Principal investigator: Dr. Brenda Elias
The Looking After Each Other research project works with Manitoba communities to create cross-sector knowledge and understanding of dignity-promoting approaches for children, adults, families and communities impacted by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
“By co-developing innovative social intervention and mobilization tools, we expect to shift public perspectives away from stigmatizing viewpoints to perspectives and actions that support the dignity of those with FASD,” Elias said.
Student research opportunities: stipends available
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Objectives:
1) To map the systemic, discursive pathways needed to promote the dignity of those impacted by FASD;
2) To uncover the ways in which trauma-informed approaches can promote that dignity;
3) To reveal the ways in which different cultural beliefs can promote that dignity;
4) To explore how child-family-centred services can promote that dignity; and
5) To understand how community inclusive/mobilization approaches can overcome stigma and promote dignity.
Funding: SSHRC partnership grant (2017-22)
Information on methods.
University of Manitoba co-investigators: Cathy Rocke, Christine Kelly, Susan Heald, Janice Linton, Kathryn Levine, Marleny Bonnycastle, Marlyn Bennett, Melanie Janzen.
Partners: Aboriginal Health & Wellness Centre, FASD Life’s Journey, Healthy Child Manitoba, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Manitoba Foster Family Network, Sandy Bay Child & Family Services, Cree Nation Tribal Health Centre and the Swampy Cree Tribal Council
Dr. Elias is also the lead investigator of Translating to the Community: A social epigenetic nutritional study of FASD, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Kids Brain Health Network and the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Commission. It is linked to an international FASD consortium that is developing an early diagnostic biomarker tool for FASD and associated co-morbidities.
