September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Awareness Month. This annual observance is a reminder of the pivotal role social workers play in both preventing FASDs and supporting individuals and families living with FASDs. As the largest providers of mental and behavioral health services, practicing in the widest variety of settings compared to other health professionals, social workers are especially well positioned to implement alcohol screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT), an effective tool in FASD prevention.

FASDs are a group of diagnosable medical conditions that can occur in a person who was exposed to alcohol before birth. FASDs are lifelong and can include mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and physical manifestations such as heart defects and visual impairments. It is estimated that as many as 1 in 20 U.S. schoolchildren may have FASDs. In addition, more than one in seven pregnant women report drinking alcohol, and nearly one in 20 report binge drinking in the past 30 days.

In honor of FASD Awareness Month, learn about implementing SBIRT for all adults and how to discuss alcohol and pregnancy with them. Alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) is recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and endorsed by leading medical professional organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Learn more in our latest Social Work Blog post: https://tinyurl.com/yjxs2bn3