Welcome to the fourth episode of FASD Informed! Today's show is titled "FASD Call to Action for Social Work and Legal Professionals- An Interview with Sontina Barnes."

FASD stands for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, a brain based, whole body disorder with behavioral symptoms. FASD Diagnoses are a result of prenatal exposure to alcohol The disabilities caused by such exposure fall under the umbrella of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.FASD Informed is a podcast series sponsored and produced by NCFASD Informed. NCFASD Informed (501c3) is producing this series to further it's mission...to create FASD informed communities to empower individuals affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Through our podcast series, we also hope to educate our audience, by interviewing those in the FASD community, to be FASD Informed.

On today's episode, we will be interviewing Sontina Barnes. Sontina holds both a Master of Social Work and a Juris Doctorate in Public Interest with a Concentration in Child Welfare. Sontina serves as a board member of NCFASD Informed. She currently teaches in the Social Work Department at North Carolina State University. Sontina is also the coordinator of the new dual degree JD/MSW program jointly between North Carolina State University and Campbell Law School.

Some of the topics covered in today's episode include:

-  Sontina's experience as a clinical social worker and what led her to learn more about FASD and the populations / families that she served.

- How limited the awareness of FASD is in both the Social Work and Legal Professions.

- Misconceptions and myths about FASD that are still in the community.

- How FASD impacts the community that is served by social work / social services / legal professions.

-  Changes that could be made in the community that would better support and serve individuals living with FASD (and their loved ones / families).

- How trainings and educational opportunities about FASD can help social workers and legal professionals better serve their clients.

- An FASD Call to Action to inspire social workers, legal professionals and those in the social services professions to receive training, education about FASD, learn more and become more FASD informed. 

You can reach Sontina Barnes through her NCFASD Informed email at:

sontina.barnes@ncfasdinformed.org