The Institute for Health and Recovery is working to improve the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and to further the identification and treatment of children with FASD. The innovative, multi-disciplinary approach of Project FAST brings together pediatric, Early Intervention, alcohol use disorder treatment, child welfare, and other public health professionals to enhance systems of care for families impacted by alcohol and other drug abuse to become comprehensive and integrated. Project FAST is funded by the SAMHSA FASD Center for Excellence.
Baystate Health Systems (BHS) and Lowell Community Health Center (LCHC), with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (HVMA) medical doctors, is contributing to the prevention of FASD through prenatal alcohol screening, brief interventions, and linkages to substance use disorder assessment and treatment programs for pregnant and parenting women. LCHC is also providing FASD screening to school-aged children in their Family Practice to increase identification of children at risk of FASD. Children will be referred to specialists for diagnosis and treatment, including Early Intervention.
Early Intervention staff in Boston and Springfield are contributing to the identification of FASD through FASD pre-screening of children, including possible fetal alcohol exposure. This screening tool, designed by Dr. Barbara Morse and medical professionals, includes both physical and behavioral markers for children birth -18 years of age. Children determined to be at risk will be referred to local pediatricians, for medical screening and then onto FASD diagnosticians as appropriate. The continuum of services will be completed when children who are diagnosed by specialists are referred back to Early Intervention for treatment. Very recent research has found that participation in early intervention programs can dramatically improve outcomes for those with identified FAS and FAE.
My Sister’s House in Springfield, and New Day in Somerville, two residential substance use disorder treatment programs for pregnant and post-partum women and their infants, are receiving training to assist in the early identification of children at risk of FASD. Through a “Train the Trainer” model, substance use disorder treatment providers are receiving training in FASD Health Education that will be included in ongoing groups.
Project FAST tools and protocols are being introduced to the obstetric, pediatric, pediatric behavioral health, and Early Intervention Project FAST sites in Massachusetts. State partners are contributing to the creation of locally sustainable responses to FASD through the integration of evidence-based FASD practices into broader local service delivery systems. IHR has a long history of building bridges across service delivery systems and of bringing together direct service providers, program developers and policy makers to enhance systems of care for families impacted by alcohol and other drug abuse to become comprehensive and integrated. Dr. Barbara Morse, a leading national FASD expert, is the Project FAST FASD Systems Integration Specialist/Trainer.
At this time, the Institute of Medicine has no standard of care for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders. There are few published studies on FASD interventions that include rigorous program evaluations. An evaluation component, through Brandeis University, Schneider Institute for Health Policy, will contribute to the field. Project FAST will contribute to better birth outcomes, healthier families, and reduced healthcare costs.