Cross-sectoral collaboration working with perinatal women who use substances: outcomes and lessons from HerWay Home

Supporting pregnant and parenting women who use alcohol during pregnancy: A scoping review of trauma-informed approaches

“…34 A number of studies indicated that staff understood, recognized, and accounted for the complexities of trauma for women, and sometimes children. 44 , 52 , 53 , 62 , 64 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 76 – 79 While only one study explicitly stated that staff were trained in complex trauma and trauma-informed care, 60 Tarasoff et al 75 noted that the 12 integrated treatment programs being studied embraced a trauma-informed philosophy in the ways programs were delivered as well as how staff worked with pregnant and parenting women by considering client histories and experiences of trauma in their program delivery. Hser et al 57 drew attention to how women are more likely to have coexisting complexities related to gender-specific social determinants of health when thinking about trauma.…”

“…34 A sense of safety was fostered when program and service staff were consistently non-judgmental, welcoming, and respectful with women accessing supports. 47 , 54 , 55 , 60 , 69 , 70 , 72 , 75 , 77 – 79 Andrews et al 67 reported that when organizational staff, at all levels, fostered a culture of safety and trust between staff, clients, managers, and with other community agencies, clients noticed. By modeling how to create safe spaces, have empathy, show care and compassion, and be reliable and consistent, not only did the sense of safety and trustworthiness increase in programs and services, but it was also foundational to building, teaching, and supporting healthy and sustainable relationships.…”

“… 48 , 72 , 73 , 77 , 78 Specifically, having trusted staff and organizational support for women engaged with the child welfare system, many of whom may have initially feared child welfare involvement, helped women to feel safer. 63 , 75 , 77 , 78 …”

Developing an FASD Health Promotion Social Media Campaign Using Community-Based Participatory Peer Review: Notes From Atlantic Canada

“…Prevalence estimates indicate that approximately 4% of Canada's general population has FASD, a leading cause of developmental disability in the country (Popova et al, 2019), which translates to over 96,000 people in the Atlantic provinces based on 2021 Census data (Statistics Canada, 2022). As demonstrated through widespread research across various disciplines (Comack, 2018;Nathoo et al, 2013;Rutman & Hubberstey, 2020), individuals use alcohol and, in some cases or instances, consume alcohol at high levels, for a multitude of complex and intersecting reasons: this can include everything from dealing with the strains of poverty and unemployment, coping with trauma from historical and/or ongoing experiences of abuse and family violence, or navigating feelings of loneliness and isolation, among other increasingly common stressors and strains (PHAC, 2016;Rutman & Hubberstey, 2020). These factors typically result from larger societal issues, including systemic inequities, thereby increasing the complexity of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.…”

“…Further, Poole (2008) outlines level-one activities benefiting and engaging the broader community. The type of information included in level-one activities should provide information to the general public about alcohol and health, including risks associated with alcohol during pregnancy; provide information about where additional information and support can be found; and encourage and promote the community to be active supporters of healthy pregnancies and FASD prevention (Hubberstey et al, 2019;Poole, 2008;Rutman & Hubberstey, 2020).…”