The Families Moving Forward (FMF) Specialist Training is a six-day course that teaches professionals to deliver the FMF Program intervention to families. The FMF Program intervention is a positive parenting intervention, designed to help families raising children between 3 and 13 years old, or who are older but at a functional level in this range, who have concerning behavior problems and are affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), with or without a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) diagnosis. The FMF program combines a positive behavior support (PBS) approach with motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help parents change their own knowledge and attitudes about PAE and FASDs, leading to improvements in their child’s behavior. The FMF Program is a scientifically validated intervention listed as a promising practice by the California Evidence Based Clearinghouse [1],[2] It is one of four behavior and education therapy services for early intervention of FASD recommended by the CDC [3].
Go to www.familiesmovingforwardprogram.org to learn more about PAE and FASDs and how clinicians trained to deliver the FMF Program intervention can provide families with FASD-informed care.
Become an FMF Specialist!
• Learn scientifically validated strategies to help children living with PAE and/or FASD and their families
• Gain a thorough understanding of FASD & PAE, including associated stigma from leading psychologists in the field
• Practice and support in using actual session materials to become comfortable with the clinical process
• Access to the online FMF Portal for full intervention materials specially designed for this clinical population
• Become a PAE and FASD-informed provider
FMF Specialist Training costs $2500 per clinician. Organizations can train multiple clinicians and become an FASD-informed agency offering the FMF Program. Ten hours of follow-up Intervention Fidelity Training is offered separately to become even more comfortable with the methods, and is required to independently deliver the FMF intervention as a clinical technique.
For more information see our FMF Training Program FAQs
How to Apply
1. Request your FMF Specialist Training Application on this page (no payment necessary), to receive an email with the application link.
2. Send your completed application, along with your resume, to training@thefloridacenter.org.
3. Application deadline date is September 20th which will allow time for payment and shipping of materials.
4. Your application will be reviewed by the FMF Program Office for approval or deferral for additional required training.
5. Upon application approval, payment will be requested through The Florida Center Training Institute.
Training Dates
Fall 2022 FMF Specialist Training will be held virtually on the following dates and times over the course of six-weeks:
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- Wednesday, October 5th (10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT)
- Friday, October 7th (10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT)
- Wednesday, October 12th (10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT)
- Wednesday, October 19th (10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT)
- Wednesday, October 26th (10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT)
- Wednesday, November 2nd (10:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. EDT)
Eligibility
MA-level or equivalent degree in counseling, social work or a related field. Experience with FASD can be considered in place of a degree. Must be eligible to deliver clinical services. Approval of applications is required.
Recommended (but not required):
Training/education about FASD; Familiarity with motivational interviewing (MI); positive behavior support (PBS), and/or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); Personal or work experience with the field of FASD, such as being an advocate or knowing someone who has a diagnosed FASD.
Continuing Education Hours
The Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling has approved 30.0 CEs for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Licensed Mental Health Counselors and Certified Master Social Workers through CEBrokers.
FMF Specialist Trainer:
Anika Trancik, Ph. D., Neuropsychologist and FASD Expert
Dr. Trancik is a licensed child clinical psychologist who specializes in FASD diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, with over a decade of research experience in the field. She served as a Neuropsychologist on the Florida Center for Early Childhood FASD Clinic team for 14 years. Florida Center's FASD Clinic is the State's first and only state-wide diagnostic and intervention clinic. Her career in the field of FASD began 20 years ago while enrolled in graduate school at the University of Washington. During that time she assisted Dr. Carmichael Olson in developing the FMF Program as a scientifically-validated FASD intervention. She is now the primary FMF trainer on the East Coast.
References
[1.] Bertrand J. Interventions for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Research C. Interventions for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs): Overview of findings for five innovative research projects. Res Dev Disabil. 2009;30(5):986-1006.
[2.] The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. February 2021. Retrieved from https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/families-moving-forward-fmf-program/detailed
[3.] The Centers for Disease Control: FASDs Treatment. January 2022. Retrieved from FASDs: Treatments | CDC.
TRAINING FAQs
FASD Overview
What is FASD?
FASD stands for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. It refers to the effects on children’s development that can occur when alcohol is consumed during pregnancy. Conditions that fall into the category of FASD may include learning or behavior disabilities, and sometimes physical effects such as smaller growth or characteristic facial features.
Is that similar to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome?
Yes, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a seen as a medical condition. It falls under the heading of FASD. FASD also includes other classifications. There are many children with FASD.
Families Moving Forward Program
What is the Families Moving Forward (FMF) Program?
The FMF Program is a positive parenting intervention designed to help families raising children between 3 and 13 years old, or who are older but at a functional level in this range. The program aims to help children who have concerning behavior problems and are affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), with or without an FASD diagnosis. This behavioral consultation intervention combines a positive behavior support (PBS) approach with motivational interviewing, CBT for caregivers, and other scientifically validated treatment techniques.
How does FMF work?
The FMF intervention is delivered individually to families by trained FMF Specialists. The FMF Specialist meets with the caregiver for a series of sessions addressing issues involved with raising children with FASD or affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. Each session lasts about 90 minutes, every other week, and the overall program typically lasts 7-11 months. There is a version that allows 60-minute weekly sessions, though that means there will be more visits with the family. Session topics are designed to be addressed in a particular order, but sessions can easily be customized to suit the needs of individual families.
What are the principles used in the FMF Program?
The FMF Program is based on the idea that children with FASD have brain-based difficulties (neurological impairments) that are the underlying cause of many learning and behavioral problems. FMF Specialists help parents learn concepts such as "reframing" and "accommodations." These ideas help them change their own knowledge and attitudes— and how they manage the child, which leads to improvements in the child's behavior.
Training FAQs
FMF Program Training
What is FMF training like?
- Six days of virtual, comprehensive training including didactics, readings, videos, and cooperative discussion with a live trainer over Zoom.
- Learn scientifically validated strategies to help children living with PAE and/or FASD and their families
- Gain a thorough understanding of FASD and PAE, including associated stigma from leading psychologists in the field
- Practice and support in actual session materials to become comfortable with the clinical process
- Obtain access to the online FMF Portal for full intervention materials specially designed for this clinical population
- Become a PAE and FASD-informed provider
Offered separately, ten hours of follow-up intervention fidelity training is required to independently deliver the FMF intervention and become even more comfortable with the methods.
Who is eligible to apply to the FMF Program?
Requirements:
Master’s or equivalent degree in child development, counseling, social work or related field (experience with FASD can be considered in place of or along with a degree). Must be eligible to deliver clinical services. Approval of applications is required.
Strongly Recommended (but not required):
Training/education about FASD; Familiarity with motivational interviewing (MI); positive behavior support (PBS), and/or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); Personal or work experience with the field of FASD, such as being an advocate or knowing someone who has a diagnosed FASD
Testimonials from FMF Specialists
The light bulbs just went on…
Caregivers are often so busy dealing with the day-today that they don’t have the time to put together thepieces of the behavioral puzzle. I often hear the phrase,
‘…the light bulbs just went on.’ The main reason I’m enthusiastic [about FMF] is because of the enthusiastic response caregivers give me.
The perfect core session or optional module is there…
On numerous occasions, parents have told me what they have been thinking, what skills they need to be a better parent, or that they are ready to move beyond their current knowledge because FMF has helped them… and I look down at the intervention flow outline, and the perfect core session or optional module is there ready for me to use.
I honestly feel that I’ve been inspired and touched…
[FMF teaches] skills [that] can empower parents to take actions to put their child’s life on a more positive course.
Training offered under the auspices of The Florida Center Training Institute in association with the Families Moving Forward Program Office