This document discusses fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and strategies for prevention. It notes that preventing alcohol exposure during pregnancy is important but challenging due to misconceptions about occasional drinking being safe. Adults with FASD often have conditions like attachment disorder and cognitive impairments. Screening caregivers and a person-centered approach are recommended when working with those affected by FASD. The document also lists tools and programs that are available to support prevention efforts and substance-using women with FASD.

1. Working with Adults with FASD
to Prevent FASD
Wissick & Rife, October 2017

2.  Sounds easy right, no alcohol for 9 months.
 Problems
 Studies are misquoted in the media – recent reports
about little evidence regarding effects of occasional
drink was interpreted as it’s ok to have an
occasional drink
 Physicians still tell patients it is ok to have a drink
 Mothers who did drink can have a healthy child
 Why take the risk?
Preventing FASD

3. From Choices fact sheet
Understanding Risk for Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies (AEPs)

4.  Reactive attachment disorder
 ADHD
 Oppositional defiant
 BiPolar Disorder NOS
 Cognitive Disorder NOS
 Depressive Disorder NOS
 Personality Disorder, Mixed with Borderline
Antisocial and Schizotypal features
 Conduct Disorder, Disruptive Behavior
FASD- collect Diagnoses
can be difficult clients

5. Consider FASD as the umbrella
Remember the behaviors are ONLY the
symptoms of underlying physical disorder

6.  Show significant cognitive, behavioral,
health, and learning disabilities,
 Problems with memory and attention,
 Lack cause and effect reasoning,
 Act impulsively, and
 Have receptive language and adaptive
functioning difficulties
 Rarely diagnosed as an adult
Regardless of Label lifelong difficulties

7.  Important for tailoring treatment and future
prevention
 Are labeled as neglectful, uncaring or sabotaging
 Might end up repeating behaviors – multiple
pregnancies
 Have children removed from their care
 Fail to follow through-- multiple directions
 Lose parental rights
FASD Screening for Caregivers

8. From: http://neafan.ca/what-is-fasd/

9. Be aware of FASD
Person centered approach
Focus on strengths
Principles of working with FASD

10.  CHOICES- CDC funded program for non-pregnant
women at risk
 Screening and Brief Intervention
 Parent-Child Assistance Program – a 3 year case
management model
 ACOG Toolkit
 American Academy of Pediatrics toolkit
 Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
Available tools for Prevention

11.  Rutman, D. (2016). Becoming FASD Informed:
Strengthening Practice and Programs Working with
Women with FASD. Substance Abuse: Research and
Treatment, 10(Suppl 1), 13–20.
http://doi.org/10.4137/SART.S34543
 Gelb, K. & Rutman, D. (2011). Substance Using Women
with FASD and FASD Prevention: A Literature Review on
Promising Approaches in Substance Use Treatment and
Care for Women with FASD. Victoria, BC: University of
Victoria
Substance Using Women with FASD
and FASD Prevention

12. Visit scfasd.weebly.com

13. Many guides to download

15. Tools for Training students

17. Help Prevent FASD with Awareness