Day 1: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Risk factors, Diagnoses, and Interventions Training (Hybrid)
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Day 2: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Planning Strategies for Services and Advocacy Workshop (In person)
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
*Day 1 attendance is required to attend day 2
We are seeing high rates of individuals who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol, drugs and high levels of in-utero stress which can have a significant impact on the individual’s brain development. Although Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are twice as common as autism, this disorder often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Children, adolescents and adults with an FASD have invisible brain injuries and typical parenting, teaching and therapeutic strategies are often ineffective. It is vital for anyone parenting, teaching or working with these individuals to understand the reasons behind the learning and behavioral challenges and to have an understanding of the strategies which are more effective with these neuro-behavioral differences.
In this 2-day event, participants will learn about this disability, its significance in their work and in our society. Day 1 is a dynamic training facilitated by Barb Clark, a parent, professional, and expert on FASD. This training will cover the impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure, recognizing/screening FASDs and learning about the cognitive profile, characteristics, behaviors, and symptoms associated with FASDs, as well as some basics on interventions and approaches. Day 2 will involve more in-depth discussion of interventions, approaches, and strategies. This will be followed by opportunities for professionals to plan how they can address this population’s needs both with peers in their own discipline and across different roles within their system. This workshop is applicable to all professionals working within health and human services and participants will gain concrete, actionable strategies to take back to their workplace.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Distinguish between the various diagnoses under the fetal alcohol spectrum.
- Identify red flags for screening for and FASD.
- Describe the connection between missing FASD diagnoses and the life-long implications this has on and individual.
- Apply FASD interventions and approaches in various settings including treatment, therapy, home life, school and other settings.
Trainers
Barb Clark
Director of training at Families Rising (FKA NACAC)
Reuben Kittrell
FASD Services Coordinator at MassFAS
Kristen Eriksen
FASD Caregiver Navigator and Trainer at MassFAS
Sponsored by:
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Institute for Health & Recovery, and AdCare Educational Institute, Inc.
For any questions, please contact Reuben Kittrell at reubenkittrell@healthrecovery.org or phone (857) 262-4010