Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Guide to FASD for Parents, Carers and Professionals

Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a useful introduction to the most common non-genetic learning disability, which is caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Written by two FASD experts, it describes how alcohol can harm the foetus and disrupt development, and explains how FASD affects individuals at different stages of their lives. With the aid of simple, illustrative diagrams, photographs and charts, it shows how you can identify FASD and gives guidance on how mothers at risk can be helped. It also provides advice for parents or carers on how children, young people and adults with FASD can be best supported.

Accessible and informative, this is the essential guide to FASD for social workers, family placement teams, child protection workers, foster carers, adoptive parents, midwives and teachers.

Maria Catterick trained as a social worker and has 30 years' practical experience of working in the voluntary and community sector. She has been a foster carer for 10 years, during which time she has cared for children and young people with a variety of needs, including FASD. She founded the FASD Network UK which supports families affected by pre-natal alcohol exposure, runs training for professionals and is dedicated to raising awareness of the condition. In 2013 she received the Prime Minister's Big Society Award for her work. Liam Curran is an Independent Social Worker and certified FASD educator and trainer. He is currently a Director at Arc Adoption, Dublin, Ireland. He has worked as a local authority trainer in the children and families division, and has over 25 years' experience working with young people in residential homes, child and family social work and children's disability services social work. He lives in Montreal, Canada, and travels widely lecturing and training on FASD-related issues.