Partner Spotlight and Their Collaboration with CDC

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Organization Overview

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) is a collaboration of seven health-related colleges in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas. Through the “A Better Chance” (ABC) program at OUHSC, comprehensive services for evaluation, diagnosis, referral, treatment, and case management of children and families at high risk for problems due to prenatal exposure to drugs, alcohol, or other toxic substances are provided. OUHSC collaborates closely with the Indian Health Service to provide needed services for the state’s large Native American population. Established in 1995 through the Department of Pediatrics at OUHSC, the ABC program is funded through the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services with specialized research programs for fetal alcohol syndrome supported by the CDC.

OUHSC’s Collaboration with CDC

• In 2001 OUHSC was awarded one of five cooperative agreements for a four-year project to identify, develop, and evaluate effective strategies for intervening with children with FAS/ARND and their families. Through these interventions, researchers are trying to help children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) to improve developmental outcomes, prevent secondary conditions, and provide education and support to caregivers and families, thus reducing the risk of life-long consequences.

• The OUHSC project is a randomized controlled trial of two interventions. Following a comprehensive evaluation through the ABC program and clinical genetics, all families participate in extensive education on FAS/ARND and the implications of their children having these disorders. They are then randomly assigned to an intervention group. One intervention uses the evidence-based practice called Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to intervene with parents and their children (aged 3 through 7 years) who have been diagnosed with FAS/ARND and exhibit significant problem behaviors. Children and parents participate in 14 weekly group sessions lasting 1.5 hours each. Specially trained therapists conduct these group sessions teaching appropriate and effective skills to improve the parent-child relationship, improve social behaviors, and provide parents with an effective positive discipline program. Parent-child interactions are observed, and guidance and individualized coaching of skills are provided. Comparison children and families participate in a parent-only support and management group for the 14 sessions. Group comparisons at the conclusion of the intervention and at 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-ups will be used to measure the effectiveness of this treatment.

• The project has three goals:

  • Reduce behavioral problems common in young children with FAS/ARND (poor social skills, low frustration tolerance, poor compliance, impulsivity, stressful parent-child relationships, behavior problems in school or child care settings).

  • Increase parental knowledge about FAS/ARND.

  • Increase advocacy skills in parents of these children.
     

• Results and findings from this project are expected to be available in late 2005.

For more information about OUHSC, please visit their website at www.ouhsc.edu 

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