Ep. 29 - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: The Hidden Challenge Facing Families

1 in 20 school-age kids in the U.S. are impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)—yet most go undiagnosed. Sandra Flach, host of The Adoption & Foster Care Journey podcast, shares her powerful insights as an adoptive mom, FASD educator, and advocate for trauma-informed care. If you're parenting a child from a hard place, navigating FASD, or supporting adoptive and foster families, this episode is for you.🔹 Learn how trauma and prenatal alcohol exposure impact the brain🔹 Understand why traditional discipline approaches don’t work for neurodivergent kids🔹 Discover hope, community, and strategies for parenting children with FASD📌 CHAPTER MARKERS0:00 – Intro07:41 – The ADHD & FASD Overlap – Why Kids Are Often Misdiagnosed12:56 – Why Doctors & Schools Miss FASD – The Gaps in Medical Training20:36 – The Parenting Shift – Why Traditional Discipline Fails These Kids34:12 – FASD & Church Hurt – How Faith Communities Can Do Better44:20 – Invisible Disability, Real Challenges – What Needs to Change50:02 – Stories of Hope – How Kids with FASD Can Thrive📢 Further Resources from Sandra Flach🔗 Podcast: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/podcast🔗 FASD Training & Support: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/registration🔗 Hope for the FASD Journey Community: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/hope-community🔗 Sandra Flach’s Website: https://www.sandraflach.com/🔗 National FASD Resources: https://fasdunited.org/📲 Connect with Sandra & Justice for Orphans➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandraflach_jfo | https://www.instagram.com/justicefororphans➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraFlach | https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForOrphans🎬 Production CreditsProducer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock

Meredith Shuman | Founder, James Trail

As Executive Director of James Trail, Meredith is committed to serving organizations and communities where the gaps are the greatest. She brings over 30 years of experience as a therapist, a trauma-informed care trainer, and a parent. Meredith holds an MSW degree from the University of Texas.

She and her husband Dan, a global health physician have been married 31 years, and they have 5 children, 4 of whom are adopted.  Meredith loves a passport with lots of stamps (she loves serving in global settings and has lived cross-culturally), a water bottle with lots of stickers, a table with lots of people, and a mountain with lots of trail.

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Ep. 30 - What’s Broken in Our Helping Systems?

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Ep. 28 - Disability & Ministry: Why 1 in 3 Families Are Leaving the Church