Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders:Competency VI –

Treatment Across the Life Span

The Arctic FASD Regional Training Center is a project of the UAA Center for Behavioral Health Research & Services.

Funding for this project is provided by CDC Cooperative Agreement #U84DD000886-01.

• Concerns across the life span for individuals with an FASD

• Providers: Approaches to treatment for FASDs

• Family support services and resources

Road Map for Presentation

• FASD is an umbrella term

• Describes range of effects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure

• FAS is a subset of FASD

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

Terminology of FASD

Image source: State of Alaska Division of Health and Social Services FASD 101: Insights into Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Concerns Across the Lifespan• Typical development

• Standard sequence of milestones• Roll, sit, crawl, cruise, walk, run• Developmental delay = not meeting milestones on time

• Developmental disabilities arise when children• Have a slowed rate of development• Achieve skills in a non-routine sequence or manner

• Different or scattered development• Proceeds in an atypical sequence,/child uses an unusual

pathway/skills develop unevenly across domains• Often results in ‘peaks and valleys’

Concerns Across the Lifespan• Infants

• Toddlers and preschoolers

• School-age children

• Adolescents and teens

• Adults

• Families and caregivers

Infants

• Common issues related to FASDs• Sensory• Motor• Physical

• Require close monitoring and evaluation

Image by www.childcareaware.org

Toddlers and Preschoolers• Areas of concern

• Fine and gross motor delays

• Regulatory problems• Attention difficulties• Sensory difficulties• Physical health• Other diagnoses

School-Age Children

• Common issues related to FASDs• Attention• Cognitive• Visual-spatial• Social skills

Adolescents and Teens

• Common issues related to FASDs• Mood disorders• Substance abuse• Social skills

• “Hidden Disability”

Adults• Presented disability vs.

actual disability

• Difficulty with abstract thinking

• High risk for victimization

• Benefit from case management and ongoing support

Families and Caregivers

• Families with an individual experiencing FASD can benefit from counseling and resources

• Stable home environment is crucial

• Families and caregivers can benefit from specific techniques shown to be helpful

Approaches to Treatment used by Health Providers

• Medical

• Mental Health• Psychopharmacologic

al• Behavioral

• Educational

• Alternative approaches

Medical

• FASD-related concerns need to be addressed through a variety of healthcare providers

• Role of a primary care provider• Case management• Referrals• Guidance

Behavioral & Mental Health

• Role of provider• Identification• Evaluation• Care & treatment through

the life span

• Psychopharmacological• No medications currently

approved specifically for FASDs

• Some medications may be prescribed to address common symptoms

Education• Early intervention

programs • Educational Interventions

• Special education placement• 504 plans• Individualized Education

Plan (IEP)

• Adaptive Interventions• Project Bruin Buddies• MILE Program• ALERT • Parent Therapy

Alternative Approaches• Biofeedback• Auditory training• Relaxation

therapy/meditation• Creative art therapy• Exercise• Yoga• Acupuncture/massage• Vitamins/herbal/

homeopathy

Family Support Services and Resources

• Parenting strategies• Disability services• Legal system• Resources

Parenting Strategies• Keys to working with

children with FASD• Structure• Consistency• Variety• Brevity• Persistence• Repetition

• Family/caregiver needs• Birth mother needs

Disability Services• Individuals with an FASD

may qualify for:• Supported employment/job

coach• Assistance with

transportation• Assisted living care• Respite care• Social Security disability

benefits• Supplemental Security

Income (SSI)

Legal System

• Adolescents and adults may experience issues in the legal system• Victims• Perpetrators

• Individuals with an FASD may need a mentor or advocate to help them navigate the legal system

Resources

• Websites

• Newsletters

• Support Groups

• Seminars for Families

Resources: Websites• Arctic FASD Regional Training Center

www.uaa.alaska.edu/arcticfasdrtc

• Office of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome www.hss.state.ak.us/fas/

• Alaska Youth and Family Network www.ayfn.org/

• Stone Soup Groupwww.stonesoupgroup.org

Resources: Websites• National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

www.nofas.org

• Alcohol-Related Birth Injury (FAS/FAE) Resource Site www.arbi.org/

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas

• FASD Center for Excellencefasdcenter.samhsa.gov

Resources: Websites

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Consultation, Education and Training Serviceswww.fascets.org

• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Support, Training, Advocacy, and Resourceswww.fasstar.com

• The Arc of the United Stateswww.thearc.org

• The Arc’s Family Resource Guide: www.thearc.org/NetCommunity/

Resources: Newsletters

• FASt Facts• A monthly email newsletter produced by the

Arctic FASD Regional Training Center. To subscribe, visit lists.uaa.alaska.edu/mailman/listinfo/fastfacts

• Weekly Roundup• A weekly email newsletter of the National

Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. To subscribe, visit www.nofas.org/weekly-roundup/

Resources: Support Groups

• National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS)• www.nofas.org (National Resource Directory)• (800) 66-NOFAS.

• FASLink• Listserv (internet email list) for individuals,

families and professionals: www.acbr.com/fas/faslink.htm

• FAS Community Resource Center• Lists different types of support groups

www.come-over.to/FAS/fasonline.htm

Resources: Support Groups

• Circle of HopeAn international mentoring program designed to connect birth mothers and other family members who have family members with FASDs.To subscribe, go to www.nofas.org/coh/default.aspx

• Family Empowerment Network (FEN)A national resource, referral, support, and research program serving families living with FASDs and the providers who work with them. There is no fee to join FEN: pregnancyandalcohol.org

Resources: Seminars for Families

• There are FASD conferences and workshops held throughout the year around the world.

• NOFAS maintains a current calendar of FASD and related topic conferences and workshops. www.nofas.org/events

• Stone Soup Group and other Alaska-based agencies often hold seminars and workshops on a variety of topics related to disabilities, including FASDs.

In closing…

• Concerns across the lifespan for individuals with an FASD

• Providers: Approaches to treatment for FASDs

• Family support services and resources

Arctic FASD Regional Training Centerwww.uaa.alaska.edu/arcticfasdrtc

arcticfasdrtc@uaa.alaska.edu907.786.6381

The Arctic FASD Regional Training Center is a project of the UAA Center for Behavioral Health Research & Services.

Funding for this project is provided by CDC Cooperative Agreement #U84DD000886-01.