Research papers

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) refers to a range of distinct but related developmental difficulties caused by exposure of the developing fetus to alcohol in utero. All practitioners, regardless of their role, are likely to encounter children and adults who are affected by FASD. While the impact of alcohol on a child's brain development may be irreversible, there are some pracitices which can minimise the impact of FASD on the lives of children and families.

This resource highlights the significance of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) to practitioners working in child, family and/or adult-focused services. In particular, it outlines emerging understandings about the association between FASD and common mental health concerns in children and young people. It is part of a series of Emerging Minds resources on FASD and its impact on children and families.

This resource outlines the diverse neurocognitive challenges frequently faced by children living with FASD. It highlights some of the ways these differences may impact on children’s learning, behavioural and social development, and outlines the general principles for supporting children.

All practitioners are likely to encounter children and families that are living with FASD. This resource supports practitioners to understand the likely impact of FASD on families, and how they can best support children and families living with FASD.

The term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) covers a range of developmental disorders associated with a variety of physical, mental health, and behavioural difficulties. FASD is caused by exposure of the developing fetus to alcohol in utero. Children living with FASD often require support from multiple service providers, including health services, mental health services, child protection, intensive family support, and alternative and mainstream education services. Many aspects of conventional services, such as referral pathways, information provision, and support provision may be less suited to children living with FASD. Access to these services assumes well-developed memory, language or organisation skills that may be lacking in children affected by FASD. Collaborative service provision that relies on a shared understanding of children’s needs is possibly the best way of engaging with and supporting children and families living with FASD.

Service providers seldom have time to explore the debates, complexities and nuances surrounding the diagnosis of child mental health conditions. This paper is designed to encourage practitioners in the child and family welfare sector to examine their own understanding of diagnostic systems, and to critically reflect on the role that diagnosis plays in their work with children and families. Rhys Price-Robertson is a Workforce Development Officer at the Australian Institute of Family Studies. He works as part of the Emerging Minds National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health. This resource has been co-produced by CFCA and Emerging Minds.