AAP Grants Help Close the FASD Diagnosis Gap

For many children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), a diagnosis is life changing, opening the door to support, understanding, and hope. Yet four out of five children with FASD still go undiagnosed for years.

A California pediatrician is helping children with FASD receive earlier, more effective care.

With the support of a Community Access to Child Health grant from the AAP, Dr. Julie Law trained healthcare professionals to recognize and respond to FASD earlier, centering the lived experiences of teens, adults, and caregivers through interviews and focus groups. These insights helped her team create practical resources that bring real-world understanding into evidence-based care.

Participants revealed that many healthcare professionals lacked knowledge and awareness of FASD, leading to delayed diagnosis and missed opportunities for care. But they also shared how small, thoughtful changes made a profound difference. When clinicians spoke clearly, provided written instructions, involved caregivers, and recognized stress and trauma, outcomes improved.

The insights informed a training session for healthcare professionals, as well as a toolkit for families that offers strategies for home, school, and healthcare settings.

Gifts to the AAP help children with FASD get earlier, better care. But just as importantly, they help them feel seen. After receiving the toolkit, one mother told Dr. Law:

These resources will continue helping families long into the future, strengthening relationships between clinicians and caregivers, building trust with patients, and improving outcomes over a lifetime.