Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Paper

Running head: FASD PAPER 1
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Paper
Student’s Name:
Institutional Affiliation:

FASD PAPER 2
History of the Person
Julie is a 19-year old pregnant girl currently living in a community care home. Julie has a
history of drug and substance abuse. She has a DUI criminal record, she has been involved in
multiple domestic fights, and had a little parental connection when young due to the loss of her
mother in a drink-and-drive situation. Julie has been brought up with two brothers John and
James and both have a history of federal crime. It should be noted that other than drinking every
day, Julie suffers from constant relapses, she displays signs of emotional disability and anger
outbursts. Recently, she attached a fourteen-year-old boy to what she termed as a case of
"trespassing" her compound. A look at Julie’s academic background shows she is a high school
dropout.
Critical Risk Factors
The first critical risk factor is family addiction. The case shows that Julie's late mother
died of drunk-drinking – and this means that Julie may express similar behavior and conducts in
the future. Trauma and emotional abuse as a result of the lack of a parental mother figure present
itself as a critical risk factor (Streissguth, In Kanter, Lowry, Dorris, & Steinmetz, 2007).
Inadequate parental support coupled with emotional and psychological disturbances may
exacerbate an already volatile situation. Further, an unstable living environment means that Julie
lacks the emotional and psychological attention required to successfully recover from drinking
and salvage her pregnancy. Finally, the lack of stable employment and spouse support means that
Julie has to deal with a range of concerns to successfully navigate across her addiction and
pregnancy.

FASD PAPER 3
How does FASD Impact this Person Mind, Behavior, and Body
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome has overarching effects on behavior, body, and mind. First, it
can lead to eruptive and violent behavior among kids with ineffective parental support. It impairs
reasoning by suppressing the development and growth of brain cells (Stratton, Howe, Battaglia,
Institute of Medicine & National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2006). Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome affects the function of the brain and in the process affect the cognitive
abilities of young children. In terms of behavior, children are likely to display reduced levels of
intellect, poor memory, and deteriorating cognitive abilities. Stunted growth, poor judgment, and
lack of emotional intelligence may result from the long-term effects of the FASD syndrome.
Specific Needs of the Case Study
The victim displays the lack of a stable living environment, and this means she has to
deal with stress, inadequate sleep, and emotional disturbances. A history of alcohol abuse makes
it hard to protect the unborn and this poses a significant health risk on the physical health and
emotions of the children. Another special need is lack of social help from a caregiver. Emotional
control demands that victims interact and associate with experienced and mature caregivers. The
case of Julie shows that she lacks a responsible and experienced counselor to identify risk factors
and tailor a solution that is uniquely targeted at the reported needs.
Identification and Discussion of Models
The Attachment Theory
The Attachment Theory is a critical psychological theory and model used to evaluate
human behavior. The attachment theory holds that the development of children relies on their
intrinsic connection with elder people, parents, and responsible caregivers. Children with a better