Local College Classes Held On Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Two series of classes on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) have been given at Mendocino College. Initiated by a local collaborative called The Partnership for Healthy Babies, the Foster and Kinship Care Education Program of Mendocino College presented a class entitled “FASD for Caregivers: Education, Support and Intervention”. While the initial audience for these classes was to be foster care providers and kinship care providers, increasing numbers of agency professionals and policymakers from both Lake and Mendocino Counties attended the classes as well.

The Area One Developmental Disabilities Board has worked collaboratively with all of these groups to bring these classes to fruition, and Area Board staff also served as one of the instructors. The courses provided information and discussion on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, including definition, effect on the child’s development and well as learning and behavior, impact on family systems, interventions, links to community resources with a panel of local resource people and how to advocate for your child’s needs. This five part series was designed to address the goals of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. In particular the series focused on goal HE3.1 The Council will educate at least 100 policymakers, public officials and health professionals per year on the importance and need for universal developmental screenings; HE3.2By September 30, 2009, the Council will work collaboratively to launch a major statewide campaign to educate the public on the dangers of drinking while pregnant; and HE3.4 By September 30, 2009 the Council will educate juvenile court judges, probation departments, mental health and social service agencies, educators, and regional centers in at least eight Counties on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), its prevention, associated secondary disabilities, diagnostic information, local resources, interventions, and best practices.

Highlights of the course the topics included:

• Alcohol as a Teratogen
• Family systems
• Interventions
• Links to Community Resources
• Advocacy

Several of the sub-topics included:

• Community Resources available for the child with FASD
• Health care: Screening, Assessment, Diagnosis
• Early Intervention and Developmental Services
• Behavioral Health
• Education
• Supportive Services for Child and Family
• Collaborative vs. adversarial advocacy on all levels
• Individual aspects of child needs and service acquisition
• Definition, diagnosis, universal screening, and statistical trends
• Behavioral impact and supports

In addition to the College Classes, the Partnership for Healthy Babies is branching out its training efforts and has addressed several more groups including the Child Abuse Prevention Coalition. They have plans for training the Covelo Unified School District Policymakers, Administrators, teachers and community.

For more information, please call Tom Montesonti, Executive Director of the Area One Developmental Disabilities Board, at 707-463-4700.