The goal of this study was to determine whether the First Steps program (modeled after the Parent-Child Assistance Program) resulted in improved outcomes among women at-risk for giving birth to a child with FASD. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data on 70 participants in the First Steps program. Clients were high risk and faced many life challenges, including: being on welfare, substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse as children, mental health issues, criminal activity, and unplanned pregnancies. We found a significant increase in birth control use and decrease in welfare rates from pre- to post-program. At program exit, many participants were abstinent from alcohol and/or drugs and the majority did not experience a subsequent pregnancy. Clients also showed significant increases in goals and decreases in needs from pre-to post-program. The First Steps program demonstrated promising outcomes for women at-risk for giving birth to a child with FASD.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Step by Step program in which mentors work with parents affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) on a one-to-one basis. Mentors help clients identify and work towards meeting their needs and achieving their goals. Data from 24 closed client files was collected and analyzed and as predicted, the program was effective in helping clients reduce their needs and achieve their goals. The clients' reason for leaving the program as well as whether or not they had a formal FASD diagnosis had an impact on their success in the program. Data collected on additional mental health issues, experience of abuse and addictions helped to characterize the sample of clients and correlations were found between clients' experience of abuse and their past and/or present addictions issues. Limitations of this study as well as future implications were also discussed.

The main purpose of the present study was to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the coaching families (CF) program, which aids families and caregivers raising children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Mentors in the program work with families to educate them about FASD, access resources, and advocate on their behalf. Retrospective data from 186 families were analyzed from pre- to post-program. As expected, among caregivers there was a significant decrease in needs and increase in goal attainment from pre- to post-program. Further, there was a significant decrease in caregiver stress from pre- to post-program. Families reported high overall satisfaction with the CF program. The limitations, directions for future research, and implications for service providers were also discussed.

Three key areas of dysfunction reported as having a significant impact on how adolescents with Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE) navigate their teen years and work towards independence are: mental health, social skills, and adaptive functioning. However, little is known about how adolescents with PAE perceive their own functioning relative to others, and what they and others see as potential strengths on which they may build. Participants included 32 adolescents (17 male, 15 female); 31% had confirmed prenatal exposure to alcohol (PAE) and the remaining 69% had a diagnosis of a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Adolescents and their caregivers completed the following measures: ABAS-2 (adaptive skills), SSIS (social skills), BASC-2 (mental health functioning), and BERS-2 (personal strengths). Overall, caregivers rated adolescents as having significantly more difficulties across all measures assessed when compared to the adolescents. The only area of agreement between caregiver and adolescents prenatally exposed to alcohol was on career strength. The knowledge gained from the results of this exploratory study can help adolescents with PAE better understand themselves and help researchers to better characterize this population.