FASD Center for Excellence

East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Summary of the External Launch
November 8, 2002

Excitement and enthusiasm filled the air as the community of East Baton Rouge Parish kicked off the Partnership to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Capital Area Human Services District, the lead organization that coordinated the launch with sponsorship from the Reilly Family Foundation, went to great efforts to energize local partners and get further "buy-in" from them. It definitely paid off. Approximately 110 individuals, consisting primarily of committed local partners along with some members of the target audience (women and significant others), gathered at the Woman's Clubhouse, which, in keeping with its history of hosting events for women regardless of income or ethnicity, offered its space at a vastly reduced rate. Representatives from local print media, including “In Register”, “The Advocate”, and “South Baton Rouge Journal”, were also present. Consistent with the theme of the launch, the Clubhouse was decorated with local Partnership banners and a large listing of committed local partners.

During the event, attendees helped themselves to a delicious lunch buffet, which included sandwiches, spreads and crackers, fruit, various desserts, and tea. Partnership materials, and samples of materials developed by Capital Area Human Services District were on display and available for individuals to pick up. As participants networked and ate, attendees discussed the materials. Responses were very positive, especially to the rack cards. In fact, partners spontaneously began talking about ways they could disseminate them to women and significant others.

The formal program began with the Executive Director of Capital Area Human Services District, Dr. Jan Kasofsky, who gave a warm welcome to the attendees. Mayor-President Bobby Simpson followed by calling attention to FASD as a priority issue for East Baton Rouge Parish. This local perspective on the effects of FASD on families was then enhanced as participants heard from a community obstetrics/gynecology practitioner, Dr. Tim Andrus. Deeply moved, the audience was then primed to hear suggestions and next steps for how their community organizations could help. To address this need, a CSAP representative spoke about how the Partnership to Prevent FASD is teaming with the community of East Baton Rouge Parish to address these issues, providing an overview of upcoming activities, and training sessions. The program concluded with Debby Cartwright, Director of Prevention and Outreach at Capital Area Human Services District, sharing how partners have been involved in the local Partnership. Debby gave ideas about how the partners can continue to play an active role and highlighted the newly developed Partnership materials.

By the end of the event, partners were more than ready to take action and were looking forward to the upcoming training sessions. Many partners began to plan specific ways to disseminate the Partnership materials to women and significant others. Proposed activities included distributing the Partnership's messages and materials through doctor's offices, clinics, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and local print and broadcast media. The local partners also plan to develop and post billboards along Interstate 10, a major Federal highway that runs through the city of Baton Rouge.