Presenter: Tamra Cajo LCSW

Organization: The Florida Center for Early Childhood, Marion County Children’s Alliance & Community Council Against Substance Abuse

Summary: The healthy development of young children is important to everyone. However, many do not consider that healthy development begins in the womb. Each year, thousands of babies are born with some level of prenatal alcohol exposure. Alcohol is considered a teratogen which, by definition, is anything that will cause a birth defect when ingested. Prenatal alcohol exposure can affect areas of development such as growth, facial features, fine motor, sensory motor, speech language, learning, cognition, memory, and adaptive functioning. Early identification and intervention is the best ways to ensure the best possible outcome for these children.