Training
February 2024
FASD ECHO Training "Safest Choice Learning Collaborative"
Recruitment for February 2024 Prenatal Cohort has closed. Check here for future training.
Alcohol use during pregnancy is the leading preventable cause of birth defects and neurodevelopmental problems in the U.S.
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.
Costs of participation are covered through a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). 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:
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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)
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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/)
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A health center stipend
The Pediatric trainings ran from September 2023 to January 2024.
Prenatal trainings started February 2024, completing June 2024. Health centers may participate in one or both trainings.
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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.
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No clinical data reporting is required by participating clinics.
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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 started in September 2023 - 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)
Why Maine needs SAFEST Choice trained providers
April 2024
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: April 5, 2024 Session 6 - Examining Access to Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Behavioral Health Services 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:
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Define the relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders, prenatal alcohol exposure, and FASD
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Increase knowledge of current FASD diagnostic strategies
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Describe the latest tools and systems that will increase access to interventions for people with prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Explore the use of assessment as both a tool for advocacy and a lever for systems change.
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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
AAP Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Program
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is pleased to offer a series of educational webinars on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
Every other Friday beginning April 5 (April 5 & 19, May 3, 17, & 31)
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Identify and diagnose conditions on the continuum of FASD
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Address stigma and bias related to prenatal alcohol exposure
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Care for persons with FASDs, and neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND-PAE).
The webinars are open to all clinical personnel with practicing primary care clinicians strongly encouraged to attend. We look forward to seeing you in April! For more information about the series, please contact Rosa Arvizu, Program Manager, at rarvizu@aap.org and Kathy Tran, Program Coordinator, at ktran@aap.org
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.
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."
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.
The National FASD Collaborative Project
For professionals, caregivers, individuals with FASD - anyone who wants to learn more about FASD.
The National FASD Collaborative Project will be hosting 39 free webinars for the 2021-2022 academic year, from September 2021 through August 2022.
Below you will find links to the schedule of webinars for each season of the year, as well as our on-demand webinars. Nearly all webinars this year will be recorded and added to the 2021-2022 Recorded Webinars page for on-demand viewing as the year progresses.
Registration for webinars are at the links below.
Information about continuing education graduate credit and certificates of completion can be found here.
Want a printable handout of our entire 2021-2022 webinar series to share with others or review yourself? You can find an 8-page .pdf copy to print or share here.
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
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
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