Past Projects

The Texas FASD Prevention Project includes the following: Screening, Brief Alcohol Education, Brief Intervention, Enhanced FASD Intervention, and the Parent Child Assistance Program (PCAP) that together offer a comprehensive approach to preventing FASD. To request the tools used in these interventions please call 512.206.4544 or e-mail top@hhsc.state.tx.us. View the Brief Intervention pamphlet in English (PDF) or the Brief Intervention pamphlet in Spanish (PDF).

The program seeks to:

  • increase awareness of FASD among women of childbearing age;
  • educate women about the dangers of alcohol use during pregnancy;
  • identify women at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy;
  • deliver interventions to women at increasingly severe levels of risk; and
  • train professionals to use interventions with the target populations.

The interventions are designed to:

  • reduce alcohol consumption among women who are pregnant, or not using effective family planning, or who are planning on becoming pregnant;
  • refer women who are at high risk to appropriate substance abuse treatment programs; and
  • assist women with a substance abuse disorder abstain from alcohol consumption.

TOPDD won a competitive contract to assess, plan, and implement a state strategy to reduce the number of alcohol-exposed pregnancies and thus reduce the FASD prevalence among children.

The Texas Needs Assessment concurs with the Healthy People 2010 report that the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy can be prevented with effective family planning and prenatal care. The assessment found that screening and intervening with women who are at high risk for alcohol use is paramount.

TOPDD and the University of Texas at Austin's School of Social Work developed and implemented a demonstration project to identify methods to reach women of childbearing age who are at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy.

FASD Prevention Project Results to Date

Almost 900 women received services in FY 05-06 according to the final report issued in 2006. The results show that 21% of women served have a drinking problem. About seven percent report binge drinking. More than 90% of the population had positive changes in their attitudes and knowledge regarding alcohol and pregnancy after intervention.

A large majority of women enrolled in substance abuse treatment were not familiar with FASD or with the problems related to maternal alcohol consumption before receiving intensive education about FASD. Following the Enhanced FASD Intervention, over 90% of the women increased their knowledge of FASD.

Thirty-two women enrolled into the PCAP program. Analysis indicates that women abstained from alcohol for six months, or commenced using effective family planning, or abstained from alcohol and drug use and used effective family planning methods simultaneously.

The Texas FASD Prevention Project has positively impacted the health of Texas women and their children. The project demonstrates effective and cost efficient methods to reduce the incidence of children born affected by FASD by targeting women who are at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. TOPDD and its partners developed effective protocols that are available for replication. Additionally, the state capacity to competently care for women and children at risk has improved.