By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare will sponsor "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Personal, Family and Community Challenge."
The training will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 28, in the Mathews Conference Center on the campus of Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac.
The training is open to substance abuse professionals, nurses, social workers, child advocates, prevention professionals, juvenile justice workers and school counselors, as well as the general public.
Individuals, families and foster families dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are especially welcome.
Woodlands estimates that as many as 10 of the 500 babies born annually in Cass County are effected by FASD.
When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, both she and her developing fetus suffer the effects.
The impact to the fetus depends on how much and how often the mother drinks
There is no safe amount.
The alcohol impacts whatever organs are developing in the fetus at the time the mother is drinking.
In severe cases, the baby may be born with extensive brain damage and physical deformities.
If the FASD is minimal, the baby will appear to be normal.
However, learning disorders or behavioral difficulties may arise once the child begins school.
The three-hour training will be conducted by Barbara M. Wybrecht, R.N.
Wybrecht is Michigan's leading authority on FASD.
She works as a consultant to Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids and serves as consultant and trainer for Michigan's FASD community outreach and education projects at 16 sites.
Wybrecht's adopted son Rob has become a national spokesperson on behalf of individuals impacted by FASD.
The training will cover the following topics: definitions, physical signs and symptoms, behavioral signs and symptoms, assessment - pare-screen and full screen, gathering information prior to a diagnostic evaluation, difficulty obtaining a diagnosis, parenting differently, not harder, teaching differently - keeping in mind the child's brain differences, interventions that work at home and school, importance of home and school walking hand in hand and preventing secondary disabilities.
Continuing education credits for certified addictions counselors are available.
The training is free to individuals with FASD or family members. The registration fee is $15 for professionals.
For more information, contact Ruth Andrews at 269/445-5019.