Target audience and instructional level of this course:
foundational
There is no known conflict of interest or commercial support related to this CE program.
TRAINING
Tools for Success Curriculum - Working With Youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in the Juvenile Justice System
Course Description:
"Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders" is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. "FASD" is not a diagnostic term used by clinicians. It refers to conditions such as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial FAS, alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder, and alcohol-related birth defects.
It is estimated that FASD occurs in 1 percent of all live births in the United States each year (May and Gossage, 2001). Many of these infants grow up to commit crimes. One study found that 60 percent of individuals with an FASD ages 12 and older had been in trouble with the law (Streissguth, et al., 1996). Youth with an FASD often cycle through the juvenile justice system with no recognition of their disabilities. Through this curriculum, it is hoped that professionals can learn ways to improve the identification and treatment of youth with an FASD in the juvenile justice system.