# Presentation: 395397

## FASD Initiative17th Judicial DistrictAdams County Colorado

- FASD Identification
- And Intervention

## FASD Screening Plan

- November 2005:  Truancy Court
- January 2006: Delinquency Court
- September 2006: Child Protection Court
- “Dependency & Neglect”
- Phase in from 9/2006 through 4/2007

## FASD Diagnostic Team

- Existing Diagnostic & Evaluation Team
- Sewall Child Development Center
- Team Includes:
- Developmental Pediatrician
- Clinical Psychologist
- Occupational or Physical Therapist
- Speech Therapist

## TRUANCY COURT

- Court doesn’t have jurisdiction to court-order the screen – so screen is voluntary for parents.
- November – questions mixed with the truancy intake:
- 6 intakes in 3 weeks
- 2 positives (30%)
- December – our questions moved to a separate intake sheet:
- 4 intakes in 4.5 months
- 4 positives (100%)

## TRUANCY COURT

- 4 have completed the diagnostic process
- 1 positive for FAS
- 2 have neurocognitive issues, but the diagnostic team believes they are genetic – these will probably be included as FASD under the 4-digit code
- 1 received no diagnosis

## Lessons - Truancy

- We expected the 8 school districts to be a challenge.
- The diagnostic team goes to their facilities
- Teachers, counselors, etc. can attend feedback sessions.
- This seems to win over the school personnel.
- The staff who work directly with the children are very supportive of our project.

## DELINQUENCY COURT

- All probation officers were trained by Diane Malbin in issues of FASD.
- The FASD team later trained them on screening techniques including interview and taking facial pictures.  Included a review of FASD basics.
- Clear communication established between Probation Office and FASD Team

## DELINQUENCY COURT

- “FASD Screen and Recommended Treatment Ordered” stamped on Pre-sentence Investigation (PSI) Orders, Probation Orders and Conditions of Probation.
- The court clerks make sure that the judge or magistrate remembers to order the screen.
- Probation Officers (including PSI Investigators) include the screening questions in their intake interview and take the facial picture – email the results to the FASD team.

## DELINQUENCY COURT

- Process takes about a month from order to receipt of the information by the FASD team.
- FASD team runs the facial software, documents information on the child, and checks legal history of mother for indicators of alcohol and drug use.
- When screens are positive, FASD Intervention Specialist contacts family and goes to the home to establish relationship and begin data collection for the evaluation.

## DELINQUENCY COURT

- Diagnostic team is notified of child “in the pipeline”
- FASD team collects birth and medical records, IEP information (esp. test results), and any evaluations, etc. that are available
- When information is gathered, youth is scheduled for evaluation.
- 4 hour evaluation – at or near child’s home/school when possible

## DELINQUENCY COURT

- Brief feedback session for parents, FASD staff, P.O., school personnel, etc.
- Extensive written report within 30 days.
- FASD staff work with family, school, P.O., etc. to teach them how to intervene for child

## DELINQUENCY COURT

- Parents are invited to FASD Parent Support Group and offered further training.
- If completed in time, results of the evaluation may be included in the PSI report.  This timeline is difficult to meet.
- P.O.s are very receptive to modifying probation plans to accommodate the youth
- Adult DUI officers are now taking FASD training and requesting screening training.

## DELINQUENCY COURT

- 100 probation youth screened through April 21, 2006
- 28 positive screens (28%)
- One diagnostic evaluation completed on this group.  It was positive for an FASD.
- One delinquent youth ID’d by the judge diagnosed with an FASD.  FASD Team is working with parents, school & P.O.

## DELINQUENCY COURTLESSONS LEARNED

- We suspect false negatives on screening.
- P.O.’s vary in the information they obtain.
- Screen is done on the first contact – no relationship built.
- P.O.’s only see youth monthly.
- This system should be able to perpetuate screening if diagnostics are available.
- Need to develop more ongoing support systems and continue ongoing training.

## DEPENDENCY COURT

- 7 children have been referred by the court
- 2 have screened positive, but not been diagnosed with an FASD.  These may also be included under 4-digit code.
- The other five are siblings and the screening is not complete yet
- Broad screening will begin in September 2006 – initially for youngest children.

## INITIAL OUTCOMES

- People trained:
- P.O’s
- Supervisors
- Caseworkers
- Therapists
- School personnel
- Foster parents

- Residential Care Providers
- CASA workers
- Parents
- Health Dept
- Court personnel

## INITIAL OUTCOMES

- Awareness of FASD is beginning to permeate the county professionals.
- Our training is broad because of need for ongoing intervention in all parts of the children’s lives.
- It’s clear that the broader community still sees FASD as a stigma for the mother.

## A WORK IN PROGRESS

- Check in Next Year