Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Research Scholarships - Master's program

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is a diagnostic term describing the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on an individual’s physical, cognitive, and behavioural development. Individuals with FASD often face challenges impacting daily functioning and quality of life. Despite this significant public health impact, there is a paucity of coordinated, evidence-based intervention research for youth. The proposed study will address longstanding inequities in care access and quality in Canada by developing national guidance on interventions that reflect the needs and realities of diverse families and communities. Research questions include: (1) What intervention approaches are currently used in Canada for children and adolescents with FASD, and how do clinicians perceive their effectiveness and feasibility? (2) What contextual factors (barriers and facilitators) influence intervention delivery and evaluation across settings? (3) What outcome domains do health care providers view as most relevant when determining intervention success? (4) How can these findings inform the development of a standardized framework for evaluating and comparing FASD interventions? This mixed-methods study will use a sequential exploratory design informed by implementation science frameworks. Data will be collected from a national advisory group of clinicians, researchers, policy partners, and those with lived experience. Their partnership will ensure relevance and alignment with how support is experienced in clinics, schools, homes, and communities. Findings will lay the groundwork for equitable, evidence-based intervention development and support meaningful collaboration with communities, ultimately improving outcomes for children, families, and service systems impacted by FASD across Canada.