COD to host Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Conference Sept. 28
College of DuPage will host the fourth annual Illinois Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) on Friday, Sept 28, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Resource Center, Room 2000, on the Glen Ellyn campus, 425 Fawell Blvd.
The conference will be facilitated through a partnership between the College of DuPage departments of Community Relations, Continuing Education and Human Services and the Illinois chapter of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Association (NOFAS), Illinois Center for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (ICFASD), Midwest Regional Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Training Center (MRFASTC) and Trinity Services, Inc.
This year's conference will include speakers Ajeet Charate, FASD Program
Director/Educator, NOFAS Illinois/ Trinity Services, Inc.; Tom Donaldson, President of NOFAS; Dr. Stephanie King, FASD Specialist; and Dr. Tina Wade, teacher and physician at the Graduate School of Public Health at Northern Illinois University.
It is estimated that one in every 50 babies born in Illinois has been affected prenatally by alcohol. The FASD conference is designed to heighten awareness and inform participants about activities, treatments and resources available for the prevention, diagnosis and management of FACD.
Presentations during the conference will include an overview of FASD activities in Illinois, comparison of clinical features of FASD to autism spectrum disorder, and bringing fetal alcohol syndrome to the forefront. Organizers of the event encourage attendance from professionals in a wide variety of fields, including Adoptive Care/DCFS, Allied Healthcare, Childcare, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Domestic Violence, Early Childhood Education, Employment and Human Services, Law Enforcement, Mental Health, Nursing, Psychology, Social Work and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
The registration fee is $10 per person and includes a boxed lunch. For an additional $10, participants will receive six Continuing Education Units. For more information or to register online, visit fetalalcoholconference.com by Friday, Sept. 14, or call (815) 462-4273.