FASD Training Modules

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is pleased to offer a series of educational webinars on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). The webinar sessions focus on identifying and diagnosing conditions on the continuum of FASD, addressing stigma and bias related to prenatal alcohol exposure, caring for children with an FASD, and neurobehavioral disorder associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (ND-PAE). The webinars are open to all clinical personnel with practicing primary care clinicians strongly encouraged.

The FASD REAL Champions Network lead these training sessions and facilitate webinars, present at conferences, and are available to respond to questions from chapter and district membership. For more information about scheduling grand-rounds presentations, please submit an inquiry through the FASD Regional Champions Network page. 

Program Overview

1. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Screening, Assessment, and Diagnosis: This webinar focuses on describing the diagnostic criteria for conditions along the continuum of FASD, understanding the differential diagnoses of FASD, recognizing the neurodevelopmental phenotype associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and explaining the importance of screening all patients for a history of PAE. Participants are oriented to the diagnostic assessment, including the areas of the brain affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, approaches to delivering the diagnosis, and indications for referral. Faculty reinforce the benefits of assessing for PAE and delivering an FASD diagnosis.
2. Overcoming Social Attitudes as a Barrier to Early Identification of FAS: This webinar helps define the role that social attitudes have in early identification of children with an FASD. Faculty demonstrate how to address issues around stigma and bias in assessing for and delivering an FASD diagnosis and share lived experience to illustrate best practices regarding shame. Participants learn the importance of screening for prenatal alcohol exposure and providing family-centered care as part of the pediatric medical home. Faculty also discuss the importance of an FASD diagnosis for treatment and interventions.
3. Treatment Across the Lifespan for Persons with FASD: This webinar provides primary care clinicians with the tools they need to treat children with an FASD across the lifespan. The session focuses on identifying and managing neurobehavioral and medical concerns at different developmental stages. Participants learn about medical, therapeutic, and pharmaceutical considerations. Faculty present evidence-based interventions that are applicable to community-based primary care pediatricians and discuss approaches to building parent knowledge and working with the school system to access services through individualized education programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans. Support services and resources for providers, families, and teachers/schools are also covered.
4. Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE): This webinar focuses on the factors in a patient’s medical history and clinical presentation that may indicate the presence of Neurobehavioral Disorder Associated with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (ND-PAE). Faculty review the definition of ND-PAE from the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Participants learn about the three domains in which children with this disorder struggle with behavior and developmental tasks and how ND-PAE may present in clinic through the developmental stages.