FASD Awareness Month 2026

Information. Prevention. Understanding. Support.
Rickenbacker Woods Foundation

Building Healthy Families and Communities Through Awareness

During Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Month, the Rickenbacker Woods Foundation is helping share information that can support healthier pregnancies, greater understanding, and more compassionate communities.

This page is provided for public education and awareness.

What Is FASD?

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, commonly called FASD, are a group of conditions that can occur when a developing baby is exposed to alcohol before birth.

FASD can affect learning, memory, attention, communication, behavior, physical health, and daily living. The effects vary from person to person and may not always be immediately visible.

Why Awareness Matters

  • FASD is often misunderstood or unrecognized.
  • Individuals and families may experience stigma or isolation.
  • Greater understanding can improve support at home and school.
  • Clear information can help prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies.
  • Compassion encourages people to seek help without shame.

No Known Safe Amount, Time, or Type

There is no known safe amount of alcohol to consume during pregnancy, no known safe time during pregnancy to drink, and no type of alcohol known to be safe during pregnancy.

Prevention Begins With Information

  • If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, avoid alcohol.
  • Beer, wine, wine coolers, and liquor can all expose a developing baby to alcohol.
  • If you drank before knowing you were pregnant, stop drinking and speak with a healthcare professional.
  • Partners, relatives, and friends can help by supporting an alcohol-free pregnancy.
  • People who need help stopping alcohol use should be treated with dignity and connected with appropriate professional support.

Understanding and Supporting Families

Prevention messages should never become blame. Individuals living with FASD and the people who care for them deserve respect, understanding, accurate information, and meaningful support.

  • Use patient, clear, and consistent communication.
  • Recognize individual strengths as well as challenges.
  • Avoid assuming difficult behavior is intentional.
  • Provide routines, structure, and appropriate accommodations.
  • Listen to families and people with lived experience.

What Our Community Can Do

1

Learn

Understand what FASD is, how prenatal alcohol exposure can affect development, and why early recognition matters.

2

Share

Share accurate prevention information with families, schools, healthcare providers, faith communities, and neighborhood groups.

3

Support

Respond to individuals and families with patience, dignity, useful resources, and freedom from judgment.

Trusted Information and Resources

Learn more about FASD, alcohol use during pregnancy, prevention, and support from national public-health and advocacy organizations.

CDC FASD Information Understanding FASD — NIAAA FASD United

The information on this page is intended for general education and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis, treatment, or professional healthcare advice.

About RWF’s Awareness Effort

The Rickenbacker Woods Foundation shares community information that supports children, families, education, and healthier neighborhoods. Our FASD awareness messages are informational and do not represent a currently funded FASD program or scheduled event.

Rickenbacker Woods Foundation
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (614) 427-3201
Website: rickenbackerwoods.org/fasd

Together, we can replace stigma with understanding and make prevention information visible.
Healthy families help build healthy communities.