Inspire Kids - FASD Support Society of BC

11/03/2026

We are looking for volunteers to help with some of our upcoming events and programs!

Please consider taking some time for youth with FASD and helping grow their community, connect them to success, and brighten their days!

You can help us manage our FASD Youth Book Club, help us update our resource lending library, volunteer at our upcoming conferences in Kamloops and Prince George, grow our audience with online support, or join our board of directors or youth advisory board!

We would love to have you! Reach out today at [email protected]

03/03/2026

Need a Key Worker?

The FASD Key Worker program supports families and helps caregivers find resources in their community.

You can find a list of all the Key Worker Programs in the province on our Resources page.

03/03/2026

How are you feeling about the suport program changes announced by MCFD?

Follow the link to our FASD family group to add your thoughts and vote in our poll.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1018200085047418

26/02/2026

Got questions about the new funding program for youth in BC that have FASD?

We are here to help! Make sure you are following us on social media or subscribed to our newsletter.

We are gathering your questions now to help families navigate how to apply for support.

Do you have a child receiving AFU funding now but may also qualify for the new model? And you aren't sure if transitioning in April is the right choice for you? We've got your back. We are deep diving into those questions with the Ministry, too!

Change is exciting but overwhelming. This is a lot to navigate. But it's not a solo adventure. We are with you.

https://www.inspirefasd.ca/

25/02/2026

It's Pink Shirt Day!

Did you know Pink Shirt Day is a protest movement. And it was two teenage boys that took immediate action to show kindness and support to a younger boy that initiated the protest?

At a Nova Scotia high school, Grade 12 students David Shepherd, Travis Price and a few friends saw that a Grade 9 student was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. The two boys went and bought 50 pink shirts (themselves!!$$) that night and spread the word among their friends. The next day? Fifty older kids wearing pink shirts to school. For that one younger boy.

Some call this day superficial and point to the hypocrisy of organizations acknowledging it while fostering a heavy-handed work place culture, outdated practises, and a bit of toxic bullying themselves.

Is that happening? Yes. A lot. Everywhere. All. The. Time.

And that's the beauty of the sea of pink shirts we see at schools and daycares and all over our country today. It's an act of defiance in solidarity with just one child that was bullied. One kid, bullied for wearing a pink shirt. And when strong and kind people found out they stood up. Not by pushing the bullies around, not by retaliating or humiliating them. By amplifying the unique and positive message the pink shirt on the first day of school meant for the child who chose it.

Strength without kindness is not leadership.

The beauty of school these days is it's giving kids an opportunity to teach us grown-ups a thing or two about how to do things better.
So wear your pink shirts and take your group photos at work. Then, dig out a HR policy that needs refreshing, double check your workplace signage for harmful messaging, or pick a few spaces or documents where you can move to gender-neutral language.
Are you part of a club or group or organization? Check yourself and your friends. Have you accidentally set up a two-tier structure? Are you maybe gate-keeping a bit? Do you let the conversations turn a little negative and personal? Do better.

And then, tell people you did it. When people know they are being seen it grows their strength and confidence. It impacts their self worth and internal dialogue. It boosts their serotonin.

Happy Pink Shirt Day. And thanks every time to David and Travis, who spent their own money on 50 shirts and managed to outfit a whole country in them.

ps - the kids are smarter than us. We should be taking their lead a lot more often.

23/02/2026

Changes Announced by MCFD Welcomed by FASD Families

Every child in BC should be supported to the full extent they need to lead a meaningful and full life. This support needs to be respectful, accessible and individualized for each child and each family in British Columbia.

The announcement of a new, comprehensive system to support child well being is a significant step forward for all families in BC. Further, the financial commitments to youth in the 2026 Budget Speech reaffirm the commitment to expanding direct support for families who have long been denied services that would help them thrive.

Historically, opportunities for funding, services, and programming have been provided in siloed and inconsistent ways across Ministries, communities, and the lifespan. Children under 6 years of age, children with specific diagnoses, Indigenous children, and children in care were eligible for different levels and types of support. Additionally, a separate system for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder created further disparities in opportunities for families to thrive.

In her 2021 report, Excluded: Increasing Understanding, Support and Inclusion for Children with FASD and their Families, Dr Jennifer Charlesworth, the Representative for Children and Youth in BC, outlined the stigma, trauma and barriers that the current system has placed in front of youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and their caregivers.

The announcement of a new, inclusive era in investing in families and children brings hope to many families in British Columbia. Families accessing services currently will be experiencing concern around their future services. We are committed to supporting the transition, engaging with partners and families to ensure individual needs are met and accounted for.

We commit to holding the stakeholders accountable and working towards empowering and educating families on the best way to move all children and their caregivers into a truly inclusive BC.

13/02/2026

The events in Tumbler Ridge earlier this week are absolutely heart-wrenching. We are thinking of all the children, families, staff and first-responders that experienced such a terrifying and tragic time.

It's okay to be scared about what happened and have questions about your own safety, and to wonder how to feel... There are many excellent resources for parents to support kids who have witnessed violence or a crisis situation.

We will share further resources in the coming days and are available if you need help navigating big feelings with your kids.

And don't forget about yourself. Take time to check in with how you are feeling after everything that you've seen and heard. It's okay to be not okay.

Watch for further support links and resources specific to helping youth with FASD process grief and fear.

13/02/2026

Our February Caregiver Zoom chat will be devoted to going over the details and answering questions about the new funding model announcement!

Youth with FASD will now qualify for new types of support funding and services. It's early days but there are some details on the next steps already.

Our Zoom link is found on our website and the session is open to all caregivers of youth with FASD, diagnosed or not!

04/02/2026

Inspire FASD Kids February Newsletter

Connect for Success - Our focus for 2026

28/01/2026

It can be hard to navigate your relationship with your child when you are also supporting them in managing big feelings, past hurts, future worries, and the everyday stress of growing up different.

There are some strategies that can help. Learning about how trauma-informed parenting can be very helpful for FASD families as relationships, communication, and respect play a big role in how individuals with FASD perceive the world around them.

This resource from Belonging Network explains how to start a practice of trauma-informed parenting.

ps - don't forget to consider yourself in the practice. Step outside your role as a caregiver and consider your personal experiences and how traumatic events may affect you. Take time for your own care and set your own expectations for how you need to be supported, too! You can't pour from an empty cup!

Download this free digital guide that covers important topics like the different ways kids might respond to trauma, how to adopt a trauma-informed parenting approach, and the impact on parents and caregivers.

19/01/2026

Did you know we collect can tabs to support our youth council activities?

Pop those tops and hang on to them for us!

13/02/2025

Caregivers!! Don't forget to join us monthly on Zoom for connection, conversations and support!

We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Hope to see you there!

You can't pour from an empty cup. Have you heard that saying before? Well, it's true. And it most certainly applies to living in an FASD household. That's why we are launching our Monthly Caregiver Connection Group. This is a chance for caregivers to connect with one another in a guided discussion t...