FASDs are the leading preventable cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities. Alcohol use in pregnancy is the cause of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), a range of lifelong conditions that include physical abnormalities, behavioral problems, and intellectual disabilities.8 Family physicians are uniquely positioned to provide care to those of reproductive age, their children, and families from "womb to tomb." The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) proposes the “Building Partnerships and Equipping Family Physicians to Address Prenatal Alcohol and Other Substance Use and FASDs” project to equip family physicians with the knowledge, skills, and resources to: 1) decrease prenatal alcohol and other substance use among women of reproductive age, 2) improve support services and access to care for impacted women and families, 3) and improve identification and management of children/families with FASDs. This multi-faceted project will utilize the following strategies: (1) participate in a multidisciplinary FASD champions network, (2) develop and disseminate FASD-related messaging through national and regional systems, (3) build capacity to support clinical and public health partners and resources to reach affected populations, (4) provide ongoing evaluation of members’ knowledge, practices, referral patterns, and awareness of resources, (5) develop and promote enduring family physician education about serving populations of reproductive age, and (6) promote FASD-informed messaging.
Strategies 1 & 2. Participate in a cohesive, multidisciplinary FASD champions network to increase support and share messaging and resources. Create and share messaging through these networks to promote evidence-based recommendations about prevention of alcohol and other substance use among people who are pregnant or might be pregnant and early identification and management of children living with FASDs.
Outcomes: Increased the public knowledge through targeted messaging on the risks of prenatal alcohol and other substance use. Improved integration of evidence-based FASD-related strategies in family medicine.
Strategy 3. Build community, state, and local capacity to link clinical and public health partners to reach affected populations with effective programs and practices.
Outcomes: Improved capacity of state chapters and family physicians to reach affected populations with relevant, evidence-based messaging and services and link those affected to appropriate community resources.
Strategy 4. Evaluate the effectiveness of project strategies, including membership knowledge, practices, referral patterns, and awareness of resources through AAFP channels.
Outcomes: Increase in members’ knowledge, practices, referral patterns, and awareness of resources. Increased member engagement with resources and tools available.
Strategy 5. Develop and share innovative educational content on prenatal alcohol and other substance use, screening and brief intervention for alcohol and other substances, as well as the identification/management of children living with FASDs.
Outcomes: Increased use of evidence-based information and resources on prenatal alcohol and other substance use. Increased knowledge related to the risk of prenatal alcohol and other substance use. Increased incorporation of content related to clinical recommendations and organizational policies into organizational resources and accredited CME materials.
Strategy 6. Develop messaging and resources based on families who have been affected by alcohol and other substance use during pregnancy and FASDs.
Outcomes: Increased knowledge related to the risk of prenatal alcohol and other substance use. Increased linkage of people at risk of prenatal alcohol and other substance uses as well as families living with FASDs to local services, treatment, support groups, prevention programs, and statewide services.
