{"id":1494,"date":"2014-09-05T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-06T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communications.blogs.kpbsd.k12.ak.us\/wpmu\/?p=1494"},"modified":"2014-09-05T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-09-06T01:00:00","slug":"fetal-alcohol-syndrome-affects-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpbsd.org\/schools\/comm-test\/2014\/09\/05\/fetal-alcohol-syndrome-affects-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Fetal Alcohol Syndrome affects students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District\"Print\"<\/a>
\nContact: Pegge Erkeneff, 907.714.8888
\nNews Release<\/p>\n

KPBSD observes international FASD Awareness Day <\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Soldotna, September 5, 2014\u2014 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) does affect KPBSD students, and September 9, 2014, marks international FASD awareness day. The KPBSD, together with our board of education, community agencies, and families recognize the challenges of FASD. We are working with and supporting our students and families, providing FASD education, awareness, and parent support groups.<\/strong>
\nPublic awareness<\/strong>
\nLearn about the danger of drinking alcohol during pregnancy and the plight of individuals and families who struggle with the impact of FASD challenges.
\nKPBSD focus<\/strong>
\n\u201cOur goal is to understand and support our students with FASD and other brain based differences, provide support for their families, and hopefully create enough awareness about FASD that we significantly alter the number of future students impacted with FASD,\u201d said Clayton Holland, director of pupil services. \u201cWe don\u2019t believe that the Kenai Peninsula has a higher rate of FASD impacted students than any other region of the state, but we do believe we have the chance to positively impact the lives of everyone on the Kenai Peninsula through our work with FASD.\u201d
\nDeb Evensen, FASD expert, said, \u201cI am honored to be assisting KPBSD as they work toward their goal of more effectively supporting students with FASD, in every grade level and in every program. This work is a bold step forward for KPBSD, and also Anchorage School District (ASD), who are leading the way as two school districts to address this challenge. As we improve our understanding and support for those now living with FASD, we nurture the growing public awareness of what causes this disability, and help create the path to a future where FASD no longer exists.\u201d
\n\u201cFASD Awareness Day should be a time for all of us at KPBSD to consider the effects of this disorder and to learn how we can better support our students who have this disability,\u201d said Dr. Steve Atwater, superintendent.
\nSix FASD projects in the KPBSD<\/strong><\/p>\n