High School Student Plans Charity Golf Tournament
NOFAS is honored to have been chosen as the beneficiary of the "Building a Better Life Tournament", a charity golf event being organized by a high school student in North Carolina.
High school senior Jessica Denning chose the topic of substance abuse during pregnancy for her senior project. The project is done in two phases—first, the student conducts research and writes a paper. The next step is then to plan an event or service that can make an impact on their life or the community.
Through her research, Jessica learned about FAS and felt it was important to spread the FASD prevention message. Jessica remarked, “I play golf and absolutely love the sport so I decided to hold a golf tournament for this organization and help the community become more aware of how serious the issue really is.”
We wish Jessica the best of luck with her event which will take place on Friday April 14th, 2006 at 1:00 P.M. at the Reedy Creek Golf Course in Four Oaks, NC.
NOFAS February Presentations
NOFAS staff conducted presentations and attended meetings both in our local area and across the country during the month of February.
For years, NOFAS has been invited to speak to high school health education classes in the surrounding DC metropolitan area about the dangers of drinking during pregnancy. Health education teachers coordinate with NOFAS to come in as guest lecturers during the alcohol and drug unit or the family health unit with the goal of raising awareness about FASD. This month, NOFAS staff Kathy Mitchell and Kelly Raiser went to Magruder High School and presented to approximately 150 students. The presentations give students a real life perspective rather than just facts from a textbook.
On February 13th, Kathy Mitchell participated in the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s Community Prevention Day, a unique gathering of community organizations, prevention leaders, and public health activists from across the country. Community Prevention Day took place in conjunction with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s National Leadership Forum.
On February 24th, Annie Acosta attended the Pennsylvania Perinatal Partnership’s FASD Workgroup meeting. The Partnership is a statewide organization of Pennsylvania’s Healthy Start Projects, local health department maternal and child programs, and representatives of the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Welfare. This initial planning meeting was called to 1) plan for briefings on FASD in Southeast and Western Pennsylvania as requested by the State Department of Health; 2) to learn about National, Pennsylvania, and other state’s efforts and resources; 3) to explore and determine the most effective roles for the Perinatal Partnership and its partners in prevention, diagnosis, care, and service needs of parents and children; and 4) to plan and initiate next steps.
On February 28th, Kathy Mitchell presented, “Preventing and Identifying Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders” to nurses, nursing students and allied health professionals at the Mohawk Valley Perinatal Network, Inc, in Utica NY. The presentation gave the students information and techniques on screening for alcohol use and intervening with substance abusing women.
NOFAS Washington Gears Up to Host the First NW Pacific Regional FASD Conference
The 2006 Northwest Regional FASD Conference, “Building Bridges to Success” will be held at the Lynwood Convention Center on October 5-6, 2006 in Washington State. The organizers NOFAS Washington State, Oregon and Alaska respectively have come together for the first time as NOFAS affiliates to address the gaps between diagnosis and successful intervention. The conference is now seeking proposals from speakers and researchers dealing with successful practices and research in the field of FASD. Recognizing that diagnosis is only the first step on the continuum of care and intervention that individuals with FASD require to be successful, this conference is offered to the field as one that focuses on bridging the gap between diagnosis and success. Save the Date and Call for Papers
National Task Force on FAS/FAE
NOFAS president Tom Donaldson and vice president Kathy Mitchell addressed the FAS/FAE Task Force at their February meeting in Atlanta. The congressionally mandated Task Force is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) under the direction of Dr. Jose Cordero, the NCBDDD director, and is responsible for advising all governmental agencies, academic bodies, and community groups that conduct or support FASD research, programs, and surveillance, and meeting the needs of populations impacted by the condition. Kathy Mitchell, an original Task Force member appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, presented an overview of NOFAS programs and activities and Tom Donaldson offered an update on policy issues. In addition to updates from the federal agencies addressing FASD and liaison groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the meeting featured the upcoming activities of the post-exposure working group and recent lessons from FASD public health efforts. Independently, NOFAS is working to ensure the reauthorization of the Task Force charter, currently set to sunset this year. “The Task Force is absolutely critical to the continuing federal response to FASD,” said Tom Donaldson, “Dr. Cordero has adeptly led a representative body that not only plays an important role in ensuring the most productive and efficient use of limited resources, but has provided invaluable authority and guidance to the broader FASD field. A priority for NOFAS and all advocates this year is to renew the Task Force mandate, as well as to seek greater visibility and both public and private investment for FASD.” To learn more about the Task Force and its members and to review meeting minutes, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/taskforce.htm
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