Background Information

Purpose

In March 2008, the Prevention Working Group of FASD Stakeholders for Ontario released provincial awareness materials and strategies about alcohol and pregnancy. Alcohol use during pregnancy is a leading cause of birth defects and brain damage in children. The consequences last a lifetime.

These materials and strategies are designed primarily for women who drank alcohol before they knew they were pregnant. They share important information about safe levels of alcohol use, and where women can get helpful information.

Funding

These alcohol and pregnancy materials and strategies were funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Ontario Region. The funding, plus a substantial commitment of time and expertise from the Working Group members, allowed the Prevention Working Group to design and test a range of awareness materials, make them available electronically and in print, and to make modest provincial media buys, including mall ads and interior bus, street car and subway ads.

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Initiatives

Electronic Materials - A range of materials are available electronically for use by local interest groups and organizations.
Print Materials - Some items are available in print. Posters, tear off pads, bookmarks and static clings are available at cost though the Best Start Resource Centre Online Order Form.
Displays for Loan - In addition, displays are available for loan through the Best Start Resource Centre.
Mall Ads - There will be mall ads across Ontario in May 2008. The communities included are: Barrie, Hamilton, Markham, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Stoney Creek, Thornhill, Toronto (Fairview, Sherway, Eaton Centre, Woodbine), Vaughn, Cornwall, Kingston, Kitchener, London, Ottawa, Owen Sound, Peterborough and Thunder Bay.
Transit Ads - There will be interior bus, street car and subway ads across Ontario in May 2008. The communities included are: Ajax/Pickering, Barrie, Belleville, Brampton, Brantford, Cobourg-Port Hope, Cornwall, GTA, Guelph, Hamilton, Kenora, Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge, Leamington, Lindsay, Markham-Unionville-Whitechurch-Stouffeville, Midland, Newmarket-Aurora-Northern York Region, North Bay, Orangeville, Orillia, Oshawa-Clarington, Ottawa, Peterborough, Richmond Hill-Thornhill, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie, St Catharines-Thorold, St. Thomas, Stratford, Sudbury, Vaughn-Thornhill-Woodbridge-Maple-King City, Thunder Bay, Welland-Port Colbourne, Whitby, Windsor and Woodstock.
Local Activities - Links are provided on how to plan and implement local activities, using the materials, and supporting the provincial strategies.

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Key Messages

Many pregnancies are not planned. If you drank alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, you can make a confidential call to Motherisk for helpful information.
There are still many things you can do to have a healthy pregnancy and a good start for your baby.
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, it is safest not to drink any alcohol, because no amount of alcohol has been proven safe.