The Family Empowerment Network: Service Model for FASD
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) represent a leading cause of mental retardation and learning disabilities in children seen in pediatric offices today. This article provides an overview of FASD and describes a model program, the Family Empowerment Network (FEN). FEN is an information, referral, and support network for children and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and the professionals who serve them. FEN's mission includes: (a) increasing awareness about FASD by providing education, training and resources to families, providers, and the general public; (b) providing support and referrals to families affected; and (c) increasing opportunities for diagnosis and intervention. We hope to increase awareness of the resources available to nurses and their patients and provide a template that can be replicated in other service delivery systems. Pediatric nurses are in a unique position not only to assist in the recognition of children at risk of FASD, to link families to appropriate diagnostic and intervention services, but also to work to develop additional local and regional resources with other providers.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Dis orders (FASD) is an important health care issue affecting thousands of children and families in the United States. The demand for information and resources on FASD continues to grow as the public becomes more aware of the adverse health and social effects associated with prenatal alcohol exposure and as more children are diagnosed with the conditions. Since 1992, the Family Empowerment Network has been a resource for families and professionals providing core services that include accessible, no-cost information; national referrals; telephone support; an extensive lending library; and, more recently, a Web site and expanded diagnostic services.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a combination of physical features and cognitive impairments that occurs in some children prenatally exposed to alcohol. FAS is a leading cause of mental retardation and learning disabilities in the US today (Mattson & Riley, 1997). Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure occur on a continuum and if a child does meet all of the criteria for a diagnosis of FAS, other diagnoses may be considered including partial FAS (sometimes referred to as Fetal Alcohol Effects - FAE), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD).
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) represent a leading cause of mental retardation and learning disabilities in children seen in pediatric offices today. This article provides an overview of FASD and describes a model program, the Family Empowerment Network (FEN). FEN is an information, referral, and support network for children and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and the professionals who serve them. FEN's mission includes: (a) increasing awareness about FASD by providing education, training and resources to families, providers, and the general public; (b) providing support and referrals to families affected; and (c) increasing opportunities for diagnosis and intervention. We hope to increase awareness of the resources available to nurses and their patients and provide a template that can be replicated in other service delivery systems. Pediatric nurses are in a unique position not only to assist in the recognition of children at risk of FASD, to link families to appropriate diagnostic and intervention services, but also to work to develop additional local and regional resources with other providers.
Introduction
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Dis orders (FASD) is an important health care issue affecting thousands of children and families in the United States. The demand for information and resources on FASD continues to grow as the public becomes more aware of the adverse health and social effects associated with prenatal alcohol exposure and as more children are diagnosed with the conditions. Since 1992, the Family Empowerment Network has been a resource for families and professionals providing core services that include accessible, no-cost information; national referrals; telephone support; an extensive lending library; and, more recently, a Web site and expanded diagnostic services.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a combination of physical features and cognitive impairments that occurs in some children prenatally exposed to alcohol. FAS is a leading cause of mental retardation and learning disabilities in the US today (Mattson & Riley, 1997). Effects of prenatal alcohol exposure occur on a continuum and if a child does meet all of the criteria for a diagnosis of FAS, other diagnoses may be considered including partial FAS (sometimes referred to as Fetal Alcohol Effects - FAE), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), and Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD).