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What is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder?
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FASD is estimated to affect about 1 per 1,00 live births, or about 40,000 babies per year. It is a major public health issue around the globe and yet goes unnoticed. FAS is the most recognized condition, affecting as many as 12,000 infants in the United States each year. Characterized by a distinctive facial appearance, growth deficiency, and neurological damage. FASD is a lifelong disability and does not go away. Prenatal exposure to alcohol is the only 100% known preventable cause of intellectual disability. The center of Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 0.2 to 1.5 of 1,000 live births in this country are born with FAS, making it more prevalent than down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or spina bifida. At least three times this number are adversely affected by prenatal alcohol exposure, although they lack the facial characteristics to receive a FAS diagnosis.

About Us:

Trinity Services Inc., a nonprofit, non-sectarian organization headquartered  in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Trinity serves over 1,500 children and adults in 24 Illinois communities  in  northeast Illinois (including Chicago) central and southwest Illinois, and Reno Nevada. Trinity Services, Inc is the largest CILA (community Integrated Living Arrangement) group home provider in the state of Illinois. In addition to residential services, Trinity offers developmental training programs for persons with disabilities, a school serving children and adolescents with autism, and a supported employment program. The agency has over 1,000 employees who work together to provide services and supports at more than 80 sites. Trinity serves more than 1,400 people in the south and northwest suburban regions of Chicago, in central region of Peoria Illinois, in South Central Illinois of Mascoutah Illinois, as well as northern Nevada.

The FASD program is administered by the behavioral health department. The behavioral health department serves people with a serious mental illness. Many of whom are dually diagnosed with a developmental disability. Several of the individuals are also diagnosed with FASD. Residential services include 13 CILA group homes and two intermittently staffed homes in DuPage County dedicated to serving individuals with a mental illness who formally lived in nursing homes. Last year the department added a newly constructed 13 unit apartment complex to help individuals transition from group home setting to a more independent setting environment as they demonstrate progress in their treatments and positive outcomes.

In addition to behavioral services, the behavioral health program also includes four psycho-social rehabilitation programs. These highly structured programs provide intensive treatments utilizing therapeutic groups. Treatment is based on the contextual behavioral framework utilizing the tenants of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Functional Analytical Psychotherapy (FAP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Currently 10 individuals with FASD are receiving services in the programs and have demonstrated growth and improvement.

As the Illinois affiliate of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS), Trinity Services, Inc has made a commitment to collaborate with individuals, organizations, and agencies through out the state to promote awareness, education, prevention, assessment and diagnosis, and intervention for individuals and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). In Illinois, it is estimated that about 9000 children are born with FASD each year.

Since 2006, NOFAS Illinois has been actively involved with raising public awareness, educating professionals, providers and parents about FASD, collaborating with relevant organizations, agencies, State departments and mobilizing grassroots action in diverse communities that represent the interests of persons with FASD. NOFAS Illinois members have been working closely with researchers and policymakers to improve the system of care. Our goal is to ensure that FASD is broadly recognized as an Intellectual disability. NOFAS Illinois strives to reduce the stigma, develop adequate supports as well as services for FASD in the community in improving the quality of life for affected individuals and their families.

 

FASD Seminar - ALCOHOL AND PREGNANCY: THE COST AND THE CONSEQUENCES

 

 

Legislative Initiatives

To find out more about the NOFAS Illinois Advisory Committee members, the four work group committees and or to join one of the committees, please contact the program director, Ajeet Charate at 815-462-4273 or send an email acharate@trinity-servies.org