Newsletter - July 2022
Stars for Starla Ornament Design Contest!
Do you or someone you know love art and design? Well, you’re in luck because Stars for Starla is taking submissions for their 2022 ornament! The ornaments help the Stars for Starla organization fund their Stars for Starla Youth Recognition program. This program has sent over 200 youth awards around the world since it began in 2021.
The 2022 Stars for Starla Youth Artwork Contest is hoping to highlight the artwork of an individual with FASD. The theme of this year’s artwork is, “Shine Like the Star You Are!” and they are looking for artwork that shows the strengths and talents of the artist.
Submissions are due by August 15th and need to be submitted through the Stars for Starla website. The link for this page can be found here: https://nofaspolicycenter.org/2022-stars-for-starla-youth-artwork-contest/.
The winner will be announced on September 9th! The winner and their family will be sent 5 ornaments with their artwork on them.
Starla was a child with FASD who in her all too short life, experienced the stigma of FASD and recognized it needed to change. As a self-advocate, she had a goal of everyone in her community learning about FASD and how to best support someone with FASD. Along with advocacy, she was passionate about writing stories, singing songs, and dancing.
Stars for Starla is supported by FASD United (formerly NOFAS) and strives for national awareness and fundraising. One of their missions is to focus on the talents and strengths of those with FASD alongside their challenges.
If you or someone you know wants to submit artwork for this, visit https://nofaspolicycenter.org/2022-stars-for-starla-youth-artwork-contest/.
FMF Connect Enrollment Ends Soon!
Enrollment closes for the FMF Connect RCT at the end of August! If you or someone you know wants to test out this intervention in your pocket, you have until August 30th!
Participants needed for a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) for FMF Connect!
Are you a parent or caregiver of a child aged 3-12 with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) or Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE)? You may be eligible for this study!
FMF Connect is an app designed to help parents and caregivers of children with FASD or PAE by providing useful information to manage their children’s condition and gain peer support.
FMF Connect is looking to enroll caregivers in the United States who have an iOS device (iPhone or iPad). This trial would include completing surveys and testing out the app on your time! Monetary compensation is available for participants.
Already enrolled? Help us spread the word! You can send other parents and caregivers to our website or have them email us!
Please email fmfconnect@urmc.rochester.edu if you have any questions.
My Health Coach Survey Opportunity
Adults needed for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) mobile health app research!
The next step of the Adult App project is here, which involves an online surveys for adults with FASD to provide feedback on initial design prototypes. Adults with FASD around the world can participate as long as they are 18+ and have sufficient enough English proficiency to complete the survey.
This app hopes to provide resources, tools, and information to improve physical health and quality of life for adults with FASD or known prenatal alcohol exposure.
Click the link below to go to the survey!
Please consider sharing the survey on your relevant platforms: https://bit.ly/FASDApp
Already enrolled? Help us spread the word! You can send other parents and caregivers to our website or have them email us!
Email Emily_Speybroeck@URMC.rochester.edu with any questions.
Research Corner
Dog-Assisted Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Raquel Vidal et al., 2020
Dog-assisted therapy (DAT) helps children and adults with anxiety and depression, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Researchers in Spain were interested in the effectiveness of DAT for children and adolescents with FASD.
The researchers enrolled 33 children and adolescents with FASD from a university hospital in Spain. The participants were randomly assigned to the DAT treatment group, and a control group where the participant had their usual treatment but without the DAT. The participants in the treatment group received 12 sessions with certified therapy dogs. Parents of participants finished questionnaires on their internalizing and externalizing symptoms, social skills, and severity of FASD symptoms before and after the treatment.
The results showed that children and adolescents who were in the DAT treatment group had improvement in their social skills, reduction in their externalizing symptoms, and reduction in the severity of FASD symptoms. The reason for this promising result may be that interaction with animals was less stressful and could encourage children to engage in the intervention. Therefore, the researchers suggested that DAT could be effective for children and adolescents with FASD in combination with the usual intervention.