Connect For Kids Information for North Shore Families

Our FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) Support Program provides counselling, information, and skill development for parents with a child affected by FASD or other complex developmental behavioural conditions.
Children with FASD or other complex developmental behavioural conditions often experience challenges in learning and processing information which makes it difficult for them to develop friendships, be successful in school, and understand and follow through with different expectations.

Our FASD Family Support Workers work directly with parents to help them understand and develop effective behavioural and communication strategies with their children. It is important for parents to understand that their child’s challenges are neurologically based and as a result need specific strategies and supports during each developmental phase.

The Family Support Worker helps with coordinating other health professionals that are often involved in these children’s lives, and can liaise with school and other adults to ensure a consistent and successful approach.

Where a diagnosis is only suspected, the Family Support Worker can support the family to access mental health resources and learn more about getting an accurate assessment, as well as linking to other formal and community-based support services.

Families can self-refer, or referrals can be made by other professionals on the family’s behalf with their consent.

The Infant Development Program (IDP) provides home based early intervention services to families with children from birth to three years of age who are experiencing delays in their development, or who are at risk for developmental delay.
Home visits are made on a regular basis by professional staff to assist the family in planning learning activities and to utilize appropriate community resources. Opportunities for parents to meet and support each other are provided through regular drop-in groups and classes organized on topics of interest to families.

Resource library materials of books and toys are also available for loan to families. Referrals can be made directly to the IDP. The North Shore Infant Development Program strives to provide services in a timely fashion, but occasionally the demand for our services exceeds the capacity for us to do this. If this happens, your child may be placed on a waitlist for service.

Jessie’s Legacy, a program of Family Services of the North Shore, provides eating disorders prevention education, resources and support for BC children, youth, families, educators and professionals.
Our name honours Jessie Alexander, a young North Shore woman who died of complications from a long standing eating disorder. It was Jessie’s hope, upon her recovery, to help others suffering from disordered eating and depression. While Jessie was never able to realize her dream, Family Services of the North Shore has ensured that the Provincial eating disorders prevention has become Jessie’s Legacy.

Jessie’s Legacy services and resources are primarily web-based. In addition, Jessie’s Legacy provides media watch (through social media), online and telephone support, psycho-education groups as well as a Speakers Bureau.

Jessie’s Legacy is also the lead for the Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness Campaign (PEDAW) a province wide effort to raise awareness around prevention, early intervention and treatment of eating disorders as well as media literacy, resiliency, healthy body image and self esteem. PEDAW is launched the first week of February with various initiatives taking place year round.