Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is a common but under-recognised neurodevelopmental condition associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. It is linked to a wide range of lifelong challenges including cognitive and behavioural difficulties, poor mental health, educational exclusion, vulnerability within safeguarding systems, and increased contact with the criminal justice system. Despite this, diagnostic capacity, professional awareness, and public health responses within the UK remain limited and inconsistent.
This joint webinar from the Alcohol and Children and Young People Special Interest Groups will explore how research evidence on FASD can be translated into effective public health policy and practice. Drawing on the University of Salford’s interdisciplinary programme of research, including the first UK active case ascertainment prevalence study demonstrating that FASD affects approximately 2–4% of children in mainstream schools, the session will examine how evidence has informed prevention programmes, clinical pathways, workforce development, and regional system transformation within Greater Manchester and beyond.
The webinar will cover:
- what FASD is and why it matters as a public health issue;
- prevalence, risk factors, and inequalities associated with prenatal alcohol exposure;
- lived experience perspectives from individuals and families affected by FASD;
- evidence on prevention, early identification, and intervention;
- lessons from the Greater Manchester Alcohol Exposed Pregnancy programme, including whole-system approaches to prevention and service development; and
- implications for public health practitioners, commissioners, clinicians, and policymakers.
This session is aimed primarily at public health professionals, though all those with an interest in child health and alcohol-related harm are welcome.
We are pleased to welcome Professor Penny Cook who will join us for this session.
Penny Cook is Professor of Public Health at the University of Salford and leads the University’s Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) research programme. Her research focuses on alcohol harm, FASD and public health prevention.
She has attracted more than £10 million in research funding from organisations including the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Her team conducted the first UK active case ascertainment study to directly estimate the prevalence of FASD in mainstream schools, demonstrating that FASD is substantially under-recognised within the UK population.
Penny has led NIHR- and MRC-funded research developing and testing interventions to support families affected by FASD, alongside research examining vulnerability within safeguarding and criminal justice systems. Her work has contributed to the development of public health prevention initiatives, workforce training and service improvement relating to FASD within Greater Manchester and beyond.
