Why should a multidisciplinary team (MDT) focused on treating Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) take a child-centred and family-centred approach?

From the Guidelines

A multidisciplinary team (MDT) focused on treating Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) should adopt both a child-centered and family-centered approach because this comprehensive strategy addresses the complex needs of the affected child while recognizing the crucial role of the family environment in treatment success. Children with FASD experience a range of neurodevelopmental challenges that affect cognitive functioning, behavior regulation, and social skills, requiring individualized interventions tailored to their specific profile of strengths and difficulties. By placing the child at the center of care planning, the MDT ensures that interventions directly address their unique needs rather than applying generic protocols. Simultaneously, the family-centered component acknowledges that parents and caregivers are essential partners in implementing therapeutic strategies, providing consistency across environments, and supporting the child's development. FASD impacts the entire family system, often creating stress, confusion, and challenges in parenting; therefore, providing education, emotional support, and practical strategies to family members improves treatment adherence and outcomes. This dual approach also recognizes that environmental modifications and consistent caregiving routines are as important as direct interventions with the child, creating a stable foundation for development. The most effective FASD interventions occur when professionals collaborate closely with families, sharing expertise and decision-making power to develop realistic, sustainable treatment plans that work within the family's cultural context and daily life circumstances, as supported by guidelines for identifying and referring persons with fetal alcohol syndrome 1.

Some key aspects of this approach include:

• Strategies that stabilize home placement and improve parent-child interaction through caregiver education, as highlighted in guidelines for identifying and referring persons with fetal alcohol syndrome 1
• Advocating for access to services and educating service professionals involved with affected persons and their families regarding FAS and its consequences 1
• Tailoring specific intervention services to a person's individual needs and deficits, which might include communication and social skills, emotional development, verbal and comprehension abilities, language usage, and referral for medication assessments 1
• Recognizing the importance of family involvement in early intervention, as seen in recommendations for practice and research in autism spectrum disorder, which can be applied to FASD treatment as well 1

Overall, the child-centered and family-centered approach is crucial for addressing the complex needs of children with FASD and their families, and for improving treatment outcomes and quality of life.

From the Research

Importance of Child-Centred and Family-Centred Approach

• A child-centred and family-centred approach is crucial when treating Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) as it considers the unique needs of the child and their family 2, 3.
• This approach is essential in addressing the significant neurobehavioural problems that children with FASD may experience, which can persist into adulthood 2.
• Early diagnosis and intervention can decrease the risk of adverse life outcomes, and a child-centred and family-centred approach can help facilitate this process 2, 4.

Benefits of Family Involvement

• Family involvement is critical in the treatment of FASD, as it can help alleviate negative consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure and relieve daily burdens 3.
• Combining parent and child sessions has been shown to be a promising approach for the treatment of FASD, leading to positive treatment effects 3.
• Family-centred care can also help address the intellectual and/or behavioral impairments associated with FASD, which can present differently in every child 4.

Need for Individualized Support

• Children with FASD require individualized support, as they have unique needs and circumstances 4, 5.
• A child-centred and family-centred approach can provide this individualized support, taking into account the child's specific strengths, challenges, and needs 2, 3.
• This approach can also help address the variability in dysmorphic and neurologic features associated with FASD, which can make diagnosis and treatment challenging 5.