62% of young foster children are at high risk for serious health problems due to prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol. Research has linked alcohol consumption during pregnancy to long-term healthcare problems. On January 20, VIP hosted a sold-out conference at the First 5 LA office, bringing together professionals and researchers to discuss Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).



Alcohol-exposed newborns are at risk for developmental problems. Ann Streissguth, Ph.D. and Ed Riley, Ph.D. described the brain damage caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol as a disability that causes cognitive delays, ADHD, low IQ, poor judgment and/or poor social skills. Jodi Lenocker, RN, MA, discussed the state's Early Start Regional Center as one of the few resources available to children with disabilities.



Mary O'Conner, Ph.D. and Blair Paley, Ph.D. from the UCLA Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Related Disorders Clinic surveyed pregnant women participating in the Women's, Infants, Children (WIC) program, 25% of whom reported using alcohol. However, the actual number of newborns who are at risk for FASD is much higher, as prenatal exposure to alcohol cuts across all races, income brackets, levels of education attained, and age.



The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office files 30,000 criminal petitions per year against juvenile criminal offenders. One study found that the percent of juvenile offenders who have FASD is 23%. If this is accurate, then at least 6,900 juveniles processed through the Los Angeles County system each year are affected by FASD.



Through the Community-Based Assessment and Treatment Center, VIP has witnessed the need for improved services to children with FASD. In order to address this extensive social and public health concern, VIP intends to establish interventions for pregnant women and early identification and interventions for children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol.