With a multitude of specialized services made available for individuals with varying disabilities and disorders such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), our Agency can help individuals combat stigmatization and isolation by finding acceptance within themselves.

With the support from the Fall Sign of Hope appeal, ministries like Coaching Families are formed to offer mentorship and strategies for former clients like Felicia and her family, who have children affected, or suspected of being affected by, FASD.

A 32-year-old mother struggling with a history of drug and alcohol addiction, Felicia sought for help at a time of personal vulnerability. Upon learning about her child’s FASD diagnosis as a result of alcohol consumption during her last pregnancy, she joined Coaching Families in 2014. Met with guilt and anxiety, Felicia struggled to maintain a consistent schedule with her assigned mentor in the initial stages of accessing this ministry.

Despite the difficulty, Felicia’s mentor did not give up and was committed in devising a tailored strategy that will help Felicia come to terms with the diagnosis and overcome her anxiety. Over time, Felicia was able to establish a foundation of trust with her mentor, attend scheduled sessions, and develop new practices, in order to adjust and meet the needs of her child.

Today, Felicia has established the courage to actively engage in conversations regarding FASD, and is now initiating contact with outside community agencies on her own, thanks to the mentor’s faith in her.

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our client