The Washington State Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic & Prevention Network (FAS DPN) is a network of five WA State community-based clinics linked by the core clinical/research/training clinic at the Center on Human Development and Disability at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Susan J. Astley, Ph.D., Professor of Epidemiology, is the Director of the FAS DPN. The network was established through Washington State Senate Bill 5688 and support from the CDC, March of Dimes, Chavez Memorial Fund, and WA State Department of Social and Health Services Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Each clinic in the network uses the same interdisciplinary approach to diagnosis and the same systematic diagnostic method-the 4-Digit Diagnostic Code. The mission of the FAS DPN is primary and secondary prevention of FAS through screening, diagnosis, intervention, training, education, and research. The WA State FAS DPN began diagnosing patients in 1993 and has diagnosed over 1,700 patients to date.

The mission of the FAS DPN is FASD prevention through FASD screening, diagnosis, intervention, research, and training.

The WA State FAS DPN has expanded both nationally and internationally through the training of interdisciplinary teams. Over 80 interdisciplinary teams have been trained across the U.S. and Canada. The National FAS DPN expands by 6 to 10 new sites per year. Major accomplishments of the FAS DPN include:

• Creation of a Computerized FAS Photographic Screening Tool.
• Population-based FAS screening in foster care confirming 1 out of every 100 children in foster care has FAS.
• Juvenile Justice FASD Screening/Diagnostic Initiative.
  

• Creation of the FASD 4-Digit Diagnostic Code.
• Establishment of the WA State FAS Diagnostic & Prevention Network.
• Diagnosis of over 2.000 patients to date.
  

Prevention

Surveillance

• Publication of a lifetime profile of birth mothers of children with FAS and factors that enhanced and hindered their ability to achieve sobriety and practice effective family planning.
• Discovery that the prevalence of FAS among children in foster care born between 1993 and 1998 has significantly declined in King County. This is correlated with a significant decline in maternal drinking during pregnancy in the same years.

• CDC-sponsored randomized control trial to assess an individualized, supportive, behavioral consultation intervention for parents and school staff of children with FASD.
• CDC-sponsored observational study of school-based social communication deficits among children with FASD.
• Affiliation with NOFAS Washington State providing family support to children/adolescents with FASD.

• FAS training of community professionals from WA State (over 1,800 trained).
• National/International FAS DPN training program to establish interdisciplinary FAS DPN teams worldwide (over 80 teams trained).
• Creation of the FAS Tutor™ CD-ROM to train physicians on how to diagnosis FASD.
• Worldwide distribution of the FASD Diagnostic Guide, Lip-Philtrum Guides and FAS Tutor™ CD-ROM.
• Online course for use of FASD 4-Digit Diagnostic Code.
  

• Establishment of a FAS DPN database on over 1,700 patients (with their consent).
• Establishment of the FAS DPN Photographic Image Analysis Laboratory for clinical and research analysis of facial photographs.
• Establishment of a FAS DPN Patient Registry as a resource for invitation of patients into FASD research studies.
• CDC-sponsored Intervention Study 2001-2005.
• NIAAA-sponsored MRI/MRS/fMRI Study 2002-2006.
  

• Publication of over 150 research articles by the FAS DPN clinical/research staff.