CDC announces two funding opportunity announcements (FOAs):

CDC-RFA-DD14-1402:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Practice and Implementation Centers

CDC-RFA-DD14-1403: 

Improving Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention and Practice through National Partnerships

 

Informational Calls for Potential Applicants
CDC-RFA-DD14-1403 Improving FASD Prevention and Practice through National Partnerships Tuesday, April 15, 2014 1:00pm Eastern	Dial In (same for both calls) 1-888-553-2853 Enter participant passcode:  7667918#
CDC-RFA-DD14-1402 FASD Practice and Implementation Centers Tuesday, April 15, 2014 3:00pm Eastern	Download Slides for CDC-RFA-DD14-1403 [PDF] Call: 4/15/2014, 1:00pm Eastern Slides for CDC-RFA-DD14-1402 [PDF] Call: 4/15/2014, 3:00pm Eastern

 

Background

Health care professionals play a crucial role in the prevention, identification, and management of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). To ensure their competence, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began funding several FASD Regional Training Centers (RTCs) in 2002. These university-based centers deliver trainings to medical and allied health students in academic settings and through continuing education for practicing professionals. All trainings are designed around seven core competencies, developed collaboratively between the RTCs, CDC, and the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS).

In July 2013, CDC convened an independent expert panel to assess the work of the RTCs; evaluate their relative contribution and continued need in advancing knowledge and practice on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of FASDs among targeted provider groups; and suggest other models or approaches that might be more effective. The panel unanimously agreed that there is a continued need to educate health care professionals, translate knowledge into practice, assemble practitioners to share experiences and discuss what they have found to work, and support personal interaction and stronger networks. Panelists confirmed that the RTCs’ mission is consistent with that of NCBDDD and supported continued funding of the RTCs — but not indefinitely and not without modifications. A summary of the external peer review’s suggestions is found here.

CDC is announcing the availability of funds through CDC-RFA-DD14-1402 to support these newly designed training centers, called FASD Practice and Implementation Centers (PICs), to carry out the external peer review’s suggestions and work in conjunction with CDC-RFA-DD14-1403, which will fund organizations such as medical societies, national professional organizations, and national partner organizations.

Relevant CDC Work

FASD Regional Training Centers

• CDC has funded FASD Regional Training Centers since 2002 to train medical and allied health students and practitioners in the prevention, identification, and treatment of FASDs.
• The FASD RTCs have developed and implemented ongoing FASD training programs and courses throughout their regions reaching medical and allied health students and practitioners. 
• For more information regarding areas served by the currently funded RTCs and the core competencies upon which the trainings are based, please refer to https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/training.html#RTCs.

Alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI)

• In 2012, CDC awarded supplemental funds for pilot projects to three of the FASD RTCs to implement alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) in primary care settings. This supplemental award has initiated a move from training on the core competency of alcohol SBI to implementation in systems of clinical practice as a routine part of primary care.

CHOICES

• The programmatic work of these FOAs complement other CDC programs, including expanding the reach of CHOICES, an evidence-based program focused on working with women of reproductive age who are drinking at risky levels and using inadequate contraception to change these behaviors.

National collaborations

• CDC has recently worked with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS). These organizations have focused work on issues involving alcohol education and medical practice, prevention of alcohol-exposed pregnancies, and identification and treatment of individuals with FASDs.
  • ACOG has developed resources for women’s health care providers in identifying women who drink too much and in providing brief educational counseling to reduce or eliminate alcohol use. For more about CDC’s collaboration with ACOG, please see https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/acog_toolkit.html
  • AAP has been developing professional education materials to inform pediatricians about the prevention, identification, and treatment of FASDs. For more about CDC’s collaboration with AAP, please see https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/training.html#AAP.
  • NOFAS has developed an array of resources and materials for providers, families, individuals, researchers and the public around FASD issues. For more about CDC’s collaboration with NOFAS, please see https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/training.html#EducationalResources.

More about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and CDC’s work in this area.