TOUCHSTONE FASD PROGRAM
The name Touchstone describes the mentoring relationship between program staff and program participants. Within this relationship mentors work towards becoming a “reference point” or “touchstone” for participants.
Touchstone also provides education for communities in which participants live. As the community’s FASD awareness and understanding spread, participants consequently experience increased dignity and the growth of new opportunities; like the ripples of a skipping stone.
FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD)
The term FASD describes the range of physical characteristics and brain differences that may affect a person who has had prenatal exposure to alcohol. Most often there are no physical characteristics to indicate a person has FASD; FASD is a brain-based disability.
TOUCHSTONE FOCUS STATEMENT
At Touchstone, we assist eligible youth and adults by supporting them in their everyday situations and by advocating on their behalf in their communities, thereby nurturing opportunities for their growth, belonging, and success.
TOUCHSTONE PROGRAMS INCLUDE
• The Outreach Program (Independent living supports)
• The Residential Support Program
• The Visions and Voices Program
AT TOUCHSTONE WE WILL
• Mentor participants using a FASD, harm reduction and trauma informed lens
• Build healthy therapeutic relationships with participants
• Acknowledge the importance of cultural identities and strive to provide support that is culturally safe
• Reach out to participants who are not easily accessible but are seeking to connect
• Celebrate and nurture participants’ strengths, growth and successes
• Advocate on behalf of participants and their families
• Develop residential support models for individual participants when appropriate
• Support participants who are 18 years of age through the transition to adulthood/adult services
• Collaborate with families, funders, and all other external agencies who are a part of the participants’ support team in order to provide holistic services for each participant
• Promote awareness of FASD in communities across Manitoba through Touchstone’s Vision and Voices Program
• Ensure that participants have access to food and emergency shelters
