A new Monash Children’s Hospital clinic is set to give children under three the best possible start in life, with tailored services for those affected by alcohol in utero.
The Jacana Clinic, which opened on 9 September, will provide comprehensive assessment and support services to youngsters at risk of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
Monash Health Head of Developmental and Community Paediatrics Dr Katrina Harris said the clinic would be a game changer for enabling opportunities for earlier intervention, as the first in Victoria to provide comprehensive services to children from birth to three years exposed to alcohol.
“Before Monash Health’s Jacana Clinic there have been no targeted services in place for these very young children with developmental vulnerability,” she said.
“There’s great potential to change the trajectories of these younger kids if they’re identified early, and to support families to have healthy pregnancies in the future.”
FASD is a preventable and permanent disability caused by alcohol exposure to the developing brain during pregnancy.
While children affected can present in many different ways, Dr Harris said children with FASD have severe problems with behaviour, development, and learning.
“These children need extra supports, and it can be challenging to care for children with additional needs, so getting the appropriate support for their carers is really important for the family,” she said.
“It’s important for teachers and families to understand that these young kids are not naughty – they need help.”
Permanent care mother Kristy* and her daughter Sally* were one of the first patients at the Jacana Clinic after Kristy noticed a pattern of concerning behaviour.
“She is very highly energetic, more than a normal toddler – her day care teacher said she was one of the most energetic kids she’s ever looked after,” she said.
“A range of other little things made me concerned like delayed speech and some quite significant tantrums but it’s hard to know what’s just being a toddler and what’s the first signs of early developmental problems.”
Sally was diagnosed as at-risk for FASD and was able to access a range of services through the clinic including a comprehensive assessment, paediatricians, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and more.
“Now that she’s been assessed so thoroughly, we know what services we need to put in place to give her the best possible future and to get onto the risks early rather than later,” Kristy said.
The Jacana Clinic will link in with other established teams at Monash Health including the ADAPT high risk pregnancy team, the Perinatal Infant Mental Health team and Neonatal teams to ensure as many developmentally vulnerable children and their families can be identified early and offered the appropriate assessments and support.
Dr Harris said while the disease has a one per cent prevalence internationally, it often “flew under the radar” as an invisible disability.
“It’s so important to have a focus on picking up these kids early, and we’re pleased to now be able to offer a supportive, non-judgemental service working with biological mums, dads and carers,” she said.
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the patient and family.
Approved by Martin Keogh