurie Beverley, Executive Director, Community Treatments and Supports, Alberta Health Services Jewel Buksa, President, BUKSA Conference Management and Program Development Corine Frick, Program Director, Alberta Perinatal Health Program Tara Hanson, Director of Operations, Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research Braden Hirsch, Acting Director, Community Partnerships, Alberta Seniors and Community Supports Marty Landrie, Interim Executive Director, Poundmaker’s Lodge |
Rhonda Lothammer, Communications Manager, Institute of Health Economics Thanh Nguyen, Health Economist, Institute of Health Economics Julie Peacock, Director, Primary Care, Children and Youth Interventions, Alberta Health Services - Addiction and Mental Health Nancy Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research Kesa Shikaze, Project Manager, Public Health Strategic Policy and Planning Rob Skrypnek, Sumera Management Consulting John Sproule, Senior Policy Director, Institute of Health Economics Melissa Waltner, Executive Assistant, Institute of Health Economics |
Scientific Committee |
Gail Andrew, Member, Board of Directors, Canada Northwest FASD Research Network; Medical Site Lead - Pediatrics, Medical Director - FASD Clinical Services, and Pediatric Consultant, Pediatric Programs, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital June Bergman, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Calgary Sterling K. Clarren, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director, Canada Northwest FASD Research Network Corine Frick, Program Director, Alberta Perinatal Health Program Denise Milne, Senior Manager, FASD Initiatives/ Children’s Mental Health, Alberta Children and Youth Services |
Hannah Pazderka, Director of Research, CASA Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Nancy Reynolds, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research John Sproule, Senior Policy Director, Institute of Health Economics Bonnie Stonehouse, Coordinator, Program Development for Persons with Disabilities, Alberta Seniors and Community Supports Melissa Waltner, Executive Assistant, Institute of Health Economics |
Communications Committee |
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Jewel Buksa, President, BUKSA Conference Management and Program Development Roxanne Dubé Coelho, Public Affairs Officer, Alberta Children and Youth Services Rhonda Lothammer, Communications Manager, Institute of Health Economics |
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Conference Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a consensus development conference?
A: The best way to describe a consensus development conference is that
it is a “jury trial” on health policy or scientific issues. At a consensus
development conference (which is run much like a legal court hearing),
a group of experts (or witnesses) is brought together for a short time
(2 1/2 days) to present scientific evidence on specific pre-determined
research questions to an independent panel (or jury). The jury then deliberates
to reach consensus and write a consensus statement with answers to the
questions in the form of a series of practical recommendations that can
be used by health policy makers.
Q: What is a consensus statement and how is it used?
A: A consensus statement is the set of policy recommendations written
by the jury based on publicly available data and information and the evidence
presented at the conference. The statement reflects the views of a panel
of thoughtful people who come to understand the issue before them and
who carefully examine and discuss the data available on the issue. The
recommendations contained in a consensus statement are meant to be used
by health policy makers in their decision making. These statements are
written in plain language and often health care practitioners, researchers,
service and advocacy groups and the general public find them to be useful
educational and awareness tools.
Q: Who can attend a consensus development conference?
A: Individuals with an interest in the topic to be explored are welcome
to participate in the conference as a member of the audience. A registration
is charged to offset the cost of the conference, including costs of participant
materials and meals.
Conference attendees will have the chance to engage in the debate by asking questions of the experts and learn of emerging practices and current research on a particular topic.
Q: How are conference topics chosen?
A: The Institute of Health Economics chooses topics in conjunction with
research partners. The topics are on health care issues that affect a
significant number of people where the process can help clarify, or a
gap between current knowledge and current practice may be narrowed. Topics
have an adequately defined and available base of scientific information
from which to answer the conference questions and resolve controversies.
The conference topic and resulting recommendations will have a positive
impact on health care costs and quality and a high degree of public interest.
Q: Why is the typical consensus development conference three days in duration?
A: The conference is actually two and one-half days. The first two days
are a series of presentations by expert speakers, followed by questions
from the jury and the audience. At the end of each of these days, the
jury works in the evening to discuss the information presented that day
and to reach consensus on the questions that the presentations were meant
to address. On the morning of day 3, the jury presents the consensus statement;
the statement is read, and further discussion and questions from the audience
takes place.
Q: What consensus development conferences are currently being planned?
A: A consensus development conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder,
called FASD: Across the Lifespan, will take place October 7 to 9, 2009
in Edmonton, Alberta. Visit www.ihe.ca for more information.
Q: Where do I get more information?
A: Visit www.ihe.ca to learn more about
IHE’s consensus development conference program, and to register for upcoming
events.
FASD Research and Resources
Ongoing research and evaluation of programs will help to determine best practices for preventing FASD and supporting those already affected.
The Institute of Health Economics is currently working on a series of projects related to FASD. Watch www.ihe.ca for more information.
The Government of Alberta's Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Cross-ministry Committee has a comprehensive website with extensive resources on FASD. Visit their site at http://www.fasd-cmc.alberta.ca/home/index.cfm or click on the links below for FASD research and resources:
FASD Research
Click here for information about the FASD demonstration projects in Alberta.
FASD Resources
Alberta Children and Youth Services
- FASD Quiz (link)
- FASD Tip Sheet (.pdf)
- FASD Tip Sheets for Health and Human Service Professionals (.pdf)
- Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act (link)
- Family Support for Children with Disabilities Brochure (.pdf)
Alberta Education
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC)
- Women and Substance Use Information Series (link)
- What a Woman Should Know: Alcohol and Other Drugs (.pdf)
Public Health Agency of Canada
- FASD: A Framework for Action (link)
- FASD Booklet (link)
- Health Portfolio website (link)
- Knowledge and Attitudes of Health Professionals about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Results of a National Survey (link)
Other Resources
- Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (link)
- National Database of FASD and substance use during pregnancy resources (link)
- FASD Connections (link)
- Motherisk Alcohol and Substance Abuse Helpline (link)
- National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome - USA (link)
- SAMSHA: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Center for Excellence - USA (link)
- Southern Alberta Alcohol Related Birth Injury Website (link)
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Conference Secretariat:
BUKSA Conference Management and Program Development
Phone: (780) 436-0983 ext. 229
Fax: (780) 437-5984
Email: consensus@buksa.com
Institute
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Email - info@ihe.ca
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