1-Day FASD Training for Community Professionals    

This training is provided by the Clinical Team at the University of Washington FASDPN Clinic.
  • What are Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)?
  FAS is a birth defect syndrome caused by maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. It is characterized by growth deficiency, brain abnormalities, and a unique cluster of minor facial anomalies. It is the leading known cause of developmental disabilities in the western world and is entirely preventable. The prevalence of FAS is estimated to be 1-3 per 1000 live births in the U.S. general population, but has been documented to be as high as 1 per 100 in high-risk populations like foster care. Not all individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure present with brain abnormalities, and not all who present with brain abnormalities have FAS. The term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) was coined to depict the full spectrum of outcomes caused by prenatal alcohol exposure from moderate to severe.
  • What is the UW FASDPN Clinic?
  The University of Washington FAS Diagnostic & Prevention Network (UW FASDPN) is a FASD research, training, and diagnostic clinic located at the University of Washington Institurte for Human Development and Disabilities (IHDD) in Seattle. The UW FASDPN provides diagnostic and referral services to individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure, referral to prevention intervention for women at high risk for producing children damaged by prenatal alcohol exposure, screening services to high risk populations, and FASD training to community professionals. The UW FASDPN clinic is staffed by an interdisciplinary team including a pediatrician, a psychologist, a speech-language pathologist, an occupational therapist, and a public health professional.
  • 1-Day Training Session
  This 1-day session includes an overview of current diagnostic and treatment strategies for FASD. The day begins with a 30-minute lecture given by the Director, Susan (Astley) Hemingway, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology and pediatrics. Participants then observe two comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, conducted by our interdisciplinary team using the FASD 4-Digit Diagnostic Code.

Trainees may elect to attend just the morning diagnostic evaluation.


Trainees who attend the training will receive a certificate of participation that may qualify for continuing education credits for some professions.
  • Training Objectives
 

Participants will learn:
· What FASD is and how it is diagnosed.
· Who benefits from an FASD diagnostic evaluation.
· What services the UW FASDPN clinic provides and how to utilize them.
· What their role is in the referral, diagnostic, and service provision process.
  • Cost
  The training is free.
  • Who may attend the Training?
  Professionals providing care to individuals with FASD and their families. Professions include, but are not limited to: medical doctors, nurses, psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, foster/adoptive case managers, K-12 educators, mental health professionals, chemical dependency counselors, social workers, juvenile justice/rehabilitation professionals, and students in training for each of these professions.
  • How to register for a Training
 

All trainings are held on Fridays from 7:50am to 5:00pm (full day) or 7:50 am to 12:30 am (half day), with a required introductory lecture from 8:00 to 8:30 am. The Clinic Coordinator will assist you in scheduling a training date per the instructions below.

In Person Trainees:

  1. Fill out the UWMC Observation Form (including sections 5 and 6 regarding TB and Immunization History and proof of immunization).
  2. Email the Observation Form as one merged PDF to fasdclin@uw.edu to select a clinic date and obtain a clinic signature.
  3. Then email the complete/signed Observation Form to the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) to obtain approval: obsvamb@uw.edu.
  4. UWMC will send you and us an email regarding whether your form has been approved or needs more information.

Zoom Trainees:

  1. Fill out the UWMC Observation Form (do not need to complete sections 5 and 6).
  2. Email to fasdclin@uw.edu to select a clinic date and obtain a clinic signature.
  3. Then email the complete/signed form to the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) to obtain approval: obsvamb@uw.edu.
  4. UWMC will send you and us an email regarding your approval status.

Please complete steps 1 through 4 above no later than 3 weeks prior to the date of your training. The UW Medical Center must approve this form before a trainee is permitted to observe or visit the clinic. This takes time, so please submit the form 3 weeks prior to your training date, so approval can be obtained in time for your visit.

If you have any questions regarding the status of your request to observe or visit clinic, please call (206) 598-9666 or email us at fasdclin@uw.edu with Community Training in the subject line. We look forward to you joining us in clinic.
  • Location
  The FASDPN Clinic is located at the University of Washington, Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) in Seattle Washington.
  • Recommended Reading
  Before you attend the training, we encourage you to view the introductory video and read the following papers which can be accessed by clicking on the underlined links below.
    1. Video: FASD - From Discovery to Prevention

    2. Diagnosing the full spectrum of fetal alcohol exposed individuals: Introducing the 4-Digit Diagnostic Code.

    3. FASD 4-Digit Code (4th ed) 2024.

    4. Validation of the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder 3-Digit Diagnostic Code

    5. A Child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

    6. Application of the fetal alcohol syndrome facial photographic screening tool in a foster care population.

    7. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention in Washington State: Evidence of Success.

    8. Profile of the first 1,400 patients with FASD seen in the clinic.
  The FASDPN is a cooperative effort between the University of Washington IHDD and the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health.
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