FASDs are a group of disorders that can occur in a person who was exposed to alcohol during fetal development. FASD has lifetime impacts, including behavioral and learning difficulties as well as physical concerns. FASDs can be avoided if a developing infant is not exposed to alcohol.
The CDC and its partners have materials to aid in the prevention of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the care of children and families with FASDs.
Instruments for Healthcare Professionals Family Medicine
Alcohol Testing Addendum 2022
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) provides alcohol abuse materials to assist physicians in identifying and treating excessive alcohol use. There are clinical advice, research papers, video materials, and a guidebook for alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI).
Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs During Pregnancy is a patient education resource available in both English and Spanish.
The AAFP also issued two instructional supplements in Family Practice Management, its publication. One supplement provides family physicians with tools and best practices for incorporating alcohol SBI into clinical practice. The other addition focuses on the lessons acquired by family physician practices that have used alcohol SBI.
Assisting in the Provision of Medical Care
Together with the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the University of Nevada, Reno developed a series of Walk & Talk items, including Things to Avoid During Pregnancy. These resources help medical assistants maximize the little time they have with patients during sessions. The quick walk from the waiting room to the exam room affords medical assistants the opportunity to offer vital alcohol-related reminders.
Nursing
The University of Alaska Anchorage developed a series of “I am a champion because…” movies in collaboration with the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), and Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH). Nurses discuss in the films why they are FASD advocates and how others might become involved.
NPs, Midwives, and Nurses: Partnering to Prevent FASDs has developed a modular program. This resource assists women’s health nurse practitioner and midwifery educators in incorporating FASD-related material into their curricula. The curriculum consists of seven brief modules that can be used together or separately dependent on the needs and preferences of the teachers.
Obstetrics and Obstetrics
hazardous alcohol usage guide
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) developed a FASD prevention program that offers clinicians with resources and skills for communicating with pregnant patients regarding alcohol use.
Disorders of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum: Ethical and Legal Perspectives
free online educational module It aids healthcare practitioners in evaluating legal issues and ethical concepts applicable to FASD prevention activities. The eModule provides continuing medical education and certification maintenance credits.
The FASD Prevention Program also provides tools and films to assist practitioners in addressing alcohol use during pregnancy, as well as alcohol-specific information for each ACOG district or section. Providers can use this collection of frequently asked questions to address patient concerns.
Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has produced a comprehensive FASD toolset accessible over the Internet. The toolkit provides pediatricians with materials for raising awareness, promoting developmental surveillance and screening, and ensuring that all children living with FASDs and their families receive timely, appropriate care. This comprehensive toolkit provides a foundation for the child of children with FASD in the medical home (a term that describes patient-centered, team-based health care led by a healthcare provider). The toolbox contains information on identification, diagnosis, referral, patient management resources, practice management instruments, frequently asked questions for physicians and families, and training materials.
Social Labor
The University of Texas at Austin and the National Association of Social Workers cooperated on a series of blogs. These blogs will assist social workers in understanding their role in incorporating alcohol screening and brief intervention into standard care.
FASDs are covered in the Oxford Bibliographies in Social Work by UT-Austin. This is a peer-reviewed online resource intended to direct physicians, researchers, and students to accurate and trustworthy information on a certain issue. The entry contains the subsequent sections:
FASD-Informed Services for Individuals and Families.
Education and Awareness Sources
Podcast logo
Alcohol and Pregnancy: The More You Know will soon be available in two seasons.
There are three 20-minute episodes per season that explore the numerous elements of FASDs.
Interviews with FASD professionals and persons with lived experience are featured.
Included are examples of provider-patient dialogues regarding prenatal alcohol exposure and FASDs.
Boston University School of Medicine gives 1 hour of free continuing education credits (CME, CNE) per season.
FASD United (formerly NOFAS) has fifty commonly asked questions (FAQs) regarding prenatal alcohol exposure and FASDs.
partnership for alcohol-free pregnancy Collaboration for practice change
The CDC and the Collaborative for Alcohol-Free Pregnancy provide healthcare practitioners free online courses. The free continuing education courses focus on preventing, recognizing, and managing FASDs. In addition to brief movies for supplemental learning, a database of more than seventy-five resources for several healthcare fields is offered.
Assistance to Women and Families
FASD United features a searchable directory of resources. This resource can assist families in locating services connected to FASD diagnosis, treatment for individuals and families living with FASDs, parent and family support groups, prevention initiatives, such as treatment for women, advocacy programs, and statewide services.
FASD United offers a program called Family Navigator. The family navigator provides expert, private help and referrals to persons living with FASDs, as well as their family members and caregivers.
FASD United administers the Circle of Hope, a network of pregnant women who have taken alcohol and may have a child or children with FASDs. This network has been established so that these women can help one another. The Circle of Hope features a national speakers bureau and mentorship for new members battling alcohol use disorder (AUD) or sorrow. Recovering Mothers Anonymous is a weekly online support group offered to mothers who have used alcohol or other substances during pregnancy.