Join health care professionals and providers in preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) and take the FASDs Prevention Pledge. FASDs are 100% preventable, yet they remain the most common cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a health care professional or provider, when you pledge, you make a promise to:
- Educate yourself about the risks associated with drinking during pregnancy;
- Screen every woman of childbearing age for alcohol use;
- Inform all women of childbearing age about the dangers of using alcohol during ALL phases of pregnancy.
The use of screening and brief intervention tools by health care professionals and providers can make all the difference in the life of a child and his/her family. Even if you already take the steps necessary to prevent FASDs on a daily basis, we encourage you to take the pledge to help spread the word about the risks of drinking during pregnancy.
This national-scale effort is being carried out in collaboration with the Association on American Indian Affairs (AAIA), Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNW), and The Arc’s network of 666 chapters. Asking ALL pregnant women, as well as women who are trying to become pregnant, about their use of alcohol could make all the difference in preventing FASDs.
If you are a health care professional or provider who is interested in enhancing your screening abilities check out the following resources and opportunities from The Arc and our partners:
Know Your Options:
Learn about effective evidence-based FASD screening tools and choose one that works for you. Most include 3 simple steps:
- Screen all women of child-bearing age
- Assess if they are drinking at risky levels
- Follow up with additional information or a referral, if appropriate
Improve Your Knowledge and Skills:
Get Connected with The Arc’s FASD Prevention Project:
