Santa Clara County Ninezero Conference Press Release (219843)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lindsay Rayburn August 21, 2007 (310) 552-4122 ALCOHOL AND PREGNANCY DO NOT MIX: CONFERENCE TACKLES LEADING CAUSE OF BIRTH DEFECTS Acclaimed Medical Expert Leads Conference Open to the Public

Santa Clara County, CA – Nearly one in 10 babies born in Santa Clara County suffer from fetal alcohol or drug exposure. To help fight this leading cause of birth defects, the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Task Force of Santa Clara County is hosting the NineZero Conference on Friday, September 7. Bringing together key community members, this conference will raise awareness for NINE months = ZERO alcohol or drugs; there is no safe amount of alcohol a pregnant woman can consume.

“At FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, it is our charge to help improve the lives of our county’s youngest children,” said NAME, TITLE. “I can’t think of a better investment than helping to ensure that our kids not only grow up healthy, but are also born healthy. FIRST 5 Santa Clara County encourages all community members to take part in building awareness about this 100 percent preventable disease.”

This event – sponsored by the FASD Task Force of Santa Clara County, VMC Foundation and FIRST 5 Santa Clara County – includes a presentation by Dr. Ira Chasnoff, internationally acclaimed FASD expert. In addition, the conference will also feature a variety of workshops providing tangible ways for the community to get involved in preventing fetal alcohol disorder.

This event is open to the public, health care and public health professionals. Members of the social service industry and community leaders are also encouraged to attend. North County Family Resource Center Opening – Page 2 This conference starts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Santa Clara Marriott, registration begins at 8 a.m.. The cost to attend is $75 per person for early birds, then $90 after Aug. 31st. Register online at www.regathon.com/ninezero or at the door. Registration costs include a continental breakfast, catered lunch and parking for the day.

For more information on FIRST 5 Santa Clara County and its programs, please call (408) 260- 3700 or visit www.first5kids.org. For more information about the conference, call Nancy Bain at (408) 272-6565 or Jennifer Emery at (408) 281-6570. If you would like to contact the FASD Task Force of Santa Clara County, call Raj Gill at 1-(800) 310-2332.

About FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years and what parents and caregivers do during these years to support their child’s growth will have a meaningful impact throughout life. Based on this research, California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998, adding a 50 cents tax on tobacco products to support programs for expectant parents and children ages 0 to 5. In Fiscal Year 2006-07, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County will distribute approximately $31 million in Prop. 10 revenues to programs and services that meet local needs. ###