Project CARE: Cease Alcohol Related Exposure

Prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading cause of mental retardation and there is no known safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse funded PHFE WIC and UCLA to conduct a five-year randomized controlled study on prenatal alcohol screening protocols and brief intervention techniques. The study, named Project CARE (Cease Alcohol Related Exposure) demonstrated significant increases in the detection and prevention of prenatal alcohol use through the use of Brief Intervention strategies with prenatal women during the WIC visit. The study also showed that women receiving the brief intervention and screening protocols had healthier birth outcomes. At the conclusion of the study, PHFE implemented the protocols and brief intervention techniques in all 60 of its WIC sites. Nationally, three State WIC Programs have adopted the prenatal alcohol protocols and brief intervention techniques. Our hope is that more WIC programs utilize these evidence-based materials during their appointments with prenatal women. The Brief Intervention Health and Behavior Workbooks are available on this website in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. The Prenatal Nutrition Questions (self-completed questionnaires with revised alcohol screening questions used at PHFE WIC enrollment with all pregnant women) are also available on this website in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean and Armenian. For more information on Project CARE, please contact projects@phfewic.org.