PENNSYLVANIA FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER (FASD) TASK FORCE

The Pennsylvania FASD Task Force is a multidisciplinary, diverse group of individuals whose goal is to develop a system of care for (a) the prevention of FASD and (b) the diagnosis and treatment of individuals who are born with an FASD and support for their families.   The Task Force consists of state employees, physicians with an interest in FASD, family members of individuals with an FASD, community providers’ staff with skills to serve individuals with FASD, and advocacy organizations.

Initially, the Task Force was appointed to the Department of Drug and Alcohol Services with a focus on prevention.  In 2017, the work was expanded to include the diagnosis and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults who were born with the disorder and providing a key intervention of family education and support.  This required moving the Task Force to the Department of Human Services which oversaw many of the services that are needed by people with FASD, including the Office of Developmental Programs, the Office of Child Development and Early Learning which includes an Early Learning and Early Intervention, and the Office of Medical Assistance Programs.

In 2020, the Task Force hopes to achieve the following five steps in developing a system of care:

  • establishing screening and assessment tools to use to identify individuals at risk for having an FASD,
  • beginning to develop the capacity for a full evaluation by physicians who are trained to diagnose FASD  and
  • recommend/manage the patients’ care,
  • establishing a menu of evidence-based services which could be used with individuals who are diagnosed with an FASD beginning to develop the capacity of service providers who are competent to provide the evidence-based services on the menu,
  • establishing diagnostic and treatment code eligibility for Medical Assistance for those individuals who otherwise qualify financially.

Once these systems of care aspects have been reached as needed, the Task Force will launch pilots testing them.   Outcomes will be evaluated and the process will be improved.  This quality improvement process will continue with the hope of eventually expanding to additional sites and finally statewide.

An additional aspect of developing a system of care is:

  • developing a multi-faceted system of prevention to keep pregnant women from drinking alcohol.

The Task Force welcomes new members at any time, especially parents/family members and other caregivers of individuals who have an FASD diagnosis. 

Email for Task Force is RA-PWFASDTASKFORCE@pa.gov.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MEDICAL COMMITTEE

Gordon Hodas, MD, Chairman, Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist
Renee Turchi, MD Pediatrician, Special Needs, Medical Home
Greg Cherpes, MD, Child/Adolescent Psychiatrist
Dan DubovskyFASD Consultant & Trainer, Parent Advocate
Beth Valentine, MD, Retired Phys/Parent Advocate

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND MARKETING COMMITTEE

Grace Kindt, Co-Chairman
Lisa Verbos
Mary Culshaw
Tom Stark
Dianna Brocius
Trish Johnson
Lisa Verbos Administrative support person

TRAINING COMMITTEE

Robin VanEerden,  Co-chair
Marlinda Smith, Co-chair
Karen Plowman
Mary Culshaw
Lea Moyer
Trish Johnson
Robin Administrative support person

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES COMMITTEE

Dianna Brocius, Co-chair
Lyn Becker, Co-chair
Marlinda Smith
Jim Sharp
Kim Pape
Katie Yost
Shannon Fagan
Brandon Basom
Lea Moyer