Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Essential strategies A resource for frontline professionals

A resource for frontline professionals

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a lifelong disability, arising from prenatal alcohol exposure resulting in brain-injury, and is often invisible. FASD impacts every aspect of a person’s life.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Essential strategies is a resource designed to support frontline professionals to make a positive difference in the lives of people with FASD and their whānau. People with FASD, whānau representatives, frontline professionals and professionals with expertise in working with FASD co-designed the resource. It sets out the essential values, attributes, knowledge and skills required to provide effective and compassionate support for people affected by FASD and their whānau. It provides an agreed statement of the response we are aiming for.

The resource has been developed primarily to support cross-sector training for frontline professionals, and provides guidance for the development of training curricula reflecting the outcomes that training aims to achieve. The resource provides a description of what it is we do when we are responding effectively to people with FASD and their whānau. The resource aims to guide and support frontline professionals and their organisations, working within their own spheres of influence, to:

• build a shared understanding of FASD and how to respond effectively and compassionately
• contribute towards positive outcomes for people with FASD and whānau
• work together across services, disciplines and sectors to share responsibility and take a consistent approach.

The resource can also be used as a quality improvement tool that complements organisational values and professional competencies.

In summary, the resource can contribute to:

• improving the quality of services and experience for people with FASD and whānau
• improving education and training for all frontline professionals
• focusing recruitment on attracting and selecting people with the required values, attitudes,
  
• knowledge and skills
• enhancing performance appraisal and professional development processes
  
• supporting consistency of language and approaches across New Zealand.