This literature review defines Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) and considers their causes, diagnoses, prevalence, and educational ramifications. Effects of alcohol during each of the trimesters of pregnancy are summarized. Specific diagnostic characteristics of FAS are listed: (1) growth deficiency, (2) a…

This proceedings document contains papers addressing trends, determinants, and interventions in preventing low birthweight. Papers have the following titles and authors: "Trends in Rates of Low Birthweight in the United States" (Mary McCormick); "Evolution of the Preterm Birth Rate in France" (Gerard Breart); "The Etiology…

The decade of the 70's has seen significant improvements in child health and dramatic insights into the biological, psychological, and social factors influencing children's growth and development. Four of the six major gains in health status listed in the Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention relate to improvements in…

The influx of children prenatally exposed to drugs represents a heightened challenge to early childhood education programs. Efforts are needed for establishing developmentally appropriate practices, administrative supports, access to special education services, and personnel preparation programs. Guidelines and suggestions relating to these…

Thirty-four children (ages 5-16) born to alcoholic mothers were assessed on measures of intelligence, reading, receptive vocabulary, memory for sentences, visual memory, and visual-motor integration. The children were found to be least deficient on intellectual measures and most deficient on memory for sentences and silent and oral readings.…

"Utilization of Skills in the Care of the Parent Child System" (NS 139) is an associate degree nursing course offered at Chattanooga State Technical Community College to provide essential theory and experience in caring for the parent-child system throughout various stages of development. The course syllabus for NS 139 begins with information on…

A framework of concepts in nutrition, environmental factors, genetics, and human growth and development is presented as a background for developing elementary and secondary curricula on responsible childbearing. Aspects of the four subject areas are outlined for instruction at five education levels: preschool through kindergarten, primary, upper…

This paper provides information on the incidence and prevalence of alcohol-related birth defects, the human and economic costs of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effects (FAE), and examples of prevention and intervention strategies that can help reduce the occurrence of and ameliorate the consequences of FAS/FAE. It discusses the…

This bulletin highlights topics addressed at a National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) Action Seminar on Infants Exposed to Illicit Drugs and Alcohol in Utero. The incidence of babies being born exposed to cocaine and other illicit drugs is outlined, and it is concluded that numbers appear to be on the rise. The…

This report presents findings of an inquiry into the educational needs of children prenatally exposed to drugs and covers: (1) the extent of the problem, (2) negative effects of prenatal drug exposure on a child's educational potential, (3) typical behaviors and learning deficits of such children, and (4) characteristics of successful early…

This document describes a comprehensive service delivery model for drug-exposed infants and their families, provides a compendium of programs and funding sources that target the needs of these families, and delineates areas in need of financial support and further exploration. Development of the model required a literature review, interviews, and…

This curriculum guide on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is intended to help meet New Jersey secondary-level learning objectives in the area of chemical health education. The guide is organized into six sections, each with a conceptual statement, content outline, specific objectives, and lesson plans. The six sections and corresponding major concepts…

Survey responses from 162 early-childhood special educators and pediatric professionals working with young children prenatally exposed to cocaine were evaluated. Findings suggested differences in service delivery patterns, with maternal self-report identified as the primary identification procedure. Respondents also felt they lacked necessary…

This publication presents information for each of the 60 research projects active under the support of the Maternal and Child Health Research Program (MCHRP) in Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991. The variety of research topics and objectives pursued by the 60 investigations mirrors the broad mandate of the MCHRP as well as the eclectic and…

This primer on fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) distinguishes between the syndrome and fetal alcohol effects (FAE), offers a history of FAS, outlines medical criteria for diagnosis, rates of incidence, factors influencing incidence and severity, developmental stages of children with FAS, clinical features, and educational implications and approaches.…