Birth Defects Awareness Month Promotes Safe Pregnancies

In Brief

NASW recognized January as Birth Defects Awareness Month. Social workers were asked to share a key message: For a healthy pregnancy, it is safest to avoid alcohol, smoking, and other recreational drugs.

NASW and the NASW Foundation are collaborating with the Health Behavior Research and Training Institute at The University of Texas at Austin’s Steve Hicks School of Social Work on a national effort to engage social workers in the prevention of substance-exposed pregnancy, says an article by Diana Ling, MA, senior program manager; and Anna Mangum, MSW, MPH, senior health strategist, both at the institute.

Substance use during pregnancy can lead to poor outcomes. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders can occur when a developing baby is exposed to alcohol before birth.

Social workers are positioned to put prevention into practice by screening all clients, including pregnant people, for alcohol and other substance use.