Families Moving Forward (FMF) Program

This is a behavioral intervention for families with children aged 3 to 12 who have been exposed to alcohol abuse in the prenatal period or who have developed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. The aim is to develop parenting and self-care techniques in families, reduce behavioral problems among children, and improve support and identification of family needs.
The program offers specialized intervention with positive behavioral support techniques, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral treatment. The curriculum is applied in approximately 15 sessions, over 9 to 11 months, by health and social care professionals.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that parents participating in the program had a significantly improved sense of self-efficacy and more self-care behaviors. There were no differences in rates of child-related parental stress [1].
Another statistically significant effect was that program participants reported that family needs were met more often, compared to the families that were not served by the program. After treatment, children showed significantly fewer challenging behavior problems [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Bertrand, J. (2009). Interventions for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs): Overview of findings for five innovative research projects. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30(5), 986–1006. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2009.02.003

Information source

The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse