The challenges of caring for a child with FASD

Abstract

‘Caring for a child or young person with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is very challenging’ is a statement commonly heard by the parents/carers involved. But why is it so challenging? What are the specific challenges? How does this sentence relate to the family-finding team, to panel considerations, to training for foster carers, to the selection of adopters and to care planning? This article seeks to address some of these issues from the viewpoint of the author’s experience of parenting two children with FASD and also as the Chief Executive of the FASD Trust, a national charity supporting affected children and their families/carers in the UK.