Help is at hand!

FASD-CAN is here to help you navigate the ups and downs of being a caregiver of a person with FASD, whatever their age. As part of our mahi, we are keen to strengthen and extend our current kanohi kit e kanohi / face to face FASD caregiver support group network across the motu. We’ll be launching more local groups which we’ll let you know about via newsletter and social media.

However, there will still be many parts of Aotearoa that will not have access to a local, in-person support group – so we are starting an online support group in early April 2023 to help meet the needs of all FASD-CAN caregiver members, wherever you are in the country.

Click here to download an interactive pānui / flyer about the group 

We'd love it if you could please help us spread the word and share this with friends and whānau!

Click here to jump to our registration form or read on for more about the group...

The benefits of joining a support group

Caring for an FASD individual is one of the most stressful jobs around. But even though you might feel like it, you are not alone. Caregiver support groups are very helpful in giving you a place to connect, get support (both emotional and practical), and to be heard. 

Research shows that the benefits of joining a caregiver support group include:

• a reduction in your sense of social isolation
• knowledge you are talking to other people going through a similar experience, who don’t judge, and who ‘get it’!
• giving you a safe place to ‘vent’ and share what you are going through
• helping you regain a sense of control over your situation and life
• helping keep your perspective on life
• providing you with emotional support and understanding
• an opportunity to learn from others who have already experienced the issues confronting you, and
• a source of further resources and information.

Have a look at our downloadable 'I am a caregiver' info sheet – it gives an idea of the challenges for caregivers of those with FASD across the lifespan, the support you'll require and your role. It may be helpful to print out and pass on to whānau or professionals, too.

Eligibility

To become a member of this group you must be a member of FASD-CAN (if you're not already a member, join here! It’s quick and easy) and a current or past FASD caregiver. 

Membership in the group is also on a personal/individual basis, and you will be required to comply with FASD-CAN’s privacy and confidentiality requirements. This means the ZOOM links you are sent for group meetings cannot be shared with other non-members. 

Please note: FASD-CAN has other specific professional networking groups for educators and social and support workers so if these would be more appropriate for you we encourage you to join them.      

Our Facilitators

Kim Milne, FASD-CAN’s Principal Advisor, and Anna Gundesen, FASD-CAN’s Navigator in Tāmaki Makaurau will be the co-facilitators of the Group. Our Chairperson Leigh Henderson, will also be online when available. They all have lived experience of caring for tamariki/rangatahi/adults with FASD.

Kim is caregiver to a 22-year old son with FASD, ADHD, SPD, and many other acronyms. She has been there, and done that! She is looking forward to connecting with you all and making the Group a safe place to share experiences and knowledge. 

Anna is the FASD-CAN Navigator in Tāmaki Makaurau. She is immersed in this role of support, education, networking, training and advocacy for all those caring for individuals with the disorder. She and her partner have a teenager with FASD and Anna is highly trained as a facilitator.

Leigh’s son was diagnosed with FASD when he was a teenager; he’s now a grown man with his own children. Leigh has a long background in advocating for more awareness around FASD and she’s passionate about helping families who are impacted by FASD to get the best possible outcomes.

When and how?

The first zui meeting of the FASD on-line Caregiver Support Group will take place on Thursday the 6th of April 2023 between 12.30 and 1.30pm. Meetings will then happen once a month. When you register to join the group you will receive an email with the list of meeting dates for 2023.

Support groups work best when the members decide what they need and want from membership in the group, and how they want it to work. So at the first meeting we will discuss things like:

• how the group will ‘operate’ on the online platform
• what the members of the group want to get from membership, and
• any other issues and queries members want to raise.

Come along and find out more! It’s our hope that we will all learn from, and support each other.

Any questions?

If you have any questions or want to know more, please contact Kim Milne. [email protected]

Registration

To register for membership in the online FASD Caregiver Support Group please fill in the form below.

Caregivers can join us at any time throughout the year. 

Once you've hit submit, you'll receive an email confirming your registration, including the 2023 schedule of meeting dates. The Zoom links for each meeting will be sent to you a few days prior to the date.

Members can cancel their membership at any time by emailing [email protected]