DuPage County State's Attorney's Office and Illinois Chapter of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to Host Seminar:

CHICAGO, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the most preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects is the avoidance of alcohol during pregnancy.  However, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) still costs approximately $6 billion annually throughout the United Sates.  A lack of understanding of the issues that are associated with the disorder remains a consistent problem which contributes to a lack of services for persons with FASD.  

To educate the public and raise awareness of this problem the DuPage County State's Attorneys office, in conjunction with the Illinois Chapter of the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome will be conducting an educational seminar:  Continuing education credits will be provided for attorneys, educators and social workers (CLE, CEU, CPDU)  

The seminar is titled "Alcohol and Pregnancy: The Cost and the Consequences."  Speakers will be Judge Anthony P. Wartnik, the former Senior Judge of the King County Superior Court of the State of Washington.  Wartnik has over 34 years of judicial experience and is Legal Director for Fetal Alcohol Assessment Experts.  Also speaking is Dr. Susan Echiverri, a doctor with Cook County Hospital and speaker for the Midwest Regional Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Training Center.

There is no cost to attend the seminar.  Those interested in registering should contact the DuPage County State's Attorney Special Projects Manager, John Kocinski.  He can be reached via phone at (63) 407-8057 or via email at [email protected].  

"Education is our best weapon against FASD and the FASTeam wholeheartedly supports these kinds of collaborative educational events," said Walt Tiechen, board president for the Fetal Alcohol Support Team.  "Many of our board members will be at the event to support the efforts of NOFAS and we will continue our ongoing education events at venues across the Midwest."  

About FASTeam

Fetal Alcohol Support Team, FASTeam, is dedicated to raising the awareness of and aid in the prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  More information about the annual charity motorcycle is available at www.fastride.us or by calling 630 418 3300.  For more information about the FASTeam or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder visit www.fasteam.org

SOURCE FASTeam