Northern resources

A woman in a remote northern community complained to our Office that her grandson, who has Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), had been excluded from school for four months due to escalating violent behaviour. When the child was allowed back to school, he was only allowed to attend for two hours per day, four times a week. 

Our Office connected with officials at many levels in this case, including the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (which funds FASD workers for northern communities), the Ministry of Education, and the local Children’s Treatment Centre, as well as at the boy’s school.

The school officials advised us they had hired a dedicated educational assistant for the boy and had him formally assessed via Sick Kids’ hospital’s telepsychiatry program. Regular occupational therapy was arranged for him through the Centre, and he began meeting regularly with an FASD worker, who assisted the grandmother in applying for funding related to the boy’s care at home. After our inquiries, the boy was also put on waitlist for additional supports through the local children’s aid service provider. We continue to follow up with both Ministries and the various agencies involved in this case.

Read about how we helped other people in our Selected cases.