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A Six-Part Webinar Series Presented by Forward Leading Families in partnership with NTI Upstream
Drugs, Alcohol, Pregnancy & the Vulnerable Child
Children affected by prenatal substance exposure often experience lifelong developmental, behavioral, and social challenges. Families and professionals supporting them must navigate complex systems of care that touch medicine, mental health, child welfare, and education.
This six-session webinar series brings together the latest research, clinical expertise, and practical strategies to improve outcomes for mothers, infants, children, and families. Each session builds on the previous one—participants are encouraged to attend all six to gain the full continuum of understanding, from pregnancy through adolescence.
Workshop Details
Dates: Mondays: February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8, and July 13, 2026
Time: 12PM- 1:30PM
Location: Virtual (Zoom link provided after registration)
Cost: FREE for any providers located in New York State
Presenter: Ira J. Chasnoff, MD, NTI Upstream
What You'll Learn
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Session 1 — February 9, 2026
Psychosocial Risk for Pregnant and Parenting Women with a History of Substance Use
Explore how trauma and intergenerational experiences influence readiness for treatment and parenting. Learn gender-specific, trauma-informed approaches that help women engage in care and reduce stigma. -
Session 2 — March 9, 2026
Prenatal Substance Exposure: Impact on the Newborn
Understand how prenatal exposure affects the developing brain and newborn behavior. Learn how to differentiate Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) from other neurobehavioral effects and support early bonding between mother and infant. -
Session 3 — April 13, 2026
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): Understanding the Diagnoses Within the Spectrum
Recognize early signs of FASD, avoid common diagnostic errors, and connect children with effective interventions as early as possible. -
Session 4 — May 11, 2026
Marijuana Use in Pregnancy
Gain insight into the effects of marijuana on pregnancy outcomes, fetal brain development, and long-term child learning and behavior—including how paternal use may influence outcomes. - Session 5 — June 8, 2026
Behavior Belongs in the Brain: Moving Away from Blame
Shift from viewing behavior as willful to understanding it as brain-based. Learn to recognize regulatory challenges across childhood and adolescence that affect development and independence. -
Session 6 — July 13, 2026
Risk Is Not Destiny: Behavioral and Educational Interventions for Children and Teens
Translate science into practice. Discover effective behavioral and educational strategies that foster success in school and at home, and learn how to guide teens toward safe, positive choices online and in daily life.
Who Should Attend
- Health professionals in OB/GYN, pediatrics, and behavioral health
- Early-childhood and K-12 educators and support staff
- Child-welfare, foster-care, and family-court professionals
- Community-based organizations, care coordinators, and social-care providers
About the Presenter
Ira J. Chasnoff, MD, is an award-winning pediatrician, researcher, and international lecturer recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on the effects of prenatal substance exposure on child development.He is the founder and president of NTI Upstream, the only national organization devoted to translating the science of substance use in pregnancy into practical strategies for clinicians, educators, and child-welfare professionals.
Dr. Chasnoff has authored more than a dozen books and over 100 scientific papers and has trained professionals worldwide on understanding and supporting children affected by prenatal substance exposure.
