Training Rated Useful by 99 per cent of Responding CHRs

"What happens to those evaluation forms we fill out at the end of these sessions anyway?" This question was asked by a number of the CHRs after filling out what seemed like a too-lengthy questionnaire following the FAS/E training session. All the questionnaires were compiled and then the data analyzed. The goal of Healing Hearts: SIDS, Tobacco Misuse During Pregnancy and FAS/E was to improve the quality of skills of CHRs in FAS/E understanding, prevention and community strategies. Overall, the CHRs felt that a high quality of training was provided, significant skill and knowledge growth resulted and the training kits were regarded as extremely useful to the CHRs.

Evaluation Identifies Future FAS/E Work

Develop and coordinate a National Aboriginal Network System of people involved in FAS/E work.
Make educational materials and community resources that are from an Aboriginal perspective and designed for the communities they are intended to reach.
Distribute materials and information to a wider audience by building links with NNADAP workers and other sectors in the communities.
Develop and train a base of Aboriginal "Community Facilitators" who could be called upon to assist CHRs on a more intensive level.
Work at increasing a Traditional Aboriginal Knowledge approach in creating FAS/E education and community strategies.
Develop a FAS/E screening tool for CHRs to help with proper identification of children with FAS/E and the development of appropriate intervention models.

Evaluation Identifies Future SIDS and Tobacco Cessation Work

Develop traditional/cultural teaching with elders and Aboriginal resource material that is more culturally appropriate.
Facilitator's Guide would be a good training tool for pre/postnatal classes.
Should be a longer session - three days for all the important topics are not enough.
Training sessions should be developed in each region and delivered by health workers from their own community.
Participants would have appreciated the video on the "Strategies During Pregnancy and Motherhood to Stop Smoking".

New Resources For CHRs

"Everything was explained well and simple to understand."

"This information will be greatly appreciated when I return home. Great resources!"

"I recommend that CHRs should not go home and put this great information on a shelf."

"Practical, motivating, comprehensive."

"Enjoyed every minute, very informative!"

These were a few of the words used to describe the resources provided at the National Training Session. These kits are now available from NIICHRO. The resources include educational resources, tips for CHRs, videos, fact sheets, overheads and visual aids. To order, please contact:

FAS/E Kit ($50 -shipping included)
Kit includes:

David with FAS video - 45 minutes
In Touch Magazine: FAS/E
It Takes a Community Handbook, A Resource Manual for Community-Based Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects - 118 pages
FAS/E Facilitator's Guide - 65 pages

Erratum: Production of this document was made possible by a financial contribution from the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effects Strategic Project Fund, Health Canada

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome/Tobacco Use During Pregnancy Kit ($80 -shipping included)
Kit includes:

Reducing the Risk - Video - 17 minutes
When Babies Leave the Circle - Video - 21 minutes
SIDS Facilitator's Guide - 70 pages
Misuse of Tobacco During Pregnancy - Facilitator's Guide - 70 pages
In Touch Magazine: Tobacco
Handout on Prenatal Conditions
Resources for Prenatal & Postpartum Providers - A Selected Inventory
Prenatal & Postpartum Women & Tobacco Report - January 2001, Health Canada