EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Introduction

We are activity seeking donations, sponsors, and celebrities to champion this important cause with us through funding and greater awareness of the world’s number one preventable developmental disability. We trust as you review the following pages of the Embraced project, you will find the deep thought and passion our team has given to reach a mass audience effectively.  We have spent significant effort over the last few years developing professional networks, including partnering with Red Shoes Rock FASD Aware International Alliance—who reached 16 million people on Facebook in 2018.

Together we stand on the experience of prior projects to produce a film with excellence. The documentary weaves together solid interviews and scripted stories—gathered from hundreds of hours of interviews to create a truthful and inspiring film that will positively impact FASD.  The stand-alone educational segments will provide added value and deeper insight to this very important issue.

What is FASD?  FASD is the acronym for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, which are brain and metabolic injuries caused by the consumption of alcohol while pregnant. Not all infants are impacted in the same way. There is no cure, but it is avoidable!

The project name, Embraced, comes from how Joel, the Director and Co-Producer, embraces his son, Sam’s FASD, and for the countless others, who through no fault of their own, face serious lifelong challenges—without a voice.

The urgency of this project, and the importance you will play in helping fund and be involved in this vision is vital. We trust you can Embrace and help champion what we have set out to accomplish. 

Four Unique Objectives to Embraced using the acronym C.A.R.E. 

Compassion: Viewers will shift their paradigm and appreciate the daily challenges individuals experience depicted through raw scripted stories focused on the family, classroom, and criminal justice.

Awareness: People will comprehend how FASD affects every aspect of our community. No national awareness or feature-length documentary about FASD has been done since its discovery nearly 50 years ago. 

Recognition: Have 5% of the population in the U.S. and Canada between ages 20 and 50 watch the film to create a tipping point of understanding.

Education: Individuals and families affected by an FASD will be better supported by up-to-date and relevant ongoing educational, advocacy, and training tools. 

FASD Effects Our Entire Community 

Our stakeholders are individuals, parents, social workers, nonprofits, therapists, psychologists, teachers, lawyers, judges, government officials and medical doctors. 

Scope of the Problem

FASD is the world’s #1 Developmental Disability. It is 300% more prevalent than Autism, but receives almost no recognition since it was first discovered in 1972.

• According to the research conducted in 2018 by Dr. Philip May, 1 in 20 children are on the spectrum of this disorder. And 85.6% are misdiagnosed as ADHD, Autism, Depression, Anxiety, Learning Disorder, Bipolar Disorder or other mental health related diagnoses, sometimes leading to sometimes harmful treatments according to Dr. Ira Chasnoff’s research.

• It is estimated that over 25% of prison populations—both men and women, are on the spectrum of FASD. This results in professionals approaching the individuals with ineffective behavioral therapy, medications, and punishment rather than with developmental brain-based strategies.

• Many individuals with an FASD lack the social skills/are more times than not, socially half their chronological age and vulnerable to be preyed upon in countless ways, including falling victim to human trafficking.

• Embraced has conducted interviews with over fifty persons involved in FASD and a theme of responses evolved: It affects everyone in our community! It is a major tax burden on society. Very few people seems to be aware of FASD at ANY level—public or professionally. “Schools having no idea how to help our children.” “My son would not be in jail if the judge understood his hidden brain injury.” “My child would not have died.”

• The federal Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which allows for educational accommodations due to disabilities, does not recognize FASD as a disability.

• According to Dr. Kennth Jones, “Virtually no national awareness has been conducted for FASD since its discovery over 40 years ago”.

• FASD can be prevented!

Who We Are

Hope & Rescue Foundation (HRF), the fiduciary sponsor of Embraced, is a non-profit organization under Section 501(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. HRF’s production arm is, Sam In A Can [Productions] (SIAC). SIAC has 30 years of experience producing millions of dollars of advertising campaigns for companies like Red Wing Shoes, Skidoo, and Marvin Windows. In 2015, SIAC produced a documentary that ran on the Hulu network, and the combined team experience has produced over 20 films that have run on multiple networks.

The Embraced Team (link to read full bios)

Joel Sheagren, Director | Co-producer | *Parent of Teen with FASD

Beth Pacunas, Writer | Co-Producer

Sven Shelgren, Producer

Jeff Stickles, Editor

Jerome Schultz , Ph.D., Neuropsychologist Consultant

Risa Jewell, Cause Marketing and Corporate Philanthropy Consultant

Jodee Kulp, Co-Producer | Author | Red Shoes Rock Co-founder | *Parent of Adults with FASD 

Lucas Daniel Boyce, Senior Advisor for Strategy & Engagement | *Lived Experience

Brian Philcox, Professional Network Consultant | President FASWorld Canada | *Parent of an Adult with FASD

Supported by the National Organization of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Red Shoes Rock.