The Government of Canada is committed to enhancing the health and well-being of Canadian families and their children through a number of programs and initiatives. CAPC is now serving 70,000 parents and their children in over 300 urban, rural and remote communities across Canada. The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program helps communities develop or enhance programs for pregnant women at risk by providing support, education, referrals and counselling on issues such as alcohol abuse, stress and family violence. The program offers services to about 26,000 women at risk. FAS occurs in about three of every 1,000 births in Canada and can cause intellectual deficits and learning disabilities that may also lead to other secondary disabilities such as early school drop out, trouble with the law and alcohol and drug abuse problems.
Prevention is achieved through increasing awareness and supporting community action.