FASD Interventions – Families Moving Forward Program

Standard Families Moving Forward (FMF) Program

This supportive behavioral consultation is an intervention delivered to caregivers raising preschool or school-aged children with FASD or prenatal alcohol exposure. Typically, these children also have many other risk factors. The standard FMF Program is a specialized parenting training method tailored for this group of families. It can be offered in-person at home or in a clinic setting, in 90-minute (every 2 weeks) or 60-minute sessions (weekly). FMF Program services can be billed to public or private insurance. The FMF Program is listed as a scientifically validated “promising practice” on several registries (including the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse). Training, consultation and implementation support are all available. The FMF Program was originally developed with CDC funding.

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FMF Program via Telehealth

The standard FMF Program has been adapted to a telehealth format. The telehealth version can easily be offered in close to the standard format as a supportive behavioral consultation intervention, in either 90-minute or 60-minute sessions. The telehealth version remains a parent training method that is specialized for the issues of families raising children aged 3 to 12 years with diagnosed FASD or prenatal alcohol exposure (and other risk factors). Training, consultation and implementation support are all available. The telehealth version was developed with donor funding.

Flyer on FMF By Telehealth (Coming Soon!)

SNACS Clinic

The SNACS Clinic model is a short-term assessment and consultation service (3 to 5 sessions) using materials from the FMF Program. The research and clinical team is led by Dr. Heather Carmichael Olson and Dr. Michelle Kuhn. SNACS services are carried out by providers with advanced degrees in clinical or school psychology. This “Specialized Neurodevelopmental Assessment and Consultation Service” (SNACS) offers: (1) mental health diagnosis of conditions on the fetal alcohol spectrum (and co-occurring mental health issues); (2) customized referrals and ideas for linkages to community resources; and (3) tailored short-term consultation on issues important to individual children and families. There is an operating SNACS Clinic at the Seattle Children’s Autism Center. This model can be reproduced.

FMF Bridges

The FMF Bridges model is an early intervention model, now starting development primarily at the University of Washington (UW). The research team is led by Dr. Tracy Jirikowic of the UW, working with collaborators including the original FMF lead developer. Not yet available, this is an 8-10 session “enhancement” for community early intervention (EI) services, offered by trained EI providers, and is based on FMF Program content, principles and methods. FMF Bridges is a supportive parent-child relationship intervention designed for young children with prenatal alcohol exposure (and other risk factors) and their parents. FMF Bridges offers specialized: (1) caregiver support and education; (2) skill-building for parents; and (3) anticipatory guidance and advocacy education. FMF Bridges is being developed with multiple funding sources, including donor funding.

FMF Connect

FMF Connect is a mobile health “app” (FMF Connect) now under development at the University of Rochester in NY. FMF Connect is being developed with NIAAA funding. The research team is led by Dr. Christie Petrenko and Dr. Cristiano Tapparello of the University of Rochester, working with collaborators including the original FMF lead developer. Not yet available, the FMF Connect digital health intervention is designed for self-administration by caregivers. The app includes substantial content from the FMF Program and is based on FMF principles and methods. The app also has unique and innovative features, including an in-app social media Family Forum.