Arctic Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Regional Training Center receives continued funding through September 2014

UAA's Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services (CBHRS) once again was awarded a highly competitive grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to continue the work of the Arctic Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Regional Training Center (Arctic FASD RTC). Under the direction of Dr. Christiane Brems, theArctic FASD RTC has received funding for an additional three years and will continue its work through Sept. 30, 2014.

The Arctic FASD RTC is one of only four such regional training centers in the nation dedicated to providing training and education to health and allied health care professionals and students on the prevention, diagnosis and assessment, and treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).

FASDs are a range of birth defects that are caused by a woman's consumption of alcohol while she is pregnant. Alcohol-exposed pregnancies are a concern in any community where alcohol is consumed and women give birth. Individuals with FASDs can experience learning disabilities, memory problems, sensory issues, problems interacting with others or speech and language difficulties. Recognizing and supportingthese disabilities, ideally from an early age, can help individuals with FASDs achieve success.

Since its inception inOctober 2008, the Arctic FASD Regional Training Center has provided FASD education and training opportunities to more than 2,000 health and allied health care professionals and students in communities and agencies throughout the state of Alaska. Health and allied health care providers, and students in programs leading to these professions, play a key role in helping to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies, as well as in the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of conditions related to prenatal alcohol exposure. By working with women who may be at risk of having an alcohol-exposed pregnancy, health andallied health care providers can contribute to lowering the rate of FASDs in Alaska.

The Arctic FASD Regional Training Center works in close collaboration with statewide agencies such as the State of Alaska Division of Behavioral Health Prevention and Early Intervention Programs, the Alaska FASD Partnership, Stone Soup Group and Alaska Children's Services. In recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of FASD diagnosis and assessment, as well as treatment and intervention, the Arctic FASD RTC works with a multi-disciplinary cadre of affiliate faculty, advisors and national consultants.

More information about FASDs and links to resourcescan be found at Arctic FASD Regional Training Center.