Children involved in child welfare systems frequently experience complex and overlapping biopsychosocial adversities, including neurodevelopmental impairments associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Despite evidence indicating disproportionately high rates of FASD among child welfare populations, identification and response pathways remain inconsistent, with many systems lacking structured approaches to screening, assessment, and intervention. Consequently, neurodevelopmental impairments are often misunderstood, resulting in inappropriate behavioral interpretations, ineffective interventions, placement instability, and poor long-term outcomes.

This discussion paper examines the role of neurodevelopmentally informed practice within child welfare and situates the 5-Step Neurodevelopmental Screening Pathway within a biopsychosocial framework. Developed from practitioner-generated data and frontline social work experience, the pathway offers a structured, non-diagnostic approach to information gathering, functional observation, pattern recognition, and decision-making in environments where specialist assessment is often unavailable or inaccessible. The model supports earlier recognition of neurodevelopmental vulnerability while promoting disability-informed responses that extend beyond diagnostic status alone. This paper argues that strengthening neurodevelopmental literacy within child welfare practice is both a clinical and organizational imperative. Embedding structured screening pathways into routine assessment processes may improve intervention planning, enhance interprofessional collaboration, and strengthen the capacity of child welfare agencies to fulfil their responsibilities as corporate parents. Ultimately, a proactive neurodevelopmental approach has the potential to reduce escalation into crisis services, youth justice involvement, homelessness, substance misuse, and adverse lifelong outcomes for children and young people affected by PAE and FASD.