Girl Scout campaign ends in FASD Awareness Day
How can a community change the world? One step at a time. Local Girl Scouts Genna Williams, Naika Troedel and Alanya Peterson are working on their ongoing Silver Award project, one which centers on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by alcohol abuse during pregnancy. The trio advocated for the creation of a statewide awareness day, writing proclamations for both the city of Oshkosh and the state of Wisconsin that were signed and approved by Mayor of Oshkosh Matt Mugerauer and State Governor Tony Evers. As a result of their efforts, the statewide FASD Awareness Day will fall on September 9 annually, a huge victory for those whose lives have been affected by the disorder.
Troop leader Jen Peterson recognized that this disease often goes unnoticed.
“FASD is for the most part an invisible disorder,” she said. “Not all affected by it have the physical attributes.”
Not only is it invisible, but there is a lack of education on the disease.
“By teaching people about the disorder as a whole, we can make more people aware and bring understanding and inclusivity,” Peterson said.
Troedel, one of the three scouts collaborating, is affected by FASD, bringing a personal touch to the project. The scout’s adoptive mother, Melissa Troedel, gives a perspective from a parent’s point of view.
“Naika was born in Haiti and came here at 4-years-old,” she said. “In Haiti, no one really knows at all the dangerous effects of drinking while pregnant, and they also often don’t know that they are pregnant until several months into the pregnancy.”
Having an adopted child with FASD helped Troedel understand the difficulties of navigating the world with the disorder.
“We learned quickly that there was no real support for people with FASD or those caring for them,” she said. “We have fought hard for every service she receives.”
Peterson, who leads Troop 2414, invited the younger Troedel to join the group, giving her a sense of community.
“We asked Naika to join our Girl Scout troop because she was being picked on and bullied in her previous troop,” Peterson said.
Being bullied is an unfortunate fate for many with FASD. However, within the Girl Scout Troop, Troedel has gotten a second family that welcomed her with open arms.
“We were so impressed when her Girl Scout sisters wanted to come together to do their silver award by raising awareness for those with FASD, educating people on the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant,” Melissa Troedel said. “But even more importantly educating people on how we can stand with the innocent victims who have this invisible disease known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.”
In addition to working with the local government, the troop was at the Farmer’s Market on September 9, educating passers by the facts of FASD.
“A lot of people who stopped didn't exactly know much about what it was or how it affected [people] because it wasn’t taught [to them],” Williams said.
Many who stopped to listen remarked on how little they had known prior, especially regarding the neurological implications of such a disorder. Early on in the project, Williams, Troedel, and Peterson had tried a more direct approach, speaking with the Oshkosh Area School District and requesting a day in which middle and high schools would teach students about the disorder. This, however, proved more difficult than expected.
“The school board wanted to look into bylaws and that seemed a little more political and complicated than [the board] was looking to do,” Peterson said.
But that didn’t stop these scouts. Instead, they turned to the city and later the state advocating for an awareness day. Now, over a year later, the girls are having success in their campaign and plan to make appearances at various community events to continue spreading their message. For more information, visit FASD United at www.fasdunited.org.
by GJ Zahner
Published on October 2, 2023
Oshkosh West Index volume 120 issue I