WRaP 2.0 FASD Coaching Partnership Project

The Edmonton and area Fetal Alcohol Network is pleased to participate in the development and implementation of the WRaP 2.0 ‘FASD Coaching Partnership Project’

The Government of Alberta, including the Ministry of Community and Social Services and Ministry of Education, and the FASD Service Networks have collaborated to develop a new approach and service delivery model for building capacity within the education system and across all Alberta school authorities, including First Nation communities and Métis Settlements.

The new service delivery model expands on the learnings from Education’s initial Wellness Resiliency and Partnership Project (WRaP) which ended in 2017 and focuses on capacity-building of school authority staff, including teachers, administrators, and educational assistants to meet the educational needs of students (ECS to Grade 12) with FASD, through a continuum of supports provided by FASD Instructional Coaches. 

FASD Instructional Coaches will support education staff to enhance their knowledge and skills regarding how to support students by providing professional development on FASD best practices and hands-on support incorporating FASD-informed approaches into their classroom communities.

“Through this partnership between the Alberta FASD networks and the Government of Alberta, we’re putting students first by working together to ensure every child is having their educational needs met. The foundation of this project is relationships. The input we’ve received from stakeholders like teachers and caregivers has allowed us to capture valuable perspectives that will continue to inform our FASD instructional coaching practice moving forward.”

Lisa Rogozinsky, EFAN Coordinator

It is with excitement that we introduce you to Tsion Demeke Abate, FASD Instructional Coach for the Edmonton and surrounding area.

For the past 20 years, Tsion has dedicated her professional work in educational leadership, and the development of research evidence that promotes the health and well-being of communities that face health inequity. Throughout her work, she employs innovative, evidence-based instructional practices and resources to reduce stigma and promote health equity.

She has worked in developing and executing local and national collaborations that effectively respond to disproportionate amounts of infections within underserved communities. Her expertise is demonstrated by her successful leadership of the stigma stream of the Alberta Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections Strategic Framework 2018-2021 with community groups and cross-department stakeholders.

She holds a Master’s of Education in Education Policy Studies from the University of Alberta, and is also the recipient of the 2015 RISE Award for Community Leadership: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F99WFye2URA.

Outside of work, she enjoys being part of the stewardship roundtable for EndPoverty Edmonton, takes long walks in the Edmonton River valley, and studies nutrition and fitness for functional health.

For more information on the FASD instructional coaching services available, please click here or reach out to Tsion at tsiona@nwcfasd.ca