Texas Office for the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities

Background

The State of Texas has an opportunity to improve public health outcomes among women and children by preventing a well-documented cause of birth defects and disabilities. Maternal alcohol consumption can irreversibly reduce human potential by causing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Individuals with these disorders may have physical abnormalities that are visible but may also have brain damage which is less visible and far more significant in terms of hampering one's ability to succeed in education, employment, personal relations, and independent living as an adult. FASD are associated with secondary disabilities and problems including mental illness, school failure, trouble with the law, confinement and incarceration, inappropriate sexual behavior, and alcohol and drug abuse. The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimates that 1 out of 100 infants born are affected by FASD. In Texas some 3,700 infants born each year may be affected. The additional cost incurred to care for an individual with FASD can be $1-2 million per lifetime. Finding ways to prevent these disorders is worthwhile.

Members

Chairwoman: Mary Tijerina, Ph.D., LMSW-AP
Associate Professor, Director of BSW Program
Texas State University
601 University Drive
San Marcos, Texas 78666
Phone: (512) 245-3667
mary.tijerina@txstate.edu

Becca Crowell, M.Ed., Ed.S., LCDC, LPC
Executive Director
Nexus Recovery Center
8733 La Prada Drive
Dallas, Texas 75228
Phone: (214) 321-0156 ext.2100
bcrowell@nexusrecovery.org

Carole Hurley
Attorney
Austin, Texas
churley@austin.rr.com

Denese Thetford, M. Ed.
Ministry Development Coordinator
Buckner Children and Family Services
129 Brentwood Ave.
Lubbock, Texas 79416
Phone: (806) 893-4050
denesethetford@msn.com

Emily West
UT Dallas
Department of Physics, EC 36
800 West Campbell Road
Richardson, Texas 75080-3021

Esther Colunga-Betts
Prevention Team Lead/Child & Adolescent Services
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 W. 49th Street, MC 1886
Austin, TX 78756
Phone: (512) 206-5865
esther.betts@dshs.state.tx.us

Helen Dale Simons
291 Covered Wagon Way
Driftwood, Texas 78619
Phone: (512) 722-3660
helendalecoe@gmail.com

Joan Roberts-Scott
Directorate Manager, CE Scheduling Unit
Texas Department of Assistive & Rehabilitative Services
6101 E. Oltorf
Austin, Texas 78741
Phone: (512) 437-8788
joan.roberts-scott@ssa.gov

Judy Johnson, Ph.D
Manager-Clinical
Windham School District
P.O. Box 30
Huntsville, Texas 77342
Phone: (936) 291-5337
judy.johnson@wsdtx.org

Julie Wisdom-Wild, BAAS
Chief Executive Officer
Alpha Home. Inc.
300 E. Mulberry Ave.
San Antonio, Texas 78212
Phone: (210)735-9822 ext 105
juliewisdom-wild@alphahome.org

Kay Austin, LCDC
Chief Executive Officer
Santa Maria Hostel, Inc
2605 Parker Rd
Houston, TX 77093
Phone: (713)691-0900
kaustin@santamariehostel.org

Linda Kagey, LCDC
Assistant Director of Treatment Services
Volunteers of America-Houston Region
308 East Rogers St.
Houston, Texas 77026
Phone: (713) 480-1551
lkagey@voatx.org

Linda Tart Hook, RN. BSN, MSHP
Nursing Program Manager
SAMHD
332 West Commerce, Suite 303
San Antonio, Texas 78205
Phone: (210) 207-8808
Linda.hook@uhs-sa.com

Lisa Ramirez, M.A., LCDC
Project Link Program Manager
The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse-Coastal Bend
1801 S. Alameda, Suite 150
Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Phone: (361) 945-4501
lramirez@ccoada-cb.org

Melanie Lane, MSW, LCDC, AAC
Unit Coordinator
Center for Health Care Services Restoration Center
601 North Frio
San Antonio, TX 78207
Phone: (210) 246-1305
(210) 832-8378
mlane@chcsbc.org

Milton Ayala, LMSW
Substance Abuse Program Specialist
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
8719 Redwood Bend
Helotes, Texas 78023
Phone: (210) 445-6027
Milton.ayala@dfps.state.tx.us

Natalie Furdek, M.Ed., LPC
Women’s Substance Abuse Services Coordinator
Texas Department of State Health Services
909 W. 45th Street, MC 2067
Austin, Texas 78751
Phone: (512) 206-5254
Natalie.furdek@dshs.state.tx.us

Nhung T. Tran, MD, FAAP
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Section Head,
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
UT Health Science Center-San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Dr.
San Antonio, Texas 78229
Phone: (210) 562-5844
trann@utscsa.edu

Nicole Stelivan
Counselor Supervisor
Santa Maria Hostel, Outpatient Program
7807 Long Pointe Road, Suite 375
Houston, Texas 77055
Phone: (713) 691-0900
(832) 661-0585
nstelivan@santamariahostel.org

Robert Miles, LCDC
Counselor
Private Practice
1216 Brittany Lane
Arlington, Texas 76013
Phone: (817) 265-4122
robertmiles@sbcglobal.net

Shelley Alexander
Quality Development and Training Supervisor
Tarrant County Juvenile Services
2701 Kimbro Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76111
Phone: (817) 838-4630 Ext 120
salexander@tarrantcounty.com

Shelly Koslan-Joiner, LMSW
Mom and Baby Special Services Coordinator
JPS Health Network (Tarrant Co. Hospital District)
2500 Circle Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76119
Phone: (817) 920-7322
skoslan@jpshealth.org

Sheryl Draker, J.D.
Lead Instructor of Attorneys
WTF Institute
3504 Hillbrook Circle
Austin, Texas 78731
Phone: (512) 451-3303
sdraker@austin.rr.com

Stevie Hansen, LCDC, NCAC, BA
Chief of Addiction Services
MHMR of Tarrant County
3840 Hulen Street, Hulen Tower North
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Phone: (817) 569-4452
stevieh@mhmrtc.org

FASD Prevention Task Force

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Prevention Task Force was appointed by authority of the Texas Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities in 2005. Its charge was to create a state plan that considers how to strengthen and expand the state capacity to reach women at risk for an alcohol exposed pregnancy and reduce fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.