Thanks to my FAS yahoo group for this information!

NOFAS DSM Survey
900 17th Street N.W.
Suite 10
Washington, DC 2006

The National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) and the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (MOFAS) are seeking first person experiences from FASD parents, family members, caregivers and practitioners describing diagnostic inaccuracy, treatment delivery problems, resource limitations or reimbursement problems that can directly be attributable to the absence of FASD in the DSM.

A Task Force of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is currently overseeing the development of the fifth edition of APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Medical Disorders (DSM-V). The DSM is the handbook used by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals in the United States as well as other countries around the world to diagnose and classify mental disorders. Two Task Force committees– the Substance-Related Disorders and the Developmental Disorders Work Groups–are considering inclusion of FAS/FASD/ARND in a format and content that will be strictly based on the state of the research. A research literature review that will present the scientific case for inclusion is currently in development. In order to support the case for inclusion, NOFAS and MOFAS are collecting real world anecdotes describing hardships and obstacles to care and services. To share your personal vignette either anonymously or publicly, please complete this form and return it to NOFAS or MOFAS no later than August 15th, 2008.

Please print this form.

Name: (Not Required)

__The information on this form may be published with attribution
__The information on this form may be published anonymously
__The information on this form may not be published either with or without attribution

Email Address:
Telephone:

Please Check All that Apply:
I am:
__FASD Biological Parent or Family Member
__FASD Adoptive Parent or Family Member
__FASD Foster Parent or Family Member
__FASD Care Giver
__Clinical Practitioner
__Mental Health Professional
__Educator

In one paragraph of no more than 200 words, please briefly describe a specific experience with 1) diagnostic inaccuracy, 2) barriers to treatment, 3) a lack of resources, 4) problems with reimbursement and/or any other challenges related to mental health disorders associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.

Please email fax or mail to:

Hersh@nofas. org
Donaldson@nofas. org
Fax: 202-466-6456

NOFAS DSM Survey
900 17th Street N.W.
Suite 10
Washington, DC 20006

By completing and submitting this form to either NOFAS or MOFAS I understand that this information will be shared with the APA DSM-V work groups and their members.