“CDC has developed graphics and messages in preparation for the upcoming National Birth Defects Awareness Month in January 2024. Use the National Birth Defects Awareness Month hashtags (#EveryJourneyMatters and #BirthDefects). There are example posts in the toolkit with options that you can modify to fit your organization’s mission or individual preferences.”
Learn more, HERE!
#PROOFALLIANCENC #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY #PREVENTFASD #FASDMATTERS
#FASDUNITED #FASDSUPPORT #NCFASDINFORMED #FASDHOPE
Important paper in Maternal and Child Health Journal, Combining Physician Expertise and Women’s Lived Experience to Educate Health Professionals about Preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, was written by Saloni Sapru/Westat, Kathy Mitchell/FASD United, and Tonya McFadden/ACOG. The publication describes findings from qualitative interviews with FASD United (NOFAS at the time) speakers with lived experience and ACOG ob-gyn FASD champions to evaluate the ongoing partnership between FASD United and ACOG to co-present at Grand Round presentations. This is from earlier projects funded by CDC and the interviews were conducted from 2019–2021. This collaboration between FASD United and ACOG continues through our currently funded projects which have added additional ways to measure the impact of these co-presentations.
Introduction
Physician Champions from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and trained women Speakers from FASD United, who have given birth to a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), copresent to healthcare providers (HCPs) in medical residency programs as part of an educational intervention. They present FASDs as a biological and social problem surrounded by stigma that prevent pregnant women from talking openly to their HCPs about their alcohol use or alcohol use disorder (AUD) and getting the medical help they need.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 ACOG Champions and nine FASD United Speakers and a thematic analysis assessed how the co-presentations can enhance HCPs’ understanding about FASDs and address stigma associated with alcohol use during pregnancy.
Results
Interview findings indicated that both Champions and Speakers emphasized the need for HCPs to be nonjudgmental and create a safe space for open dialogue. They reported that residents were moved by mothers’ personal stories, wanted to understand AUD better, and asked about the type of help HCPs can offer women.
Discussion
Combining physicians’ expertise with mothers’ personal stories of lived experiences of FASDs directed at residents, who are more reflective and open at this phase of their careers, moved them from a fact-based to an empathy-based approach to learning that is critical to address the stigma surrounding women who may be using alcohol or struggling with an AUD during pregnancy. Collaboration between national organizations allowed this intervention to be widely implemented across the country.
#PROOFALLIANCENC #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY #PREVENTFASD #FASDMATTERS
#FASDUNITED #FASDSUPPORT #NCFASDINFORMED #FASDHOPE
#PROOFALLIANCENC #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY #PREVENTFASD #FASDMATTERS
#FASDUNITED #FASDSUPPORT #NCFASDINFORMED #FASDHOPE
“Megkian Doyle is the director of the Regional Community Action Team. In October, the recovery doula program Doyle dreamed up celebrated its first three graduates and started training another cohort, with members hailing from small towns across Montana’s north, east and southeast regions.”
#PROOFALLIANCENC #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY #PREVENTFASD #FASDMATTERS
#FASDUNITED #FASDSUPPORT #NCFASDINFORMED #FASDHOPE
“Epidemiological surveys have shown that gender gaps and alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms are narrowing for women and men—such that alcohol is growing women’s health issue.”
Learn more, HERE!
#PROOFALLIANCENC #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY #PREVENTFASD #FASDMATTERS
#FASDUNITED #FASDSUPPORT #NCFASDINFORMED #FASDHOPE
Please note: This Information is not FASD specific, just good information!
Sibling Panel: What We Want You to Know (90 minutes)
Often times, when we hear about services and resources for families of children with disabilities, siblings are not included in the conversation. Yet they are the ones that will be in the life of their sibling with a disability the longest. This panel will be made up of young adult siblings who will reflect upon what it was like growing up with a brother or sister with a disability. Sharing their past perspective through the eyes of a child and how that perspective has evolved as they became adults. What suggestions will they have for parents, educators and providers?
11/21/23: Sibling Panel: What We Want You to Know @ Noon
This session will be 90 minutes
Register HERE!
#PROOFALLIANCENC #ALCOHOLANDPREGNANCY #PREVENTFASD #FASDMATTERS #FASDUNITED #FASDSUPPORT #NCFASDINFORMED #FASDHOPE