The Support Services for Families (with FASD) Program is a community based outreach service designed to enhance protective factors and reduce risk factors for a young person with FASD, and build the capacity of their families to provide ongoing nurturing care for their children.

ARC Programs and Okanagan Metis Children and Family Services have developed a partnership to deliver the Support Services for families with a child with FASD. There are two program components, the Keyworker Services and the Parent-to-Parent Support Services. ARC Programs provides the program management and Keyworker Services, and the Okanagan Metis Child and Family Services Society provide the Parent-to-Parent Support Services (on a sub-contract basis). The services are funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and coordinated with the Interior Health Children’s Assessment Network (IHCAN), which provide Interior Health-funded clinical assessment services. Children must have an assessed diagnosis of FASD or other Complex Developmental-Behavioral Disorder, or be pending access to the assessment process, for the family to access the program services.

The Keyworker Services provide case management support and coordination, and assistance to families in implementing the recommendations of the FASD Assessment provided by the Interior Health Children’s Assessment Network. The Keyworker utilizes the FASD Assessment as the core assessment document to engage the family or guardian in a service planning process. The services may include FASD and/or parenting/family education and consultation, support to access other needed community services, individual or family counseling, advocacy and support for education planning and services, coordination and implementation of assessment recommendations.

The Parent-to-Parent Support facilitator is employed by Okanagan Metis Child and Famiy Services. The Parent-to-Parent Support Services are offered to any parent has a child that has been assessed with FASD. The families do not have to be accessing the Keyworker services to access the Parent-to-Parent Support services, but will usually be referred by the Keyworker as a component of the Individualized Service Plan.

Referrals to the program will come from the Interior Health service providers, and other multi disciplinary teams specializing in FASD Assessments, MCFD Guardianship social workers (for a child in care), and/or other service providers as approved by the Ministry. Families that have previously completed a FASD assessment may also self-refer to the program for support services.

The ‘Key Worker’ model is a method of service delivery involving a person who works in a guide role with families. This person or service may act as a single point of contact for a family, helping the family to coordinate their care, not only within the healthcare system, but also across systems (education, social services, financial resources, recreation, transportation, etc). The following principals represent the program philosophy that will guide the delivery of the Keyworker’s services to families:

• Partnership: the Key Worker provides the family with tools, resources, and guidance to carry out complex tasks and, when needed, within a partnership, assists the family with tasks;
• Coordinated and comprehensive care: the Key Worker provides comprehensive care by ensuring access to, coordination and delivery of services from different agencies, and supports the family to access services to address or support the relevant elements of each child’s life;
• Family centered: the Key Worker provides the family with general information in a flexible manner, and tailors the format, content, and timing to the individual family’s needs, and assists families in accessing information;
• Knowledge and information: the Key Worker assists in answering, or finding the information to respond to, questions concerning the individual child’s health needs and special needs;
• Respectful and supportive care: the Key Worker provides emotional support and encouragement, and links the families to other families for support; and,
• Advocacy: the Key Worker advocates for families and children with special needs, at the individual and the community level to increase awareness of, and availability of services.

Program Operating Hours

The program, in general, operates during the day and evenings from Monday to Friday (weekend appointments may be facilitated if necessary).
There would generally be staff on-site during the following core hours daily:

Monday - Friday : 8:30am - 5:00 p.m. P.S.T.

ARC Services for Families with FASD is located at:
513 Bernard Avenue
Kelowna, BC
V1Y 6N9

Phone: (250) 763-2977
Fax: (250) 763-6060 OR
CONTACT US LINK above.