Neurocognitive Habilitation therapy
Evidence based treatment for FASD's in Chicago
From 2001-2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded CRT to
develop and evaluate a Neurocognitive Habilitation Project, involving the
identification and assessment of children ages 6-12 with FAS or ARND. CRT
clinicians created a group therapy curriculum for the children and their
parents designed to educate them about FASD’s and give them strategies for
managing the neurodevelopmental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure, with a
focus on learning techniques for self-regulation. This curriculum is based on
the Alert ProgramTM developed by occupational therapists, Mary Sue Williams
and Sherry Shellenberger.
Research Team:
Principal Investigator ~ Ira Chasnoff, M.D.
Project Director ~ Greg Bailey, Ph.D.
Therapists ~ Greg Bailey, Ph.D., Julia Das, M.A., Amy Groessl, LCSW, Stephanie
Hart, M.A., Camilla Head, B.A., Dafna Lender, LCSW, Kim Lewis, M.A., Chris
Payne, M.A., George Sachs, M.A., Christine Schmidt, Psy.D., Lindsay Smith
Bailey, M.S., Crystal Sullivan, B.A., Erin Telford, Psy.D.
Statistician ~ Anne Wells, Ph.D.
Research Assistant/Interns ~ Cheri Guerrero, Barbara Jandasek, M.A., Samantha
McCurties, Djuro Petkovic
Neurocognitive Habilitation therapy replication study
Our research team is currently in the second year of a replication project
funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: the Neurocognitive
Habilitation Project. As part of this project, we are conducting a group
therapy intervention for children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in the
Champaign-Urbana area of Illinois. The group is open to foster and adopted
children ages 6 to 12 who live in the Champaign-Urbana area who were
prenatally exposed to alcohol. We are using a revised curriculum based on the
one we used in the initial study. Our focus continues to be on helping
children learn self-regulation skills. Parents learn about FASDs and how best
to help their children compensate for their weaknesses.
Research Team:
Principal Investigator ~ Ira Chasnoff, M.D.
Co-Principal Investigator ~ Linda Meyer, Ph.D.
Project Director ~ Anne Wells, Ph.D.
Training Director, Curriculum Revision Chair ~ Erin Telford, Psy.D.
Trainers ~ Greg Bailey, Ph.D., Lindsay Bailey, M.S., Amy Groessl, LCSW,
Christine Schmidt, Psy.D.
Therapists in Champaign-Urbana ~ Colleen Berman, MSW, Lorraine Crummy, MSW,
Jane Freyfogle, LCSW, Vernessa Gipson, MSW, Amber Warner, MSW
Research Assistant in Champaign ~ Ava Wolf, Ph.D.
Research Assistant/Interns ~ Courtney Lawhn, Christy McCuen
