Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the number one most preventable cause of mental retardation. The Arc of Mecklenburg County is proud to be a part of the FASD Coalition along with several other area organizations, such as Chemical Dependency Center and Substance Abuse Prevention Services.

Our prevention projects include training at-risk populations about FASD, providing educational materials to professionals about FASD, and bringing public awareness around FASD to the community through media, such as newspaper ads and billboards. We have received grant monies from the ABC Board of Mecklenburg County and the NC Healthy Start Foundation to fund these efforts. In September 2007 we also held the first FASD Conference in Charlotte featuring speakers from all over the country.