Specific facial anomalies include smooth philtrum, thin upper lip, and small eye openings. A trained physician must diagnose FAS and ideally, input and testing by several specialists will be obtained to enhance the diagnosis.

For a visual description, we recommend that you go to the Unversity of Washington, Seattle - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Diagnostic & Prevention Network. [Learn More]

Specific behavioral signs and symptoms include:

• neurological problems: perceptual and motor abnormalities
• behavioral impairments: hyperactivity and poor impulse control
• language disabilities
• other behavioral manifestations: social inappropriateness, persistent temper tantrums, fearlessness, poor response inhibition, processing deficits, short-term memory loss, sensory hypersensitivity.

For a comprehensive list and to see “FASD Signs and Symptoms throughout the Lifespan” visit:[Learn More]

For a video testimonial from a parent, we recommend that you go to:[Learn More]

A list of specific locations throughout South Dakota for diagnosis.

• * USD Sanford School of Medicine Center for Disabilities
  803 Soo San Drive
  Rapid City, SD 57702
  Contact Person: Jessica Wuertzer
  Telephone: (605) 721-3840
  Email: wuertzer@rushmore.com
  www.usd.edu/cd


• * USD Sanford School of Medicine Center for Disabilities NOFAS-SD
  1400 W. 22nd St.
  Sioux Falls, SD 57105
  Contact: Judy Struck at cd@usd.edu ;
  Telephone: (605) 357-1439 or 1-800-658-3080
  www.usd.edu/cd


• * Sanford Children’s Specialty Clinic
  1600 W. 22nd St.
  P.O. Box 5039
  Sioux Falls, SD 57117-5039
  Contact: H. Eugene Hoyme, MD, Clinical Geneticist or Laura Davis-Keppen, MD, Clinical Geneticist
  Telephone: (605) 312-1000 or 1-800-850-0064
  Fax: (605) 312-1001
  Clinic Sites: Sioux Falls, Pierre, Watertown, Rapid City and Aberdeen
  www.sanfordhealth.org/CentersofExcellence/

• Social Security Administration - oversees two disability programs. Understanding each program will better equip one to obtain the benefits the applicant may be entitled to receive.
• Third Party Reimbursement - please check with your personal health insurance carrier for coverage.
• South Dakota Department of Education - please ask your school administrator about funding assistance for school age child.
• South Dakota Juvenile Justice System - please check for possible funding if a minor is involved in the justice system.

• * South Dakota State FASD Coordinator
  Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse
  E. Hwy 34, Hillsview Plaza
  Pierre, SD 57501
  Contact: Gilbert Gib Sudbeck at gib.sudbeck@state.sd.us


• South Dakota Advocacy Services
  SD Advocacy Services
  221 South Central Ave.
  Pierre, SD 57501
  Contact: (605) 224-8294, In-state only:(800) 658-4782
  Field offices located in Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Yankton
  www.sdadvocacy.com


• * Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board- FASD Prevention Project
  1770 Rand Road
  Rapid City, SD 57702
  Contact: Ben Geary at fasdcoordinator@aatchb.org
  Phone: (605) 721-1922 ext. 37


• Community Health Center of the Black Hills, Inc.
  725 Meade St.
  Rapid City, SD 57701
  Contact: (605) 721-8939
  Dr. Amanda Diehl, Pediatrician
  Ms. Shiela Szymenski, Nurse Practitioner
  


• Children’s Care Rapid City
  7110 Jordan Drive
  Rapid City, SD 57701
  Contact: (605) 342-4412
  Ms. Kathy Mays, Clinic Director
  


• Newell Regional Medical Clinic
  101 E. 3rd Street
  Newell, SD 57760
  Contact: (605) 210-0827
  Ms. Ann Hodgman, Certified Nurse Practitioner
  


• Western South Dakota Juvenile Services Center
  3505 Cambell Street
  Rapid City, SD 57701
  Contact: (605) 394-2639
  Ms. Laura McMillan, Registered Nurse
  

• Behavior Management Systems
  Full Circle
  350 Elk Street
  Rapid City, SD 57701
  Phone: 605-343-7262 or 1-800-299-6023
  www.behaviormanagement.org


• Volunteers of America - Dakotas
  New Start and New Start II
  1309 West 51st Street
  PO Box 89306
  Sioux Falls, SD 57109
  Phone: 605-334-1414 or 1-800-365-8336
  www.voa-dakotas.org

Early intervention services have proven to improve child’s development even though there is no cure for FASD.

• Birth to 3 Connections of South Dakota participates in a federal program called the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C). The state of South Dakota is committed to providing services to young children and their families. Besides the information found here, clicking on the SERVICE COORDINATOR MAP will identify all state providers and their contact information.

• Early Head Start program is for low-income infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families. Early Head Start programs enhance children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development. Click here to learn more of the South Dakota Early Head Start programs.

• Northern Plains Healthy Start is committed to the mission of promoting healthy families and improving birth outcomes for Native American women by providing Targeted Case Management Services (TCM). TCM services are a culturally relevant program, which empowers individuals to make better health care choices. Services are planned and coordinated through needs assessments, case service planning, referrals and assessing community services, advocating for women and children, and monitoring progress and outcomes. Northern Plains Healthy Start and the TCM program is a holistic approach respecting the importance of family, extended family, physical, emotional, psycho-social and spiritual health and the continued support for Indian family values.

• South Dakota’s Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) Programs promote the health, safety and development of young children in early childhood programs. ECE provides ongoing training and technical assistance to adults who are involved in day-to-day care of young children. Early detection, intervention and prevention services are provided to children in early childhood programs to promote healthy” children.

• Women, Infants and Children, (WIC) is a special supplemental nutrition program for eligible women, infants and children.WIC’s goal is to promote and maintain the health and well-being of nutritionally at-risk women, infants and young children. It provides: nutrition education, breast feeding support, healthy foods based on individual needs, and referrals to health care providers. The Department of Health delivers public health services through a network of regional and county offices. The department also contracts with private health care providers to deliver some services.

Behavior, education and mental health therapy are crucial components in helping individuals with FASD develop healthy coping and living skills. It also provides caretakers and service providers with effective strategies and a better understanding of FASD.

• Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health – A list of Community Mental Health Centers to ensure children and adults with mental health disorders in our communities have the opportunity to choose and receive effective services needed to promote resilience and recovery.

• * USD Sanford School of Medicine Center for Disabilities-NOFAS-SD – Provides on-site technical assistance and training for families, schools and agencies that involve with individuals with FASD.

• * Behavior Management Systems – Provides education, supportive discussions and training for parents and caregivers as well as behavior therapy for children with FASD. To register or make a referral, please contact Susan Lorenzen at 605-343-7262.

With parent support and training services, caregivers and families affected by FASD are able to create a network of support, learn useful information and share personal experiences. Helping parents turn despair to hope.

• * Roots To Wings – parent assistance & support group - Provides parent and family support services including mentoring, respite, education, advocacy. Support group meets the second Tuesday of each month at General Beadle Elementary School,Rapid City, SD at 5:45pm.
  Contact Person: Nora Boesem fasdmomma@yahoo.com; (605) 431-8492

• * NOFAS-SD-FASD Family Network – connects families to pre-existing FASD support groups in their area or assists people in developing a new FASD group in their area. The network also disseminates information and resources on FASD and provide training and technical assistance to families and caregivers

For people who have an FASD, housing and vocational assistance may help to ease the process of transitioning to adulthood and independent living.

• SD Division of Vocational Rehabilitation – Vocational Rehabilitation is a statewide program that provides individualized vocational rehabilitation and supportive services to assist eligible individuals with disabilities to get and keep jobs.

• SD Division of Developmental Disabilities – Community Support Providers offer services which may include residential, vocational, service coordination, and nursing care. Community Support Providers provide residential options for people, such as group homes and supervised apartments. Community living training and residential expanded follow-along are also provided for those who are living on their own or are working toward that goal. Vocational opportunities may include working in the agency workshop, job coaching and pre-vocational training for participants looking for community jobs and vocational expanded follow-along for those working in the community. There are statewide offices and sub-offices.

A person who has an FASD faces numerous challenges throughout his/her lifespan. Support resources such as advocacy, financial assistance and respite care are important in helping him/her overcome some of the challenges.

• Children’s Care – Pursues excellence in family-centered services for children with special health care and education needs. Provide a comprehensive set of services that bridge the medical, behavioral, rehabilitation and educational demands of children with a wide variety of special needs. Services are not limited to children. Services provided throughout the state with office locations in Rapid City and Sioux Falls.

• South Dakota Advocacy Services – To protect and advocate the rights of South Dakotans with disabilities through legal, administrative, and other remedies. South Dakota Advocacy Services is part of the South Dakota Developmental Disabilities Network. Main office in Pierre, field offices located in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, and Yankton.

• South Dakota Parent Connection – To connect families caring for children (birth to 26) with the full range of disabilities or special health care needs to information, training and resources in an environment of support, hope and respect.

• South Dakota Division of Developmental Disabilities – Family Support 360 – Family Support 360 serves people with developmental disabilities. This program assists participants and their families to get the services they need to live as independently as possible in the community. The Statewide Family Support Program is designed to assist families who have a child with a developmental disability, age birth to 22. A flexible pool of limited funds is available for eligible families, regardless of income, to use to purchase services or supports that otherwise are not available.

• South Dakota Division of Developmental Disabilities – Respite Care Program – Provides funding to eligible families to receive funding for respite care.