A pilot community intervention for young women with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, a permanent birth defect caused by maternal alcohol use during pregnancy, is a leading preventable cause of mental retardation. Neuropsychological deficits have been well documented, however interventions developed have not been evaluated. We describe a successful 12-month community pilot intervention with 19 young women with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Improved outcomes (including decreased alcohol and drug use, increased use of contraceptives and medical and mental health care services, and stable housing) were obtained by implementing a community intervention model of targeted education and collaboration with key service providers, and by using paraprofessional advocate case managers as facilitators.
Grant
Therese
T
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA. granttm@u.washington.edu
Huggins
Janet
J
Connor
Paul
P
Pedersen
Julie Youngblood
JY
Whitney
Nancy
N
Streissguth
Ann
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D015897:Comorbidity; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014861:Washington