Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Alaska's Comprehensive FASD Project

FASD 5 Year Project | Highlights | FASD Challenge | Response to FASD | Printable Version

Alaska's Response to FAS

Since the late 1980's, the State of Alaska has recognized both the seriousness and enormity of prenatal exposure to alcohol and the impact it has and will continue to have on the health and well being of our state. While early efforts focused on recognition, awareness and data collection, recent efforts are more directed at developing concrete prevention, intervention and service delivery strategies.

In November of 1997, the first annual statewide Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Summit renewed Alaska's focus on this critical issue. The purpose of the Summit was to bring together interested public, decision-makers from the community and policymakers in the state and to provide a forum for public comment and discussion focused on solutions related to fetal alcohol syndrome. The Summit participants developed 103 recommendations for action to address fetal alcohol syndrome and other alcohol related neurological deficits in this state.

Five (5) specific categories of action steps were identified:

  • Consistent criteria for both surveillance and diagnosis of individuals with alcohol related birth defects.
  • A multidisciplinary team approach to individualized diagnosis and service planning.
  • Training for all service providers involved in the FASD continuum of care service delivery system.
  • Resources to expand our efforts to prevent FASD and to better serve those already affected.
  • Public education, community awareness and state-community collaboration.

The First Steps

In December of 1997, in response to specific recommendations from the Summit to develop statewide leadership to ensure FASD services are a priority, are funded and the effort is sustained long-term, DHSS Commissioner Perdue announced the appointment of a Statewide Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Coordinator, to be located within the Office of the Commissioner.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: A Time for Action, was published in February 1998 providing baseline information about prenatal alcohol consumption in the state of Alaska, the damage it has caused and an overview of the Summit recommendations.

One major frustration of working in the field prenatal alcohol exposure, is not knowing exactly how big the problem is. Due to inadequate recognition, diagnosis and surveillance of fetal alcohol syndrome in our state [as well as nationwide] the data has been unable to show us a clear picture of the problem we face. In October 1997, the Section of Maternal, Child and Family health (MCFH) established the Alaska Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Surveillance Project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal of this project is to develop an ongoing process for identifying and tracking individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome, giving us data to determine the extent of the problem in Alaska and to help develop a more adequate approach to consistent and early diagnosis of FASD in our communities.

Another priority issue for Alaska, identified through the Summit, is the need for ongoing training, public education, outreach and awareness about fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol and pregnancy, educational needs of children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and women in recovery. During the past year, trainings on FASD were held and attended by over 1,000 Alaskans including educators, social workers, mental health clinicians, therapists, nurses, doctors, youth and adult correctional officers, probation officers, substance abuse treatment providers, parents, foster parents, child care givers and others.

During the past 3 years, the FASD Program Manager and Community Coordinator have traveled around the state, meeting with local FASD coordinators, parent support groups and parent advocate groups working to prevent and better serve those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. Technical assistance, materials and resources, and limited financial assistance has been provided.

Development and distribution of educational information is a top priority. Two FASD Information Packets were developed by the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and over 1,500 distributed to educators and social service providers. In addition, the Celebrate Your Future brochure, given with each application for a marriage license, was reprinted and distributed to the Office of Vital Statistics. Easy to read pamphlets on alcohol and pregnancy, having a healthy pregnancy/baby and fetal alcohol syndrome were purchased for each of our state's 26 public health centers, as well as publications for each of our eight (8) statewide Healthy Family programs.

The Alaska Educator's Guide was developed and distributed to all school districts in the State of Alaska in 2001 and three (3) FASD Guides are currently being developed for medical providers, legal professionals and human service providers.