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Training

 

FASD ECHO Training   Safest Choice National Learning Collaborative

Pediatric Cohort February 2025 - June 2025
Prenatal Cohort September 2025 - January 2026

FASD ECHO Training    Boston Medical Center/PROOF Alliance

For providers serving prenatal through adolescent patients. Health centers serving both pediatric and prenatal patients may participate in both programs. Other training formats available.

Please contact: safestchoice@bmc.org.

The SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative, a partnership between Boston Medical Center and Proof Alliance, aims to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure and improve outcomes in children with a suspected or diagnosed FASD. Since 2021, we have trained approximately 40 clinics from 9 states† using virtual education to engage healthcare teams in the Northeast and the Upper Midwest.

  • NO fee for participants - HRSA funded.

  • Clinics will participate in Prenatal and/or Pediatric trainings.

     The Prenatal trainings cover screening and counseling about the risks of alcohol use during pregnancy.

     The Pediatric trainings cover identification and care of children and adolescents with a suspected or                   diagnosed FASD.

 By becoming a SAFEST Choice Learning Collaborative participant, each health center will receive:

  •  Free continuing education credits (physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, certified counselors) and MOC Part 2 credits (some of the content can be used to fulfill the new DEA substance use  disorder training requirement)

  •  Access to a diverse, interprofessional team of national experts in the fields of FASDs, addiction, maternal medicine, developmental pediatrics, and more (https://safestchoice.org/about-us/)

  • A health center stipend

  • After an introductory webinar there will be ten 75-minute virtual sessions held on two Monday mornings per month and delivered over 5 months. Each session will provide a brief lecture by experts, case-based learning and collaborative problem-solving.

  • No clinical data reporting is required by participating clinics.

  • Participating clinics are encouraged to invite all appropriate clinic staff who will be involved in implementation of FASD prevention and care including physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, other medical personnel, behavioral health staff, and paraprofessionals such as community health and outreach workers.

The first clinic participant (2021)in Maine was the St. Croix Regional Family Health Center, Janice Small NP, Princeton, ME.

The second cohort completed training April 2023, and included the Pediatric Rapid Evaluation Program (PREP) team, Andrea Tracy MD, at Edmund N. Ervin Pediatric Center, Augusta; the  Passamaquoddy Health Center, Sunee Lovely MD, Princeton; and Mid Coast Pediatrics, Deborah Hagler MD, Brunswick.

The third Pediatric Cohort completed  April  2024 -  Dr. Alyssa Goodwin MD, Stellar Pediatrics, Topsham, ME.

Watch here: Previous Maine Provider Participants share their experience(at 34:45)

BMC team explains the SAFEST Choice training (at 16:45)

FAQ

Contact for more information

Why Maine needs SAFEST Choice trained providers

April - May  2024 (Ongoing)

Examining FASD Diagnosis University of Alaska 

The Examining FASD Diagnosis ECHO is a virtual learning network that will explore the necessity of establishing a holistic system of care to support those impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. The series will feature the expertise of those with lived experience and professionals in screening, assessment, and evaluation, as well as treatment integration. This training repeats every two weeks on Fridays.

Next session:  Friday May 17 Session 9 - Closing the gaps in treatment and intervention pathways
12:30 pm - 01:45 pm EDT

Intended Audience:

Interdisciplinary, multi-sector clinical and non-clinical experts who provide supports and services to individuals impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure.

Learning Objectives:

  • Define the relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders, prenatal alcohol exposure, and FASD

  • Increase knowledge of current FASD diagnostic strategies

  • Describe the latest tools and systems that will increase access to interventions for people with prenatal alcohol exposure.

  • Explore the use of assessment as both a tool for advocacy and a lever for systems change.

  • Examine the barriers and potential solutions to building and establishing a system of care that empowers those impacted to thrive.

Contact info:  chdecho@alaska.edu | Website: www.akecho.org 

Project ECHO Team | Center for Human Development | University of Alaska Anchorage

Ongoing Training

The National FASD Collaborative Project    Webinar Training and Support Groups 

The National FASD Collaborative Project was created in late 2020 from a discussion within the NOFAS Affiliate Network, when a need was identified to increase effective supports and evidence-based training at a national level related to FASD. FASD organizations from around the U.S. joined forces under the notion that if we each "give a little," we can create more dynamic FASD systems of care nationally.

The first initiative of the Collaborative Project was the creation of a national support group calendar.The National FASD Collaborative Project is now offering 17 online FASD support groups to caregivers, birthmothers, and self-advocates nationally! These support groups are run by a range of leading organizations and experts in the field of FASD. The support group calendar is an ongoing program through the National FASD Collaborative Project and over time, we hope to expand our support group offerings with the addition of new support groups by existing or new organizations.

Webinar Training is available for  professionals, caregivers, individuals with FASD -  anyone who wants to learn more about FASD. 

Recorded free webinars 

​​Information about continuing education graduate credit and certificates of completion can be found here.

American Academy of Pediatrics   AAP FASD Toolkit

A child or adolescent with an FASD may have a combination of physical, neurodevelopmental, neurocognitive, and behavioral problems with each manifesting a range of severity. It is not known how many people in the United States have an FASD. Several initial studies, using active case findings of school-aged children, indicate that 1% to 5% of children in the United States may have an FASD. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/ MMWR 2022 indicates that 1 in 7 pregnant adults report alcohol use.

An FASD diagnosis provides families, pediatricians and nonphysician clinicians a framework for understanding an individual’s behavior. Science indicates that therapeutic interventions, special education and support services improve outcomes for patients and families. The protective effect of early diagnosis can reduce the risk of additional disabilities and mitigate lifelong consequences. Ongoing care in a supportive pediatric home is an important component to achieving health and wellbeing for any child with an FASD and their family. 

AAP FASD Case Study  11 yo child with sleep disorder, hyperactivity, and attention deficit

AAP FASD Live Webinar Training for AAP Members and Staff
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) established the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Regional Education and Awareness Liaisons (REAL) Champions Network in 2016. The goals of the FASD champions network are to meet the identified needs to improve pediatricians' capacity for early identification of at risk children and to address the role of stigma and bias in addressing prenatal alcohol exposure with families and caregivers.

The FASD REAL Champions are available to provide training to pediatricians within their AAP district. Champions are prepared to lead trainings and facilitate webinars and Grand Rounds presentations using the training modules developed under the auspices of the "Improving FASDs Prevention and Practice through National Partnerships Collaborative."

For more information on the FASD champions network or to schedule a training session at your site, contact Josh Benke, FASD Program Manager at jbenke@aap.org or 630-626-6081.

Assessment of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders  A Training Workbook

Pan American Health Association    World Health Organization (WHO)

Target audiences include physicians, psychologists, allied health professionals, social workers, and other providers that may encounter individuals affected by FASD. It is ideally used as a supplement for in-person training by experts in the fields of dysmorphology, epidemiology, and neuropsychology.

CDC - Collaborative for An Alcohol-Free Pregnancy

FASD Training and Resources for Physicians, Nurses, Social Workers, Staff

Free online trainings are available for healthcare providers who care for women at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy, and for those who work with individuals living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). These online trainings provide strategies to improve the delivery of care related to FASDs and their prevention.

Guest Speaker on FASD Tracy Jirikowic, Ph.D., OTR/L

Seattle Pacific University       Video recorded 2014

The Initiative for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

"Sensory Processing Perspectives to Promote Home, School, and Community Participation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities."

Families Moving Forward

The Families Moving Forward Program (FMF) based on the work of Diane Malbin MSW, was developed by Dr. Heather Carmicheal Olson in the early 2000s in response to a call from the CDC to develop, test, and implement interventions for children living with FASD. FMF is a behavioral consultation intervention delivered by trained providers. The treatment can be customized to match the needs of many different families. FMF was tailored for families raising children 3-12 years with prenatal exposure (PAE) or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), who have clinically concerning behavior problems. This group of families often feels caregiving stress, and seeks mental health care or aftercare following an FASD diagnosis. Yet providers are often uncertain how to best serve them.

The FMF Program offers a specialized intervention approach which providers can learn through telehealth or in-person training. There is a carefully laid out program manual and accessible after-training on a password-protected website. Clinically, the FMF Program combines positive behavior support techniques with motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT). The FMF Program is scientifically validated through research.

Resource Page

DHHS  SAMHSA TIP 58:Addressing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders FASD

"This guide reviews screening tools for alcohol use and interventions for pregnant women and women of childbearing age to prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). It also outlines methods for identifying people living with FASD and modifying treatment accordingly."

FAFASD   Families Affected by FASD    

10" Video Understanding FASD

FAFASD presents trainings about caring for, living with, working with, and supporting people with FASDs using the neurobehavioral (brain-based) model.

PROOF Alliance/Foster Parent Training Statute

NOFAS FASD:What the Foster Care System Should Know

Eight Magic Keys to Success to Support Students  with FASD

(See full description below, "Educators")

Educators

Deb Evenson Educational Consultant NOFAS Alaska

Brief video on importance of FASD awareness in our school systems. Feasible and inspiring approach.

Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Symposium for Educators  2017 Duke University (Video available online)

In March 2017, the Duke Center for Science Education, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, and Duke Program for Education presented a symposium for K-8 educators, school psychologists, and nurses on understanding and educating children affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).

For more information on FASD and the Duke Symposium (for up-to-date FASD statistics go to "About" page).

https://sites.duke.edu/fasd/symposium-for-educators/

PROOF Alliance

For Educators - What is FASD?

Supporting the Student with FASD

Eight Magic Keys to Success to Support Students with FASD

Developed by Deb Evensen and Jan Lutke

This workshop video, introduced by Deb Evensen, teaches simple practical strategies for working with all children – but especially designed for children with a history of prenatal alcohol exposure (FASD), trauma, and other brain-based differences. While the video shows a school setting, the techniques were developed for children in community settings like after school programs and at home, as well as schools. These techniques are fun, easy to use – and make a positive difference for children and the professionals working with them.

Alaska Children's Trust

Eight Magic Keys Piktochart

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