Kristin Gwynne, PhD¹, Rebecca H. Reeve, PhD, CHES², Laura Oberkircher³, and Janis Kupersmidt, PhD¹. (1) Innovative Research & Training, Inc., 1415 W. NC Highway 54, Suite 121, Durham, NC 27704, 919.493.7700, tgwynne@irtinc.us, (2) Child and Family Programs, Governor's Institute on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Inc., 200 Park Office Drive Drive, Suite 200, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, (3) Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Wake County, 231 A S East Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

The purpose of the SAMHSA CIPI supported Baby First Partnership is to prevent fetal alcohol syndrome/fetal alcohol effects (FAS/FAE) births in Wake County, North Carolina. Using prevention interventions tailored to women at risk for using alcohol during pregnancy, the Baby First Partnership seeks to improve health care services to these women and to offer support and mentoring services. The Partnership brings together community-based agencies, educational organizations, health care and human service providers, and others to accomplish these goals. The program involves two types of interventions –health care provider education and services for women at risk for having FAS/FAE babies. This paper discusses only the health care provider (HCP) arm of the study. The project seeks to determine the effectiveness of educating health care providers (HCPs) about prevention and screening for FAS/FAE. The project developed a physician-taught curriculum which has been CME certified. Training is delivered via the Wake Area Health Education Center. The project to date has enrolled 106 health care providers in the 3hour CME training. Preliminary analysis of the initial HCP trainings and comparison group training showed statistically significant group by time interactions and confirmed that participants needed to attend the Baby First training (be a part of the intervention group) for a change to occur in their knowledge and future behaviors. There were significant group x time interactions for knowledge scales and self-reported behaviors. Updated analyses and a more detailed curriculum description will be provided.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to
• Identify fetal alcohol exposure as the number one cause of preventable birth defects
• Describe the key components of a successful FASD training curriculum for health care providers.
• Articulate barriers and enhancements for FASD training success.
• Discuss strategies to raise awareness of FASD preventions and management among health care providers.

Keywords: Infant Health, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.