Support and services for children and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure

Alcohol use during pregnancy is the most significant leading cause of developmental disabilities in the West. Annually 600–1000 children are born in Finland who have been exposed to alcohol.

Deficits caused by alcohol vary from mild learning disabilities to severe neurodevelopmental disorders and birth defects.

FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) is an umbrella term that describes the large spectrum of prenatal alcohol exposure. The most severe form of deficits is FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).

From invisible to visible

The goal was to make the FASD phenomenon more known. Also, the project strove to enhance professionals’ ability to recognize the syndrome.

During the project

• information about alcohol disorders was produced and distributed
• possibilities of the service system were explored
• new approaches were developed
• blended training was arranged to professionals.

The project ran from 2008 to 2011. The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters and the Finnish Foster Care Association were partners in the project. The project was funded by Finland’s Slot Machine Association.

Further information

• Director Heikki Seppälä, tel. +358 9 34809 252
• Information officer Suvi Vaarla, tel. +358 9 3480 9208

Updated January 3, 2012.