A public health program for preventing fetal alcohol syndrome among women at risk in Montana.

A description of an ongoing program for the prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and other alcohol-related birth defects (ARBDs) is provided. The prevention program focuses on women with increased risk factors. Paraprofessionals were added to selected professional case management teams in Montana in both rural and urban settings. The pilot program is linked with existing public health programs that are in place to help decrease the mortality of infants in Montana. A quasi-experimental design is being utilized to determine the efficacy of the prevention program in reducing risk factors that lead to alcohol use during pregnancy.