Manitoba is launching a pilot program to help young adults get access to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder assessment and diagnoses, starting with those who have been involved in the criminal justice system but unable to access special supports that require a diagnosis.
“Our government believes improved access to FASD assessments will provide better outcomes for participating young adults, the justice system and our communities,” Justice Minister Cliff Cullen said in a news release Wednesday.
When the three-year pilot program launches in October, it will connect adults age 18-25 with assessment and diagnosis services from the Rehabilitation Centre for Children, including a multidisciplinary team of experts already responsible for FASD diagnoses for youth in Manitoba.
The first clients are expected to be young adults who are involved in the justice system but couldn’t get assessed for FASD before they turned 18, and were therefore shut out of a provincial court serving young offenders with FASD diagnoses.
Until now, only youth under age 18 have been able to get diagnosed with FASD in Manitoba, with few exceptions.
“People with FASD struggle to understand the consequences of their behaviour, and they often end up involved with the justice system,” said provincial court Judge Mary Kate Harvie, who helped create the province’s current FASD Justice Program, in the news release Wednesday.
“Assessment and diagnosis is the first step in helping to connect those with FASD with the additional supports they need.”
‘Much-needed support’
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