Proof Alliance

TO ELIMINATE DISABILITY CAUSED BY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION DURING PREGNANCY AND TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THOSE LIVING WITH FASD. SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DIAGNOSIS, INTERVENTION AND FAMILY SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND COMMUNITY GRANTS.

DIAGNOSIS & SCREENING:PROOF ALLIANCE HOUSES THE SECOND LARGEST FASD DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC IN THE STATE, WHICH HAS NOW BEEN IN OPERATION FOR OVER NINE YEARS. IN 2021 THE CLINIC SAW 82 PATIENTS, AN INCREASE OF 25% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. 67 MEDICAL EVALUATIONS WERE COMPLETED; ALL MEDICAL EVALUATIONS WERE COMPLETED VIA TELEHEALTH. 43 CLINICAL INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED FOR NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS, ALL VIA TELEHEALTH. IN-PERSON NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING OR VIDEO DEVELOPMENTAL OBSERVATION WERE COMPLETED FOR 39 PATIENTS. 43 FEEDBACK SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED.

PUBLIC AWARENESS:THE OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO CHILDBEARING AGED WOMEN IS A HIGH PRIORITY AT PROOF ALLIANCE. A VARIETY OF TOOLS ARE USED TO REACH WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR WHO COULD BECOME PREGNANT. PROOF ALLIANCE COORDINATES COMMUNITY-BASED GRANTS TO AGENCIES WHO ARE WORKING TO SPREAD THE PREVENTION MESSAGES. AND PROOF ALLIANCE ALSO PARTICIPATES IN ESTABLISHED BABY FAIRS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. FREE EDUCATIONAL POSTERS, BROCHURES, AND OTHER UNIQUE TOOLS ARE SHARED ACROSS THE STATE. STATEWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS WERE LAUNCHED TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE THAT THERE IS NO SAFE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL TO CONSUME DURING PREGNANCY. SOME CAMPAIGNS ALSO INCLUDED A PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL LIQUOR STORES TO GIVE AWAY WINE BAGS WHEN CONSUMERS WERE PURCHASING WINE THAT INCORPORATED THE THEME OF HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT DRINKING AND PREGNANCY.

LONG TERM RECOVERY SUPPORT :THE FAMILIES HEALING TOGETHER (FORMERLY, COMMUNITY OF RECOVERY AIDING FAMILIES IN TRANSITION (CRAFT)) PREVENTION PROGRAM SERVES WOMEN WITH A HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS WHO ARE EITHER PREGNANT OR PARENTING YOUNG CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM WORKS BY ADDRESSING ROOT PROBLEMS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE FAMILIES BY CONNECTING THEM WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURCES. WITH THIS ONGOING SUPPORT, MOTHERS WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS CAN MAINTAIN SOBRIETY AND LEAD HEALTHY LIVES WITH THEIR CHILDREN.

PROOF ALLIANCE CONTINUES TO WORK WITH FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE AN FASD. WE PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO THEM THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTIONS, IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS, VIRTUAL SOCIAL EVENTS, AND ONLINE FORUMS. WE ALSO PROVIDE HE CHANGING COURSE SERIES EDUCATES ATTENDEES ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DRINKING DURING PREGNANCY, MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT FASD, AND STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT SOMEONE LIVING WITH AN FASD. THIS SERIES IS PRESENTED IN TREATMENT CENTERS PROVIDING OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT TO WOMEN WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. THE PROOF ALLIANCE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED 72 PRESENTATIONS, PROVIDING FASD EDUCATION TO 3,115 INDIVIDUALS REACHING 77% OF THE COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA. WE ALSO HOSTED ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST VIRTUAL CONFERENCES ON FASD WITH OVER 280 ATTENDEES IN 2021. THE COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM MADE A VALUABLE COMMUNITY IMPACT RELATED TO INCREASED EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF CHILDREN WITH AN FASD BY INCORPORATING SCREENING INTO STANDARD PROTOCOLS, INCREASED ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AN FASD, CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING, LEGAL ADVOCACY FOR STUDENTS WITH AN FASD, PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDED FAMILY SUPPORT, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS WITH AN FASD TO LEARN AND PRACTICE SOCIAL AND LIFE SKILLS. THIS PROGRAM REACHES COMMUNITIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE. WE ALSO LAUNCHED THE "OUR CHILDREN ARE SACRED" PROGRAM THAT AIMS TO REDUCE RATES OF FASD IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT FAMILIES IMPACTED. OUR CHILDREN ARE SACRED IS PROGRAMMING DESIGNED BY AND FOR NATIVE AMERICANS IN ORDER TO SHARE TRADITIONAL TEACHINGS, PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION, AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. FINALLY, WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER ON THE SAFEST CHOICE LEARNING COLLABORATIVE, WHICH AIMS TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF PRENATAL ALCOHOL EXPOSURE (PAE) AND IMPROVE OUTCOMES IN CHILDREN WITH SUSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED FASD.