We recommend LDATs support communities to deliver existing, evidence-informed alcohol and pregnancy programs in their community.
A number of evidence-informed projects exist in Australia. These include:
A number of other awareness raising initiatives and education activities focused on reducing alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and ideally abstaining from alcohol consumption, are delivered across Australia, including online learning packages, face-to-face training, workshops, seminars and conferences. Many focus specifically on preventing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
LDATs can contact the following two reputable organisations to explore their current training opportunities and whether they are relevant and available to deliver in their community:
We recommend LDATs link community organisations with existing, evidence-informed alcohol and pregnancy activities. Be mindful that the way that activities are delivered has an impact on desired outcomes – see Critical considerations for the delivery of alcohol and pregnancy activities.
Review section below Determine resources required and Map your steps for insight into what is required when supporting communities to develop alcohol and pregnancy activities.
Delivering evidence-informed activities is complex and challenging. The quality of the delivery has an impact on desired outcomes, meaning that activities, even effective ones, may not produce the desired effects for parents and children. Therefore, attention to how activities are delivered or implemented is as important to child, parent and community outcomes as what is delivered.
It is important that activities to support women to abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy are:
Some factors that contribute to alcohol consumption include:
Your group may decide to select one or a combination of these factors to address in your efforts to support community members to abstain from alcohol consumption during pregnancy in your community. These factors may help you define the objectives of your activities and guide you in your decision making about partnerships and resources.
Setting objectives for your Community Action Plan activity is an important part of the planning process.
Communities that are delivering existing activities such as Pregnant Pause can use and/or adapt the objectives already established for these activities. Some example objectives for alcohol and pregnancy activities are provided below. Groups can develop their own objectives, although you may find these a useful starting point.
Over the next six months, work with (xx number) key partners of the (xx name) community to:
Strong partnerships are critical to your success in preventing alcohol and other drug harms in the community.
LDATs will work with a variety of different community partners to deliver alcohol and pregnancy activities, such as health care services and organisations that work directly with pregnant women and their partners, and people undergoing family planning. You may also choose to work directly with service providers to facilitate referral pathways for pregnant women who want to discuss or engage with treatment for alcohol issues.
LDAT partners can support alcohol and pregnancy activities in many different ways, including delivering activities, promoting activities, recruiting participants, providing expert trainers, financial support, and much more.
The specific activities being delivered may influence the type of individuals, networks and organisations that your group partners with.
Partners may include:
All Alcohol and Pregnancy activities need to be adequately resourced. Below is an indicative list of resources required for community organisations to effectively deliver alcohol and pregnancy activities. LDATs may be able to support community organisations by providing some of these resources or linking them to other partners who can provide additional support.
Resources:
While you are planning your activity, it is important to consider measures of success for your activity. Determine how you will evaluate the success of your program linking your success measures to your objectives (see Measuring success).