FASD: From Basic Science to Clinical Practice

Watch the Video

Presentation by Michael Ybarra, MD of Georgetown University to medical students
at the Georgetown University School of Medicine.  NOFAS has offered FASD
coursework for first-year medical students at Georgetown University since 1994.

FEATURES

4th Annual Jack Mendelson Honorary Lecture

Leading FASD expert Dr. Edward Riley will deliver the 4th Annual Jack Mendelson
Honorary Lecture on April 19, 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland. NIAAA has established
this lecture series to “highlight clinical/human research in the alcohol field
by featuring an outstanding investigator who has made significant and long-term
contributions to our understanding of alcoholism susceptibility, alcohol’s
effects on the brain and other organs, and the prevention and treatment of
alcohol use disorders.”
Event, NIAAA, April 7, 2012

Kennedy and Ramstadt to Hold Field Hearings on Why Parity is Still Not Working

Former Congressmen Patrick Kennedy and Jim Ramstadt will host a series of
hearings across the U.S. to discover how the lack of enforcement of the Mental
Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act of 2008 is affecting treatment
facilities and patients.
Article, Floridians for Recovery, April 6, 2012

America’s Sex Trafficking Victims

How a vulnerable young woman with FAS named “Lisa” became the victim of sex
trafficking.
Article, New York Times, April 5, 2012

Pregnant Pause Baby Fair to Prevent Developmental Disabilities

The Family Resource Network of New Jersey will host its annual Pregnant Pause
Baby Fair on April 22nd to celebrate healthy pregnancies and raise awareness of
FASD.
Article, Asbury Park Press, April 5, 2012

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Chicago Tribune reporter, Bonnie Miller Rubin, recently sat down with Diane
Malbin, founder of NOFAS Oregon affiliate, FASCETS, to discuss the misunderstood
disorder of FASD.
Article/Interview, Chicago Tribune, April 4, 2012

Bill letting judges consider FASD passes Senate

Alaska’s SB151 bill on including FASD as a mitigating factor in sentencing has
unanimously passed in the Alaska Senate.
Article, New England Cable News, April 4, 2012

Local groups hold Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder youth essay contest

The Youth Advisory Committee of the Phoenix Foundation (Y-SHIFT) and the Baby’s
Best Chance program of Grand Forks, Canada are holding an essay contest to
create awareness of FASD.
Article, Grand Forks Gazette, April 4, 2012

Misinformation persists about drinking during pregnancy

Each year an estimated 8,500 Minnesota babies are born with FASD and more needs
to be done to prevent this costly disorder.
Article, Brainerd Dispatch, April 3, 2012

Congress takes on fetal alcohol exposure

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mark Begich (D-AK) join Senators Tim Johnson
(D-SD) and Daniel Inouye (D-HI) to push forward the Advancing FASD Research,
Prevention, and Services Act. This act would authorize funds through 2017 for
essential research, education, and surveillance to prevent FASD and assist those
living with the disorder.
Article, Alaska Dispatch, April 2, 2012

Women and Alcohol

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has recently
developed the new “Women and Alcohol” website with helpful information and
resources including an iPhone application for screening, brief intervention and
referral to treatment.
Website, ACOG, April 2012

Vote for Chancer for the 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards!

Vote for FASD service dog, Chancer, for the 2012 Hero Dog Awards.  Chancer is a
golden retriever owned by Iyal Winokur, a young man with FASD.
Contest, Hero Dog Awards, April 2012

FASD Ribbons Available from DRT Press

In an effort to raise awareness of FASD, Adrienne Bashista, whose son has FASD,
is selling FASD ribbon bumper magnets. The proceeds will go toward developing
more FASD awareness materials and funding a parent training.
Blog, DRT Press, April 2012

In honor of today being National Alcohol Screening Day, and April being Alcohol Awareness Month, Dr. Coleen Boyle, Director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, sent the following pair of tweets:

https://twitter.com/#!/DrBoyleCDC/status/187928845838594048

https://twitter.com/#!/DrBoyleCDC/status/187929200739618816

NOFAS

Dr. Yasmin Senturias – FASD Clinic Director

Watch the Video

Dr. Yasmin Senturias, FASD Clinic Director
NOFAS’ Kathy Mitchell sits down with Dr. Yasmin Senturias of the FASD Diagnostic
Center at the University of Louisville’s Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center.  Dr.
Senturias discusses her work with the CDC FASD Regional Training Centers (RTCs)
and issues surrounding FASD diagnosis.

FEATURES

Alaska Senators Introduce Bill to Advance Research in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), Tim Johnson (D-SD) and
Daniel Inouye (D-HI) recently introduced The Advancing FASD Research,
Prevention, and Services Act to prevent FASD expand the reach of services to
those affected by the disorder.
Press Release, Murkowski.senate.gov, March 30, 2012

United Way shows effect of drinking, drugs on babies

Margaret O’Neal, Executive Director of the United Way of Southern West Virginia,
recently visited Liberty High School in Glen Daniel, WV to teach students about
FASD and alcohol and drug use during pregnancy.
Article, The Register Herald, March 29, 2012

‘Rez Life’ Is a Humane, Grim and Hopeful Portrait of Today’s American Indians

Author David Treuer talks about growing up on the Leech Lake Reservation in
Northern Minnesota in his new book, Rez Life.
Article, PopMatters, March 29, 2012

Europeans are world’s heaviest drinkers: WHO report

The World Health Organization reports that Europeans drink more alcohol than any
other culture in the world.
Article, Reuters.com, March 27, 2012

Computer-Based Treatment Eases Anxiety Symptoms in Children

Researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel have found that a computer-based
training method using dots helps children with anxiety ease their symptoms.
Study, National Institute of Mental Health, March 2012

Why can’t parents get an IEP?

Terry Quinn shares her frustration of trying to get an Individualized Education
Program (IEP) for her children with FASD.
Blog, Parenting FASD Kids, 2012

NOFAS Now – March 2012 from Andrew Kachor on Vimeo.

NOFAS Now – March 2012
Watch the premiere episode of the new NOFAS program, NOFAS Now.  Tom Donaldson and Kathy Mitchell bring you the latest news on FASD, featuring interviews with Dr. Ken Warren, Acting Director of NIAAA, and Dr. Edward Riley, Director of the Center for Behavioral Teratology at San Diego State University.  This episode also features conversations on FASD and the criminal justice system, new Congressional legislation on FASD, and the ongoing efforts to gain wider recognition of Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND).

FEATURES

Best to tackle FASD at its roots
The key to preventing FASD lies in helping pregnant women who are in need of support to stop drinking.
Article, The Star Phoenix, March 26, 2012
Mother’s drug, alcohol use can hurt infants

Shirley King, Vice President of the Allegany County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association and adoptive mom of a child with an FASD, talks about how alcohol exposed pregnancies can affect children for a lifetime.

Article, Cumberland Times-News, March 25, 2012

Alaska Native leaders address fetal alcohol syndrome
Alaska Native leaders gathered together plan new strategies to address FASD in Alaska and in Native communities.
Article, The News Tribune, March 23, 2012

When The Bus Stops Coming: Special Education Students Face Life after Graduation
Pam Spiering and her 22-year-old son with FAS, Jamie, struggle with the lack of services for adults with special needs.  Together with the Loudoun County Public Schools Parent Resource Center, they will host the When the Bus Stops Coming event to help families navigate the difficult system of adult disability care.
Article, Leesburg Today, March 22, 2012

Kids dying because of drinking: experts
The Alcohol Action conference was recently held in New Zealand to discuss the impact that alcohol has on unborn children.
Article, Otago Daily Times, March 22, 2012

CASA members learn about disorder symptoms
Members of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County (CASA) were recently presented an overview of FASD from Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender, William Edwards.
Article, Daily Pilot, March 22, 2012

Michael W. Miller Responds to New Study on In Utero Alcohol Exposure, Urges Caution in Reading Data
Michael W. Miller, a renowned researcher and neuroscientist, urges caution in interpreting data from the recent study on cocaine and marijuana use during pregnancy.  Use of these or any drugs can be harmful to a growing fetus.
Article, MarketWatch, March 22, 2012

Researchers take a closer look at Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Leading FASD researcher, Dr. Philip May, discusses how he began his work in the FASD field and talks about his current research on nutrition and FASD.
Article, Salisbury Post, March 21, 2012

Donnie Kanter Winokur is ‘Empowered by Paws’
FASD Mom and former Director of NOFAS Georgia, Donnie Kanter Winokur, talks about her new organization and book.
Article, Patch.com, March 18, 2012

The video and presentation slides from the March session of CDC’s Public Health Grand Rounds, Preventing Excessive Alcohol Use: What Public Health Can Do held on Tuesday, March 20th are NOW AVAILABLE. Click this link for the Preventing Excessive Alcohol Use Presentation.

NOFAS Archives: NOFAS on CNN (1990s)

Former Director of NOFAS, Patti Munter, discusses alcohol and pregnancy on CNN’s Larry King Live.  Ms. Munter debates with Dr. David Whitten, who claims that moderate wine consumption is acceptable during pregnancy.

Circle of Hope/Birth Mother’s Network Hosts Speaker’s Bureau Training

The Circle of Hope/Birth Mother’s Network Speaker’s Bureau recently held a training in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for nine new members and a refresher course for existing members.

FEATURES

Methamphetamine Use in Pregnancy May Lead to Behavior Problems in Young Children
A recent study has found that the children of women that use methamphetamine during pregnancy are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and other emotional disorders.
Article, JoinTogether.org, March 19, 2012

Firefighter terminated for sick-leave abuse could get his job back
Donald Munn, a Las Vegas firefighter, is fighting to get his job back after he was terminated for “abusing sick-leave” while he was caring for his FAS affected son, Brian.
Article, Las Vegas Sun, March 14, 2012

Rural area great for hosting FASD conference
Renowned Canadian FASD expert, Gabor Maté recently addressed participants of the Smithers FASD conference calling FASD in Canada “a pervasive problem.”
Article, Omineca Express, March 14, 2012

Diane Savino, New York State Senator, Tells Pregnant Snooki To ‘Grow Up’
New York Senator, Diane Savino, recently warned pregnant actress Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Article, Huffington Post, March 12, 2012

Nominate Someone Today for the America Honors Recovery Awards
The America Honors Recovery Awards, hosted by Faces & Voices of Recovery and Hazelden’s Center for Public Advocacy, will be held June 27, 2012 in Washington, DC.  Nominations are currently open for the Joel Hernandez Award honoring one exemplary recovery community organization and the Vernon Johnson Award honoring three individuals for their commitment to addiction recovery.  The nomination period for these awards will end on March 30, 2012.
Award/Event, Faces & Voices of Recovery, March 2012

NOFAS

Edward Riley, Ph.D. – FASD Expert

Watch the Video

Interview with Edward Riley, Ph.D. – FASD Expert
NOFAS President, Tom Donaldson and Vice President, Kathy Mitchell sit down with
Dr. Edward Riley to discuss the latest FASD research in brain imaging
techniques, animal models, and behavioral studies.  Dr. Riley is the Director of
the Center for Behavioral Teratology at San Diego State University.

Metropolitan Washington FASD Parent Support Group Meeting – TOMORROW
NOFAS will be hosting a parent support group meeting tomorrow, March 13 from
7-8:30pm at Holy Cross Hospital, Professional Community Education Center – Room
AUD D in Silver Spring, Maryland.  If you wish to attend, please RSVP by today
to montgomery@nofas.org <mailto:montgomery@nofas.org> .

FEATURES

Register now for NTI Upstream Webinar, Controversies in Diagnosis of Fetal
Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Implications for DSM-V <http://nofas.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0c4e3277b83599d7092769953&id=f4ba3eed81&e=ad44716d8a>

Join leading FASD expert, Dr. Ira Chasnoff on March 21st for the webinar,
Controversies in Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Implications for
DSM-V.
Webinar, NTI Upstream, March 2012

NACoA President and CEO Sis Wenger Announces Retirement Plans

Sis Wenger, President and CEO of the National Association for Children of
Alcoholics (NACoA), has announced her plans to retire in late 2012.
Article, JoinTogether.org, March 8, 2012

Beer sales drop in Nebraska border town blamed for South Dakota reservation’s
alcohol problems

One in four children born on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation suffer from FASD.
Article, Washington Post, March 8, 2012

Fetal Cocaine Exposure May Not Affect Kids’ Academics: Study

A recent study has found that fetal exposure to cocaine, tobacco or marijuana
does not affect the academic ability of children.
Article, U.S. News, March 7, 2012

Wauwatosa East students pledge to end the “R” word

Author and gold medal Special Olympian, Cindy Bentley shared her story of living
with FASD at  Wauwatosa East High School in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.  The students
have pledged to end the use of the “R” word in their school system.
Article/Video, Fox 6 – Milwaukee, March 7, 2012

First ever New Zealand conference on alcohol damage to children

New Zealand will host its first ever conference on FASD on March 22nd in
Wellington.
Article, Voxy.co.nz, March 7, 2012

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