Prevention and Education
This important new prevention project will be launched in conjunction with health care delivery sites serving American Indians in Southern California in 2010.
The state-of-the-art information and referral clearinghouse disseminates prevention messages and materials, responds to specific requests, and maintains the FASD resource directory and archived materials, among many other functions.
If you are seeking information, resources, referrals or materials on alcohol and pregnancy or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders please contact the NOFAS Clearinghouse:
(202) 785 8570
(800) 66 NOFAS Toll-free
information@nofas.org
The Circle of Hope (COH) or Birth Mother's Network (BMN) is a network of women who have consumed alcohol during pregnancy and may have a child or children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
The COH provides mentoring, family support and educational resources for its members and their families.
The multi-year initiative at select Community Health Center (CHC) sites screens both pregnant and non-pregnant women for alcohol use disorders, refers patients for services and screens children for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Medical and Allied Health Student Curriculum
Developed in 1993, comprehensive coursework for professional education students on all facets of alcohol and pregnancy and FASD using the bio/psycho/social model of disease is presented at Northwestern and Georgetown University Medical Schools and other professional programs. The curriculum is designed to introduce FAS and FASD to medical students as a component of their medical training. The course addresses the scientific etiology of alcohol exposure during pregnancy on the developing brain as well as the personal, familial and psychosocial factors that impact those affected by FASD. Legal and ethical considerations associated with FASD also are discussed during course sessions. The curricula highlights the role of effective communication in the patient/provider relationship, practical strategies for screening patients for alcohol use during pregnancy and the importance of appropriate treatment and social service referral mechanisms.
The curriculum provides age-appropriate information about the consequences of prenatal alcohol consumption while simultaneously encouraging students to be tolerant and accepting of all people regardless of individual capabilities or disabilities. The curriculum consists of four, 30-45 minute units offering teachers the opportunity to easily integrate information on FASD and disabilities in a single-class format.
Public health campaigns include television and radio public service announcements, transit advertising, prevention materials, professional training and other multi-media components tailored for specific markets and target audiences.
NOFAS reaches many thousands of professionals and advocates each year through a range of presentations and exhibits sponsored by NOFAS or as part of other conferences and meetings.
Web-Based Training and Certification
This year, NOFAS will offer web-based FASD training for medical and allied health professionals, and a NOFAS certification for FASD trainers. With support from SAMHSA, NOFAS offers FASD certification for certified addictions counselors. Certified addictions counselors have a unique opportunity to provide correct information relating to the effects of alcohol exposure on the developing fetus. They also are uniquely placed in the lives of women in recovery to provide guidance and referrals during critical periods. For these reasons, it is important that certified addictions counselors are appropriately trained and provided with correct information about FASD. Toward this end, NOFAS has developed a three-level training model for certified addictions counselors. The three tiers are entry level, intermediate and advanced. The entry level provides an introduction to FASD as well as strategies and resources for screening, identification and social services. In addition to the information discussed in the entry-level training, the intermediate-level training provides strategies for incorporating FASD information in treatment planning. The advanced level training uses the train-the-trainer model for FASD certification of other certified addictions counselors.
Advocacy
The 21-member NOFAS affiliate network shares information and resources and functions as a coalition to promote primary prevention and the policy agenda.
NOFAS moves forward non-legislative issues such as the inclusion of FASD in the DSM-V in conjunction with its affiliates and other constituents. NOFAS also plans to hold consensus seeking forums with leaders from within our field on select facets of FASD.
NOFAS advocates for increased attention to FASD in a range of federal legislation addressing women’s and children’s health, substance abuse, mental health, intellectual disabilities, education, juvenile and criminal justice, independent and transitional living, employment for the disabled and victims of crime legislation. The agenda is supported by policymaker briefings and gatherings of FASD and public health experts.
NOFAS pitches news, feature and editorial coverage of FASD, alcohol and pregnancy and NOFAS to electronic and print producers, editors and reporters, and responds to both accurate and flawed portrayals of FASD in mass media and popular culture.
Family support consists of support groups and consumer advocacy and technical assistance to family advocates.
Other Programs
FAS/FASD and American Indian/Alaska Native Populations
Although fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and other fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) affect all populations who consume alcohol during pregnancy, research has focused on the disorders among American Indian/Alaska Native groups. Surveillance data is more comprehensive for these groups, but few published studies highlight effective prevention and intervention activities in these communities.
Community Advocacy
For more information about alcohol and pregnancy and FASD contact NOFAS today.
NOFAS Educational Programs
NOFAS provides in-service trainings about FAS and FASD for teachers and administrators in educational systems. Trainings address the origin of FASD, the effects of alcohol use on the developing brain, learning and behavioral outcomes associated with prenatal alcohol exposure and effective learning strategies for children affected by FASD.
Hope for Women in Recovery Summits
"Hope for Women in Recovery: Understanding and Addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders."
Circle of Hope
Local Community Outreach Activities
|