Responding to Prenatal Alcohol and Other Substance Exposures

This webinar series will focus on disseminating information from the special double issue of Child Welfare journal, Opportunities for Child Welfare to Respond to Prenatal Alcohol and Other Substance Exposures. Authors from the special double issue will present three topic areas: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), Trauma, and Child Welfare; FASD Assessment and Intervention; and Multi-System Collaboration and Family Care Plans. 

Webinar #1: Responding to Prenatal Alcohol and Other Substance Exposures: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), Trauma, and Child Welfare
Wednesday, May 29, 1:00-2:30 pm ET

This webinar will provide attendees with information about FASDs in child welfare systems. Attendees will learn how neurobehavioral functioning is impacted by prenatal substance exposure and traumatic experiences. The webinar will also highlight the prevalence of FASDs in foster care, the developmental challenges among these children, how adverse and traumatic experiences impact their development and behaviors and challenge identification, and how resilience and protective factors can help children and families thrive. Attendees will hear from a mother of an individual with an FASD who will share her healing experience and the importance of reducing stigma and bias and communicating with compassion. 

Presenters
• Doug Waite, M.D., FAAP; Developmental/Behavioral Pediatrics at BronxCare Health System, and the author of “A Constellation of Adversity: A Developmental Perspective on Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in the Child Welfare System”
• Julie Kable. Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dept of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory School of Medicine, author of “Behavioral Impact of Childhood Traumatic Stress in Children with Prenatal Substance Exposure”
• Peggy Way, FASD Consultant and Partner, member of Circle of Hope, and an individual with lived experience as a birth mother of an individual with an FASD

Register for the first webinar here

Webinar #2: Responding to Prenatal Alcohol and Other Substance Exposures: FASD Assessment and Intervention
Wednesday, July 24, 1:00-2:30 pm ET

This webinar will focus on models of FASD assessment and intervention that are effective and well-suited for child welfare systems’ array of services. The attendees will learn about a brief consultation behavioral health clinic model for utilizing FASD-informed care to provide assessment, consultation, and links to supportive services. This model has potential to provide a quick and efficient pathway to diagnosis and services for children and families served in child welfare. Next attendees will learn about an evidence-based child and parent intervention that facilitates development of social-emotional functioning, self-control, positive behavior, and long-term mental health among children six to 12 years of age in foster or adoptive care who meet criteria for an FASD diagnosis. An adoptive parent of a child with an FASD will share insights about the experience and benefits of FASD-informed diagnosis and family-focused interventions and supports. 

Register for the second webinar here

Webinar #3: Responding to Prenatal Alcohol and Other Substance Exposures: Multi-System Collaboration and Family Care Plans
Wednesday, August 7th, 1:00-2:30 pm ET

In this webinar, presenters will discuss the critical multidisciplinary needs of children who have been prenatally exposed to a substance and their families and articulate ways in which current policies, initiatives, and workforce development can be leveraged through multi-system collaboration to enhance care and outcomes. Drawing from state approaches to implement the plans of safe care requirement of CAPTA legislation, the presenters will discuss the need for additional implementation support and federal technical assistance, multi-system collaboration, and equitable supports to improve outcomes.  

Register for the third webinar here