Resources for Native Communities

In this section: FASD from a tribal perspective | Strategies for Native communities

This section contains written information, videos, and webinars that are especially relevant for Native Communities and/or Educators serving Native students. Several personal stories are shared through video.

Written materials

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Among Native Americans (pdf, 2p.)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) (2007)
Factsheet that describes the scope of FASD among Native Americans, an overview of FASD, and what is being done to address the issue.

Weaving a Resilient Basket of Hope & Filling It With Tools of Help (pdf, 83p.)
Suzie Kuerschner, MEd, FASD Consultant and Trainer
This manual integrates traditional and clinical knowledge to provide a foundation "from which parents, social service providers, educators, and trainers can form their own prevention and intervention strategies."

Webinars

FASD and Historical Trauma Considerations to Improve Care for Native People: Focus on Child Welfare and Domestic Violence (60 min.)
Hosted by the Indian Health Services (IHS) TeleBehavioral Health Center of Excellence (2016)
Presented by Tessa Evans-Campbell, PhD (Snohomish) and Sandra Radin, PhD, this webinar describes the contexts of FASD, historical trauma, and grief and how they relate to maternal and child health. (more )

The objective of this webinar was to assist viewers in being able to identify specific influences of FASD, historical trauma and grief in child welfare and domestic violence and apply learning to improve care and treatment for Native peoples. Dr. Evans-Campbell is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Social Work, University of Washington; Dr. Radin is a Research Scientist at the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, Univerity of Washington.

Videos

My Story on FAS (5 min.)
Kaylynn Jehn openly shares her personal story.

Morgan Fawcett on Living with FASD (7 min.)
Morgan's story of the helpful impact of his diagnosis (produced by NOFAS).

Other resources

Northwest Tribal Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Project
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB)
This project seeks to reduce the incidence of FASD and to assist tribal communities to improve the quality of life of those living with FASD. Project site features resources, data/statistics, reports and media materials, and related websites. (more )

This project is a collaboration with NPAIHB member tribes aimed at providing prevention education to tribal communities regarding the effects of fetal exposure to alcohol, as well as to gain skills in diagnosing FASD, and to develop support and protection for those community members already affected. The deep impact of FASD within tribal communities has served to inform the design and delivery of the Northwest Tribal FASD project. It aims to develop pre- and post- diagnostic protocols that demonstrate that diagnosis is for identifying solutions that include community specific services. All approaches and activities proceed in a culturally congruent context to create circles of collaborative care. The project provides technical assistance to facilitate appropriate cognitive tailoring of behavioral health strategies.

Written materials

Life is Sacred: Invite It, Nurture It, Celebrate It (pdf, 6p.)
Suzie Kuerschner, MEd, FASD Consultant and Trainer
This printable handout can be used by a person with FASD (or their caregiver) to advocate for themselves when working with educators or other professionals.

An Indigenous Framework of the Cycle of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Risk and Prevention Across the Generations: Historical Trauma, Harm, and Healing (pdf, 39p.)
Gonazels K, et al. Ethnicity & Health, 2021;26(2). Preprint published by the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health
In this paper, the authors report knowledge and attitudes about FASD, perspectives on FASD risk factors, and culturally relevant approaches to FASD prevention as learned through community-based participatory research with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) peoples living in Multnomah County, Oregon.

Webinars

Supporting Women to Prevent FASD: Creating a Circle of Hope (75 min.)
Hosted by the Indian Health Services (IHS) TeleBehavioral Health Center of Excellence (2014)
Presented by Kathleen Mitchell, MHS, LCADC, and Daphne Colacion, MA, this webinar discusses how creating environments that support and empower women can help prevent FASD. (more )

The presentation also describes the NOFAS Circle of Hope program for birth mothers, and the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium’s Gouk- Gumu Xolpelema Tribal Home Visiting Program utilizing the Parent Child Assistance Program Model. Mitchell is Vice President and National Spokesperson for the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS); Colacion is with the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium.

FASD and Suicide: A Native American Community's Response (56 min.)
Hosted by the Indian Health Services (IHS) TeleBehavioral Health Center of Excellence (2014)
Presented by Thea Wilshire, PhD, and Gerilyn Goseyun, this presentation outlines the concerted efforts and successful interventions made by a Southwest Tribe to reduce suicide after losing several young people in a short period of time. (more )

The San Carlos Apache Suicide Prevention Task Force implemented a multi-pronged prevention, intervention, and post-intervention plan that included collaboration with organizations across the state. This presentation shares information about some of the Tribe’s more successful programs and offers suggestions for other organizations wanting to implement similar strategies. Wilshire and Goseyun are affiliated with the San Carlos Apache Wellness Center (Wilshire is the Clinical Director).

Videos

Parenting with FASD (14 min.)
Presented by the Inter Tribal Health Authority (ITHA) and Maternal Child Health (MCH) Program. Mentors from the SOAR program describe home visiting strategies that work with First Nations families.