Drug Affected Children


Meet a Champ: Watch the story of a young teenager who was prenatally exposed to drugs.

Thinking of fostering or adopting? Many children in foster care were prenatally exposed to drugs and alcohol. To prepare for parenting them, it is important to become familiar with some of the challenges they may face.

Drug affected children can come home with diagnosed or undiagnosed SPD, ADHD, ODD and a host of other acronyms. They may need SLT, EI, OT, PT or VT. Those who were exposed to alcohol may suffer from FAS or FAE. When a child reaches school age, he or she may struggle with learning and need a 504 or IEP plan in order to reach his or her full potential.

Looking up this alphabet soup of acronyms and learning what they mean before a baby or child comes home is an important step in getting off to a good start in parenting a new son or daughter.


Drug affected children can come home with diagnosed or
undiagnosed SPD, ADHD, ODD and a host of other acronyms.


It is also helpful to talk with others who have fostered or adopted and attend information sessions through Boys & Girls Aid.  Reading articles by experts and finding out what other parents who have adopted a drug affected child have to say is another way for parents to prepare for bringing a new child home. In other words, begin building a “village” to raise your child in, as Liz Lian encouraged parents to do in her 2016 TedX Talk.

The needs of babies and children exposed to drugs can seem overwhelming, but that does not have to be a barrier to adopting or fostering. Those who are willing to educate themselves will find that there are many resources available to help them meet their child’s needs.

For those who are up for the challenge, adopting or fostering children who suffered prenatal exposure to drugs can be a great fit–-for both parent and child.

To learn more visit The Drug Affected Children Website

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