Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
WHEREAS NWT health and social services covers the cost of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) assessment for children and not adults;
AND WHEREAS many cases of FASD in children are going undiagnosed because of the lack of awareness and stigma associated with the disorder;
AND WHEREAS undiagnosed children are growing up and struggling with physical, intellectual and behavioural difficulties in adulthood;
AND WHEREAS the government is committed to working with residents in an effort to help them live healthy and productive lives;
AND WHEREAS adults who may have undiagnosed FASD are ineligible to receive support and programming available only to those who have been diagnosed with FASD:
AND WHEREAS improper diagnosis often leads to inappropriate care, increased risk of secondary disabilities, and missed opportunities to connect individuals affected by FASD with the programs and services that will provide the support needed to promote optimal functioning and provide a better quality of life;
AND WHEREAS accurate diagnosis can speed up the development of effective prevention practices and contribute to more accurate estimates of incidence and prevalence;
AND WHEREAS with proper assessment and care, many people with FASD can lead happy and productive lives, with the right supports, approaches and services;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that the Government of the Northwest Territories establish assessment services for adults who may have FASD;
AND FURTHER, that a multidisciplinary team based on the examples of the Territorial Assessment Team or the Child Development Team at Stanton Territorial Hospital be developed to provide these assessment and diagnostic services in the NWT;
AND FURTHERMORE, that programs and supports for individuals and families living with FASD be enhanced and be available to NWT residents who need these services;
AND FURTHERMORE, that the government provide a response to this motion within 120 days.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the goals of the 16th Legislative Assembly is healthy, educated people. One of the activities identified under the goal is to improve support for children and adults with special needs and disabilities. FASD is a reality with the Northwest Territories. Unfortunately, there are many adults who remain undiagnosed in the Northwest Territories and are therefore ineligible to receive support and programming available which is available to people who have been diagnosed as children. As a result, these undiagnosed individuals may face greater challenges than those individuals not suffering from FASD or those who were diagnosed and have been able to take advantage of programming.
As a result, these individuals may find themselves more reliant on social programs and income support in order to maintain a basic standard of living. This is unfortunate, given that with a little support these individuals could develop knowledge of their condition and skills to overcome their challenges, which will give them a better quality of life and possibly avoid the necessity to access income support, thus saving the GNWT money over the long run.
The GNWT does not support or facilitate the assessment of adults. The GNWT does support the assessment of youth. Unfortunately, many cases of FASD in children are going undiagnosed because of the lack of awareness or stigma associated with the disorder. Once these undiagnosed children leave their parents’ homes, become adults and enter the world of employment and new responsibilities, they face additional challenges. Unfortunately, if they seek to understand their challenges, that they can attempt to overcome them, the GNWT is not willing to help. This isn’t so in other jurisdictions. Alberta, as an example, recognizes the value in helping their citizens and offers adult assessment for FASD to their residents.
As a government, we need to follow Alberta’s example and offer this level of support to our undiagnosed residents. With proper assessment and care, many people in the NWT with FASD can lead happy, productive and independent lives. Let’s do the right thing and support FASD assessment and diagnosis services, as well as treatment for adults in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. I’ll go to the seconder of the motion, the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I second the motion. I feel that Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a very costly disorder to the Government of the Northwest Territories. It’s very costly to the health system, the justice system, and the education system.
The diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder would be a great initiative on the part of the government when we realize how many people are actually affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and how much it costs. Perhaps the diagnosis would allow the government to do more in the area of prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Unlike most disorders and spectrums, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is 100 percent preventable. So, hopefully, with the diagnosis of the adults now, we would be in a better position to do something about prevention. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. To the motion. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very briefly, I’m in total support of this motion. Adult diagnosis is a gap we’ve overlooked and are seeking, through the good work of my colleagues here, to fill. We’re missing an opportunity to help people in many ways that, really, we are responsible for as a government.
This is a huge issue for the Northwest Territories. We learned during our visit to Alberta, the ministry down there, that there are great strides being made in assessment and working with the people with FASD, and particularly with adults, new research going on there. So with proper diagnosis, families, individuals, all of us can benefit in many ways.
So I totally support this motion. I will be voting for it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. To the motion. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this motion forward. I am in full support of this motion. Recently, I think the Department of Health and Social Services announced a bit of a focus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and I fully support that. But, you know, throughout the government we tend to put a focus on children, particularly with FASD, and that focus needs to be expanded to include adults.
I think it’s well documented, I think it’s known that adults with FASD can lead extremely productive lives if they’re given certain supports. First of all, they need to be diagnosed. Once they’re diagnosed, they can be given supports through various organizations, whether it be government or non-government organizations, but with minimal support, very often people with FASD can lead extremely productive and extremely successful lives.
One of the things that I think that treating people with FASD and allowing them to become productive members of our society is going to have an impact in a financial way on this government or on any government. You know, we’re going to see a reduction in our health and social services costs, because there is going to be less of a strain on our health and social services facilities.
There is quite likely to be fewer residents who are incarcerated, because FASD people with the proper treatment can learn the need to manage their lives in a way that keeps them out of jail. And I would think there is going to be a reduced draw on income support, because people are going to be employed within the community, within the workforce and they, therefore, are going to be able to support themselves. So even just those three things are going to be a financial benefit to the government.
It’s been mentioned already, and I would just like to reiterate, there’s a gap in the services that we provide at the moment with regard to FASD and I think there’s a bit of a leaning towards filling that gap, but we certainly need to make sure that we include adults in both the diagnosis and in the provision of services and treatments for adults with FASD.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I am totally in support of this motion and, again, I encourage my colleagues to support it as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. I will go to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a formal motion in the House is a recommendation to the government, we will undertake to respond to this motion within the timeline provided. In the meantime, I would like to just advise this House about the fact that we do offer a continuum of services for adults with developmental disabilities, including FASD. Access to these services is not dependent on a diagnosis. The types of services that we provide include day and work programs, adult respite, employment enhancement programs, group homes and supported living programs. Access to these services is obtained through health and social services authorities across the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, if individual needs are complex and require more intensive supports that may not be available in the NWT, referral for condition by the Out-of-Territory Placement Committee is also an option exercise. We do have a number of adults currently receiving treatment and services as a result of FASD.
Mr. Speaker, there would be a requirement for significant funding and clinical capacity in order to conduct adult diagnosis. It is also important to note that in Canada, only a very few clinics offer diagnostic services for adults. Most of these serve persons from only their own communities. For example, in Alberta two private clinics offer diagnostic services for adults. A privately funded full assessment in one of these clinics is approximately $3,500. These are not insured services, Mr. Speaker.
Through our partnership with Canada-Northwest FASD Partnership, we are actively involved in current research on best practices and diagnoses and service delivery. This research is imperative as it will assist in the future development of service available across the life continuum.
Mr. Speaker, once again, we do provide a number of services to adults with disabilities, including suspected FASD. We support the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities who offers advocacy, support and referral services to persons throughout the NWT and through organizations like the Yellowknife Association for Community Living. We do have lots of persons with FASD, whether or not they are diagnosed. I think everybody is aware of the new initiative that we have started with the children.
So, Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate what the Member has to say about this very important issue. It’s very complex. It is worth taking a look at and we will be responding to the motion. Also, I’d also like to just state that as this is a recommendation to the government, we will be abstaining from the motion. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. To the motion. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank my colleague Mr. Abernethy for bringing this motion forward. We know there have been many advances made in the ability of health care providers in the diagnoses of FASD. Mr. Speaker, it is challenging enough for people who live with challenges to function and this is one avenue, one opportunity to bring the presence of this disorder in our society into the light and perhaps also remove some of the stigma that is attached to it. It is for the benefit of everyone. I thank Mr. Abernethy for bringing this forward. I support it 100 hundred percent. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. To the motion. I will allow the mover of the motion some closing comments. Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my colleagues for supporting this motion.
Just for the record, young men and women in the Northwest Territories who have failed to be diagnosed as children who wish to be diagnosed do not receive support in getting that diagnosis from the GNWT. I know of several situations where that has occurred and the government has not stood up to help these individuals.
I attended and met with individuals in Alberta who are actually doing adult assessment FASD or adult assessment for FASD and they are finding huge benefits and advantages of doing these types of assessments in Alberta in that it helps individuals get off social assistance, because they’re able to access programs that help them understand their limitations and overcome them and succeed. That’s what we are talking about here today. That’s what we would like this government to do. That’s all I have to say on that and I would like to request a recorded vote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Member is requesting a recorded vote, Madam Clerk. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.
Recorded Vote
Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Bromley.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining from the motion, please stand.
Ms. Lee; Mr. Miltenberger; Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South.
The results of the recorded vote: 11 for; none opposed; 6 abstaining. The motion is carried.
---Carried
The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 8 on the Order Paper.
---Unanimous consent granted.
