FASD Awareness Day 2005
September 9th, 2005
International Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness Day is September 9th!
This year in Juneau there will be increased FASD/FASD awareness during the first week of September as the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Community Advisory Group's Outreach and Training Committee works on spreading the word on FASD prevention and awareness, including radio interviews, public service announcements, outreach and education, poster contests and much more.
On the morning of Friday, September 9th I invite you to join community members on the Capitol steps at 8:45am, where proclamations from the mayor and governor will be read, and a concordance of local bells will ring at 9:09am, followed by a minute of reflection. A walk of support will then occur from the Capitol to Marine Park and back.
We hope to see you there.
For more information on FASD (FASD) and hints on how you or your agency can participate in FASD awareness on FASD Day and every day, here are a few websites of interest:
The Anchorage Council on FASD is coordinating a variety of events on and during the week leading up to International FASD Awareness Day. ON 9/6 and 9/8 Peer Outreach Youth involved in the Alaska Youth and Parent Foundation will be distributing FASD knots and wristbands and FASD prevention information in local malls and transit centers. Several businesses in Anchorage are showcasing FASD prevention messages on their electronic reader boards during the month of September.
ON 9/9, local and state officials will share their comments with members of the community at the Town Square, local churches will join with the town Square participants in ringing bells at 9:09, dance groups will perform, a young mother with FASD will tell her story and a poem about the tragedy of FASD will be read. Local programs working in the field will share information about their various programs. Refreshments donated by local businesses will be served during this event. Many coffee kiosks and cafes will attach FASD prevention message stickers to their cups and at least one restaurant will be providing free non-alcoholic beverages to pregnant women that day. These businesses will also use the napkins and or placemats with prevention messages provided by the state office of FASD .
The Kenai Peninsula will hold a ceremony the morning of September 9th on the bluff overlooking the mouth of the Kenai River. We will begin with the Heartbeat of Mother Earth drummers, followed by a moment of silence and the ringing of the bell. There will be special music, a mayoral proclamation, and a few words of wisdom from experts in the field of FASD (a physician and a parent.)
ACCA in conjunction with RCPC and our FASD Advisory Board planned and is having a BBG at Frontier Park for parents and children who have either rec’d our services or want to know more about us. We will have games for children and a table ‘womaned’ by Maureen Harwood with info for adults. BBQ will start at 5:30. In addition the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly passed a resolution during their Aug 18th meeting declaring Sept 9 local FASD Awareness Day. They distributed copies of the resolution to our local legislators and to the Governor Frank Murkowski.
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