Guided Growth

Educational and Behavioral Interventions for Children and Teens with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Early Trauma

“As a parent of a child with FASD and chief program officer for a clinic serving this population, Guided Growth is invaluable! A resource addressing both FASD and early trauma, so often co-existing, has been much needed in the field. Dr. Chasnoff’s and Dr. Powell’s wealth of knowledge and expertise, real-life examples, and user-friendly strategies make this the “go-to” guide and necessary reading for parents and educators alike!”

Michelle Stiller Bradley, Wonderland Child & Family Services, Shoreline, Washington

About the Book

One of the greatest challenges teachers and parents face is the increasing number of children who do not respond to traditional instruction and classroom management techniques. Many of the children who present such a challenge are those who were prenatally exposed to alcohol and illicit drugs. To complicate matters, many – if not most – of these children suffered significant emotional and social trauma early in their lives. In the past twenty years, we have learned about these children and the chaotic lives many of them face. The difficulty has been translating this growing body of knowledge into practical information teachers can use in the classroom and parents can use at home.

Guided Growth incorporates the latest research-based information into a guide designed for teachers, parents, physicians, psychologists – for anyone who works with children. The authors ask the reader to consider the child affected by prenatal substance exposure or early trauma and to shift perceptions – from seeing the child as one who is willfully disobedient to one whose central nervous system may have been affected by conditions that were beyond his or her control. Ultimately, Guided Growth relies on a key lesson learned from neuroscience: if we are to influence the hearts and behaviors of others, we must do so by using the tools of caring and compassion; in this way we can remain open to the needs of those around us who are suffering from the deepest hurts. Whether those hurts are in our children, the adults in our children’s lives, or in ourselves, they are rooted in our deepest needs to feel that we are understood, that we are felt, and that our lives matter. A child’s hurts can only be healed through interaction with a loving and caring adult. Guided Growth knows that it is within your capacity to be the one.

Full Color Digital Book

The Guided Growth digital book is beautifully designed in full color and is available for immediate download. Full-color graphics, images, and chapter inlays give this version of Guided Growth an interactive and engaging feel.

View a full-color sample of the Introduction and Chapter 1

Guided Growth Full-Color Cell Body

“This beautiful book, targeted to teachers, parents – anyone involved with guiding children and youth with FASD – fills a great gap in the literature addressing the education of children. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with children and youth who were prenatally exposed to alcohol.”

Diane Black, PhD., Chair, European FASD Alliance