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October 2008
Project to support pre-school children with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Worcestershire County Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service are funding a project run by Sunfield Research Institute to support pre-school children in early years settings with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
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The research project will enhance practitioner knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding FASD and enable the development of a nationwide training resource for early years practitioners, giving them a repertoire of early interventions to use when working with children they think may be affected by FASD.
FASD is an umbrella term describing the range of birth defects that can occur in an individual whose mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy. As the foetal brain develops throughout the whole pregnancy, children with FASD often have permanent and irreversible brain injury as a direct consequence of alcohol consumed at any point in the pregnancy.
More than 6000 children are born each year in the UK with FASD, which means 1 in 100 children born are affected. This number is greater than the combined numbers of children born in any year with downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis and spina bifida. In a culture which sees binge drinking on the increase, the number of children with FASD is set to escalate.
Teresa Whitehurst, research manager at Sunfield said:
"The consequences of consuming alcohol during pregnancy can be tragic and lifelong but, sadly, more and more pregnant women are indulging, ignorant of the damage they may be inflicting on their unborn child. These affected children need help from the earliest possible opportunity and our research is aimed at providing professionals with a sound knowledge base, training resources and a key to the vital processes which can be implemented to make the biggest positive difference possible for a child's future."
In 1999, in recognition of this growing problem, International FASD day was established in America on the 9th minute of the 9th day of the 9th month to remind the world that women would have healthier babies if they avoided alcohol for just 9 months.
Those wanting more information about FASD or the brain damage caused by drinking during pregnancy can call the NOFAS-UK helpline on 08700 333 700 or log onto www.nofas-uk.org.
For more information on the FASD research project, contact Teresa Whitehurst at Sunfield on 01562 882253.
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Sunfield, Woodman Lane, Clent, near Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY9 9PB Tel: 01562 882253
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