FASD Awareness Month
September 9 is recognized as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders FASD Awareness Day. This day, the 9th day of the 9th month, symbolizes the 9-months of pregnancy that a woman should remain alcohol free. Over the last decade, awareness efforts have grown and September is now set aside as International FASD month. The St. Louis Arc’s Go the Whole 9 prevention campaign offers many resources for individuals looking to learn more.
New Free Resource
The St. Louis Arc is excited to announce a fantastic new national partnership and resource, the National FASD Collaborative Project. This new resource, which is free and available to all, offers webinars, support groups, and continuing education options for the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) community. During the 2021-2022 inaugural year, the Project is offering 36 free webinars. During September, two free webinars will be offered, FASD in a Nutshell on September 20, and Educational Care for Children Affected by Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on September 23. Registration is now open for webinars through December. There are also seven on-demand webinars currently available to watch. For those seeking continuing education units (CEUs), a graduate credit option is available.
FASD organizations across the county helped spearhead the National FASD Collaborative Project. NOFAS-Missouri, of which the St. Louis Arc is one of the founding members, is a member of this collaborative effort. The Project welcomes all individuals interested in FASD including caregivers, birth-mothers, self-advocates, professionals, or other interested community members.
Advocacy Alert
The “FASD Respect Act”, authorizes $118 million for FASD prevention efforts, screening, identification, research, and FASD-informed services by federal, state, local, tribal and private stakeholders. Most importantly, the bill creates a structure for the development of well-informed public policy on FASD and provides for a clear, ongoing societal commitment to advancing research and ensuring essential services for persons with FASD and their caregivers.
Passing the FASD Respect Act will take the collective voice of advocates reaching out to their federal legislators. We need your help. Learn more about FASDs in Missouri here. If this issue is important to you, contact both your Missouri Senators, and Congressional Representative and let them know you support the FASD Respect Act.
Raise Awareness
Join the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) for this fun and easy awareness effort during September. Gone for a Run is a Virtual Run event held from September 9 through September 15. Funds support the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and posting your run on social media helps raise awareness for the cause!