International Praise for Guided Growth
Guided Growth reminds us of the importance of connecting with our students and building a foundation of trust. The interventions provided are exactly what we need to support students, get them ready to learn, and help them build resiliency.
–Justi Glaros, Supervisor of Curriculum, Instructional & Assessment, Sharon City School District, Sharon, PA
Dr. Chasnoff’s and Dr. Powell’s developmental approach to the challenges of children and youth affected by prenatal substance exposure and early trauma is a much-needed guide to navigate through the tasks of understanding risk and resiliency for these children, their parents, and their teachers. This book should be read by every teacher in America.
–Sid Gardner, President, Children and Family Futures, CA
“As the parent of children with FASD, I find there is a real shortage of books that explain the roots of behavioural difficulties stemming from prenatal alcohol exposure and early trauma. Guided Growth does this admirably. The book guides the reader in an easy manner, explaining learning difficulties and behavioural challenges which result when brain development has been negatively impacted by prenatal exposure to alcohol or trauma during the early years. Real life classroom situations, where complex and subtle learning difficulties and often misunderstood behaviours impact the child’s learning, are explained. Bringing together a wealth of expert knowledge, this book provides step by step guidance in assisting the child learn and manage behaviours in class. A procedure to proactively enhance classroom learning and reduce behavioural difficulties is explained. Teachers will gain insight, knowledge and skills from this book that will be wide-reaching, assisting children with FASD and Early Years Trauma and beneficial to all children in a learning environment. This book is also recommended for parents along with professional staff involved in education: classroom support, special needs staff, educational psychologists and social work support staff will gain knowledge and advice from this book to assist them in understanding and facilitate working proactively with children and teens who have an FASD or who experienced early years’ trauma.”
– Eileen Calder, BA, BSC, CEO, FASD Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland
Fetal exposure to noxious substances and early postnatal traumatic experiences have long-lasting effects on the growth and development of children and, ultimately, their ability to learn and be productive members of society. Early interventions are paramount in this regard, especially for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, which often are not identified until early school age. Guided Growth displays the authors’ deep understanding of brain development and the interventions needed to teach and guide children affected by substance exposure and early traumatic experiences. This wonderful book should be read by parents, teachers, psychologists, and medical and nursing professionals alike, as it demonstrates and outlines strategies to improve the outcomes and lives of children and families affected by substance abuse and trauma.
– Stefan Maxwell, MD, Prof. Pediatrics, WVU School of Medicine, Charleston, West Virginia
Guided Growth is a valuable resource and guide for anyone who works with children. The information on research and practice was up to date, clear and easy to follow, which is vital given the complex topic it addresses. As an Education Consultant, I will not only be referring this book to the districts and schools that I work with, but I will also use the information to inform my work around trauma and substance misuse.
– Bianca Irizarry, State Education Resource Center, CT
Guided Growth builds hope by providing a blueprint to work with children and youth with FASD and trauma who continuously fall through the gaps of our child welfare system. One of my favorite lines, among many, is “It is much easier to change the classroom environment than change the child.” The book provides easy-to-understand interventions utilizing evidence-based research and case scenarios. It is a game-changer and an essential read for anyone working in the child welfare, educational, or any other system that touches the lives of children and families.
– Leanna Luka-Conley, Deputy Commissioner of Adult, Children and Family Services Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, Chautauqua County, New York
Guided Growth bridges the gap between research and practice in an elegant, practical, and effective way. As a clinical psychologist working with children, adolescents, and families affected by prenatal substance exposure, I found the interventions in this book realistic, practical and research-based while considering ecological and cultural factors at the same time. Through very helpful case studies, the book reinforces the concepts along with excellent visual displays of scientific information. The behavioral strategies portrayed in the book are best practices and can be implemented by anyone, giving them excellent clinical utility. The educational interventions focus on classroom environment and empower children and parents by bridging the home and school. This is one of the best books I have ever read about FASD and practical behavioral and educational interventions!!
– Gokce Ergun, PhD, School of Professional Psychology, Wright State, University Dayton, Ohio
When parents and educators go through ongoing complex struggles with children, they may feel exhausted and desperate. Guided Growth infuses new energy, inspires hope, advances understanding, and provides practical strategies for addressing the everyday difficulties that occur at home and in the classroom when living and working with children who have experienced developmental trauma and exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. Guided Growth will give comfort and confidence to parents and teachers as they help children and enhance children’s trust in the caring adults in their lives.
– Sharona Duchne, Adoption & Foster Wisdom, Academy for Parents & Professionals, Jerusalem, Israel
As a parent of a child with FASD and chief program officer for a clinic serving this population, Guided Growth is invaluable! A resource addressing both FASD and early trauma, so often co-existing, has been much needed in the field. Dr. Chasnoff’s and Dr. Powell’s wealth of knowledge and expertise, real-life examples, and user-friendly strategies make this the “go-to” guide and necessary reading for parents and educators alike!
– Sharona Duchne, Adoption & Foster Wisdom, Academy for Parents & Professionals, Jerusalem, Israel
Guided Growth brings into focus the damage done to the fetus when exposed to alcohol and other drugs, providing a road map for collaboration between parents, health care agencies, and school systems. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in children’s development and behavioral health.
– Tariq M. Khan, MD, FAAP, Jamestown, New York
Guided Growth is a must-read for teachers, counselors, and for parents who are raising a challenged child. The book is enlightening, empowering and encouraging. It is easy to “give up” on children with learning and behavioral challenges, or further frustrate them to the point of giving up on themselves. In this book, Ira Chasnoff and Ron Powell expertly bridge the gap from research to reality, providing strategies to help children with emotional dysregulation who so often disrupt classroom learning. Guided Growth enables us to think proactively, intervene strategically and help complex children succeed not only in learning, but in developing the self-worth essential for fulfillment in life.
– Marian Sokol, PhD, Executive Director, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas, San Antonio, Texas
Guided Growth is grounded in science and translated into clear and practical guidance for parents, teachers, and clinicians who work with children affected by prenatal alcohol and drug exposure and whose lives have been complicated further by early childhood trauma. This book will have a significant impact on how we educate a very high-risk population of children and how we provide support to their families.
– Kristin Gist, PhD, Sr. Director, Developmental Services, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, California
Children who have been prenatally exposed to drugs and alcohol have complex needs that may require them to become involved in various systems. Some of these families become engaged in the child welfare, public health and court systems. As someone who has worked in the child welfare field and court system, a successful approach to meeting the needs of these families requires all of these systems to work collaboratively together. This book brings these perspectives together to create solution-based approaches to ensure the best outcomes for children and families.
– Kathy Thompson, Iowa Children’s Justice, Des Moines, Iowa
Guided Growth shares profound messages with such clarity that all readers will gain both the tools needed, and the motivation to use them in order to improve the learning needs of children impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. If you love children and want them to make the world a better place, you’ll want to read this book.
– Sherrell Holthouser, RN, MPH, Anchorage, Alaska
High praise for the authors of Guided Growth who have done nothing short of an amazing job in bridging research and actual case scenarios to produce solid information and successful strategies and tools for clinical practitioners, teachers, and parents seeking to understand and find success in working with children impacted by prenatal alcohol and drug exposure as well as adverse childhood experiences. Guided Growth strategies provide the reader with both a vision and a clear path to create the hopeful possibilities and optimum opportunities that we seek for all children.
– Deborah L. Frazier, CEO, National Healthy Start Association