Understanding and Caring for Children With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders

Welcome to the Called to Love Podcast!

For this episode, I am joined by Sandra Flach. After adopting her youngest son in 2010, Sandra co-founded Justice For Orphans and started The Adoption & Foster Care Journey Podcast. She is dedicated to equipping foster and adoptive families. As a trauma-informed educator and certified FASCETS facilitator, she specializes in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), blending professional training with personal lived experience to provide practical, strength-based strategies for caregivers and churches.

Author of Orphans No More and Soul Care Saturday, she regularly speaks at national conferences and co-leads the Hope for the FASD Journey virtual support community. She lives in upstate New York with her husband of over 30 years, Wayne, with whom she has raised eight children—five through adoption—and remains passionate about ensuring caregivers never walk their journey alone.

In this conversation, Sandra shares her personal journey to adoption, the mistakes made along the way, and how she learned about FASD and became such an advocate. She provides valuable information – she is a wealth of knowledge! – and also provides so much hope for us.

Let’s dive in!

Key topics in this episode:

What is fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and its prevalenceThe impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on brain developmentRecognizing symptoms and behaviors associated with FASDThe importance of connection and support in parenting FASD childrenResources and training available for parents and professionalsThe role of diagnosis and how to pursue itStrategies for accommodations and loving supportHope and neuroplasticity in healing and growth

Learn more about Sandra with her website.

Check out her memoir, “Orphans No More: A Journey Back to the Father”

Check out her devotional, “Soul Care Saturday: 52 Devotions for Foster & Adoptive Moms”

To submit your prayer requests, use this form by clicking here!

You can email me your questions about adoption and foster care at somercolbert@gmail.com.