Question NW2905 to the Minister of Social Development
27 August 2015 - NW2905
Dudley, Ms C to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether, with reference to Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), she intends to promulgate a policy for social workers to make enquiries about the extent in which a mother was exposed to alcohol during pregnancy when a child with problematic behaviour is taken to a children’s home or another form of care; if not, how does she intend to deal with this need for information in the diagnosis of FASD children; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
No; the Department of Social Development does not have nor intend having a policy for Social Workers to make enquiries about the extent in which a mother was exposed to alcohol during pregnancy when a child with problematic behavior is taken to children’s home or another form of care .
However, the Department of Social Development has assessment tools that are being administered when children including children with FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) are admitted to a children’s home or another form of care. The assessment tools provide the social workers with background information of every child including the family circumstances of the child. Additionally social workers can access information from other health care workers to assess the impact of the family and environmental circumstances on the behavior of the child.