| Educate. Support. Empower. |
| | | | September is International FASD Month because, as the ninth month of the year, it represents the ninth month of pregnancy. FASD Awareness Day is on September 9th because it is the ninth day of the ninth month.
NCFASD Informed is excited to share the many initiatives we have planned to increase awareness and educate our North Carolina communities during FASD Awareness Month.
FASDs are lifelong physical, developmental, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Unlike other forms of neurodiversity, FASDs are unique in their presentation and require specific treatments.
Let's join together in advocacy, support and community!
|
|
|---|
Join Us and LearnFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Recognizing the Red Flags Webinar |
|
|---|
DATE: September 25, 2024 TIME: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM LOCATION: Online Webinar ATTENDEES: Open to public!
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Awareness Month is celebrated in September as an opportunity to raise awareness of individuals with FASD. Exposure to alcohol is the leading cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the US and results in a variety of diagnoses, collectively referred to as FASD.
In North Carolina, approximately 6,000 children, or 1 in 20, are born every year with FASD.
The Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services, DHHS, is partnering with NCFASD Informed to present this webinar to raise awareness for FASD.
Attendees will learn to recognize the symptoms associated with FASD to ensure a timely evaluation and diagnosis. Kathy Hotelling, Ph.D, co-founder of NCFASD Informed, will present information on warning signs of FASD starting in infancy through adulthood. With personal experience as a parent of an adult daughter with FASD and a professional background as a psychologist, Dr. Hotelling brings a wealth of knowledge on this subject matter.
The following individuals will speak to their professional or personal experience in recognizing FASD.
- Susan Shepard Carlson, JD. A retired judge and Board Chair of FASD United.
- Purnima Valdez, MD, Duke Developmental-Behavioral
- Parent of a 16-year-old boy
|
| |
|---|
FASD Impact Week in Washington DC |
|
|---|
NCFASD Informed will be attending FASD Impact Week in Washington DC to advocate for North Carolina families and the passage of the Respect Act by meeting with Representatives during Hill Day.
They will join other attendees of FASD Impact Week as USUHS CHSR provide updates on examining FASD in the US Military Healthcare System, including expanding diagnostic capacity through a hub-and-spoke model. This will be followed by an interactive working session on interventions and support for people with FASD.
There will also be a pre-release screening of the film "The Ride Ahead". Featured FASD self-advocate Andrew Peterson will speak during the post-film Q&A. |
| |
|---|
Upcoming Training Programs Will Increase Diagnostic Capacity and FASD Knowledge in North CarolinaChildren's Hope Alliance - FASD Training & Parent Panel | NCFASD Informed provided a training session to the providers of Children's Hope Alliance. The training included an overview of FASD, its impact on North Carolina, the risks of not supporting or accommodating those with FASD and a Parent Panel to allow participants to hear directly from parents raising a child with FASD.
Children's Hope Alliance is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting families (of all shapes, sizes and definitions) through an array of community-based services. Their programs are helping children and families grow, heal and thrive as a family unit. We are thrilled to be providing training on FASD to this wonderful organization and are grateful for their desire to support our families. |
|
|---|
Benchmarks - Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Assessment & Support StrategiesWe are excited that the prestigious North Carolina organization, Benchmarks, has invited Kathy Hotelling to provide training to its membership on September 25th. The training will focus on the importance of assessing and supporting youth with FASD. Recent state legislation requires trauma-informed assessments for all youth in foster care or who are at imminent risk for entry. Benchmark partners have expressed a keen interest in understanding FASD advocacy and incorporating FASD into their assessment practices. This webinar aims to spread awareness and educate partners on the critical nature of assessing and addressing FASD-related needs.
Benchmarks is an alliance of nationally accredited agencies committed to providing quality care, leadership, and accountability in services to children, adults, and families in North Carolina. Member agencies of Benchmarks deliver a broad continuum of behavioral health, child welfare, education, development disabilities, and residential support services.
|
FASD Screening & Diagnosis Training for NC Medical PractitionersOn September 20th, in partnership with NCDHHS, we are providing a free training in FASD screening and diagnosis to NC medical professionals. Drs. Larry Burd, University of North Dakota, and Yasmin Senturias, Atrium Health - Charlotte, both international experts in FASD, will provde this training. This training will substantially expand FASD diagnostic capacity in our state and is the first step to getting those living with FASD the support and services they need.
|
|
|---|
Request FASD Training for Your Organization! |
|
|---|
All trainings from NCFASD Informed are tailored to meet the needs and goals of your organization. We work with all community groups -- public and private -- and can accommodate all class sizes. Trainings can be done in-person or virtually. Whether you are a school, medical or therapeutic practice, service provider organization, fire or police department or a private business, we can train your staff or membership on FASD -- the disorder that effects 1 in 20 in our community! |
|
|---|
Libraries -- We Need You! Help Us Spread Information on FASD To Our Communities | Please help increase awareness of FASD in our communities by displaying books and information on FASD during the month of September in your libraries. To support you, we've created informational flyers you can download, print and display on your tables. |
|
|---|
Please consider making a donation to NCFASD Informed. Every dollar goes to programs to help North Carolina families and communities. Any amount is needed and appreciated! |
| |
|---|
|
|
