Yukon leads country with response to FASD housing
Yukon Government News Release
WHITEHORSE-Minister of Health and Social Services Doug Graham is hosting a delegation from Alberta that will tour Yukon's Options for Independence housing project.
_rdax_220x174.jpg)
Alberta Human Services' Associate Minister for Services to Persons with Disabilities Naresh Bhardwaj, along with departmental representatives, will be joined by Wanda Beland and Sonya Schmidt of the Northwest Regional FASD Society Service Network for a one-day tour. The tour will focus on the services provided to Yukon citizens with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
"Yukon is ahead of the country in the housing services it offers to individuals with FASD through Options for Independence," Graham said. "I am pleased that we can profile our new affordable housing project."
This visit is a result of a presentation the minister made to his colleagues from the Canada Northwest Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Partnership late last year.
"The Alberta government and the society service network are very keen to see how we set up this project and want to see if it can work for a larger district. Yukon has a wide variety of services provided by many organizations and we are pleased to showcase them," the minister added.
"The opportunity to meet and learn from other jurisdictions is crucial to building on the good work Alberta is doing in the area of FASD," Bhardwaj said. "The information gathered during this visit will be used to further develop our programs and enhance how we support Albertans who are affected by FASD."
While in Whitehorse, the Alberta delegation will also tour the Child Development Centre (CDC). Delegates will hear about pre-school and school-age diagnostic programs along with other programs and services the CDC provides and meet with the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society of Yukon. They will also tour the housing project and the Options for Independence building.
"Yukon has a lot to share with other jurisdictions. In this case being small has been to our advantage, and if we can offer advice and ideas we will," Graham added.