NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
National Drug Court Institute
Tribal Healing to WellnessCourt Training
Drug Endangered ChildrenGeorgia Accountability Court
State ConferenceSeptember 2016
Vanessa PriceNDCI Division Director
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
Baby Brianna
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
Department of Justice: Originally stemming from the methamphetamine crisis, this movement was initiated within
the last decade to respond to the growing phenomenon of finding children in meth labs’ homes and other areas where
they were living or playing.
What is a drug endangered child? That is a great question!
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP 4
What is a drug endangered child? The definition……
A drug endangered child is a young person under the age of 18 who lives in or is exposed to an environment where drugs, including pharmaceuticals, are present for any number of reasons, including trafficking and manufacturing of these drugs.
As a result of that exposure, these children experience or are at high risk of experiencing physical, sexual or emotional abuse, harm or neglect
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• A child located in a lab manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance
• A child who, by no choice of their own, is present during drug sales and use
• A child who is put in harms way due to the use of narcotics by those who should be responsible for them
WHAT IS A DRUG ENDANGERED CHILD
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• It’s a community strategy to break the cycle of drug abuse and violence by having law enforcement, as the usual first responder, play a greater role in intervention, prevention and treatment by identifying children, as early as possible, living in dangerous drug environments and providing them the services they so desperately need.It’s all about law enforcement (first responders) taking action with community involvement.
What is the Drug Endangered Children Program?
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Drugs present and/or accessible to child• Children being consistently exposed to users, dealers and cooks• Needles• Glass pipes, razor blades, and other paraphernalia• Accessible weapons• Booby traps• Imitating adult behaviors • Environmental dangers—lab trash and infestation
HAZARDS DUE TO LIFESTYLE
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Children of addicted parents exhibit symptoms of depression and anxiety more than do children of non-addicted families.
• Children of addicted families experience greater physical and mental health problems and welfare cost.
Impact of Addiction on Children
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Children of addicted parents have a high rate of behavioral problems.
• Children of addicted parents are at greater risk for placement outside the home.
Impact of Addiction on Children
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Chemical contamination• Fires and explosions• Firearms• Pornography• Needles• Abuse and neglect
What dangers of exposure exist?
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Diminished ability of caretakers to meet the day to day needs of children in their care because of the impact of drugs on the brain.
• Early intervention to address unmet needs in the family• Identify resources necessary for the family to get on the road to
recovery• Collaborative approach through programs like Specialty Courts
REASONS A DEC TEAM IS NECESSARY
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Law Enforcement• District Attorney - Prosecutor Assigned• Social Services - CPS Worker Assigned
Additional Recommendations• Fire/Haz-Mat• Health Services/Public Health• Medical• Code Enforcement
The DEC Response Team
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
Drug courts integrate alcohol and other drug treatment services with justice system case
processing.
Drug Court Key Component # 1
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
DECStrategy
Prosecution
Law Enforcement
Identify Others:Community
GroupsTribal
Gov’t AgenciesOrganizations
Social Services/CPS
Getting Started - Overlapping Interest
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Cross training of disciplines having the responsibility of protecting children.
• Reduce duplication of services thereby becoming more effective and efficient.
• Ensure crime reductions by having intervention and prevention programs.
• Use evidence based programs/strategies. • Start with the end in mind (comprehensive delivery of
resources and services).
The Challenge of the Future
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Drug courts provide access to a continuum of alcohol, drug, and other related treatment and rehabilitation services.
Drug Court Key Component # 4
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
Substance abuse has touched every family and circle of friends in America and causes and aggravates the nation’s most wrenching social problems -violence and property crimes, soaring health care costs, family breakup, domestic violence and child abuse, the spread of AIDS, teen pregnancy, poverty, low productivity……….
Americans, comprising only 4% of the world’s population, consume 2/3’s of the worlds illegal drugs.
Joseph A Califano, Jr., Former Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare “ HIGH SOCIETY: How Substance abuse Ravages America and What to do About it” May 2007
How Substance Abuse Ravages America
The Impact
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• School problems– delinquency– absenteeism
• Criminal behavior• Homelessness• Unemployment• Poverty• Addictions
Social and Emotional Consequences
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• Isolation• Feelings of guilt and shame• Poor peer relations• Poor anger management• Chaotic lifestyle• Attachment Disorders
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Lack of nurturing and emotional response– Developmental delays– Depression– Attachment disorders– Malnutrition and failure to thrive
• Failure to protect– Trading children for drugs– Emotional abuse– Exposure to drugs, dangerous people– Sexual abuse– Physical abuse– Disconnected smoke detectors, standing water, etc.
Ways Children are Endangered
19Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
Forging partnerships among drug courts, public agencies and community-based organizations
generates support and increases effectiveness.
Drug Court Key Component # 10
How important are partnerships in the community for your drug court?
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• The children were dealt with in the most expedient manner- Left in the home- Given to a relative- Given to a family friend
• What law enforcement stressed- Drug seizures- Lab Seizures- Money seized- Guns seized- Asset forfeitures- Arrests
What The Past Has Taught Us
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
No need to wait for injuryCare or custody relationship is enoughPermissive conductAllowing a likelihood of injury
Code of Child Endangerment
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
Four service components1. Emergency Response2. Family Maintenance3. Family Reunification4. Permanent Placement
Statement of NCSACW Consortium “Family members who have substance use disordersundermine family stability and negatively affect child safety, well-being, and psychological and emotional development”
County Child Welfare Services
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• With four million youth in the United States estimated to have experienced at least one traumatic event, childhood trauma has become a pressing public health concern
• Interpersonal events such as physical or sexual abuse, war, community violence, neglect, maltreatment, loss of a caregiver, witnessing violence or experiencing trauma vicariously; it can also result from severe or life threatening injuries, illness and accidents
Trauma Informed Care
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• 35-46 percent of adolescents report witnessing violence• Youth who have experienced trauma may be more likely to be involved
in illegal behavior for a variety of reasons, including the neurological, psychological and social effects of trauma.
• The majority of brain development is completed during the first five years of life, with the most critical development occurring within the first two years.
Trauma Informed Care
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• People who experienced trauma as children are also more likely to develop life-long psychiatric conditions, including personality disorders, conduct disorder, ADHD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Research shows that a majority of people with these histories experience school problems; school dropout and expulsion rates are as high as three times those of peers who had not experienced trauma
Trauma Informed Care
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Cross training of disciplines having the responsibility of protecting children.
• Reduce duplication of services thereby becoming more effective & efficient.
• Ensure crime reductions by having intervention & prevention programs.
• Use evidence base programs/strategies • Start with the end in mind (comprehensive delivery of resources
& services)
The Challenge of the Future
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Be specific about documentation and information you need.• Assure them you do not need interpretation of harm, just
documentation.• Let them know your criteria for substantiation.• Participate with interviews of children. • Share family background if you have it. • Share observations that may be significant: example, level of
crying and distress and parent’s attempt to comfort children.• Communicate with LE about ongoing cases or repeat referrals
that may benefit from coercive treatment.
How CPS Can Help Law Enforcement
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
CPS History Check
• Have there been prior child abuse referrals?• Is there an open dependency case?• Other families residing in the home?• Child safety information for Law Enforcement or CPS at the
scene• Law Enforcement and victim safety information
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Prosecutor should be the leader, take responsibility for the case.
• Preparation is the key to success. • But CPS must be pro-active, too.• Experienced investigator / inexperienced
prosecutors ?
Everyone Must Be Pro-Active
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• TEAM: Prosecutors and investigators both being pro-active to achieve objective (protect the child)
• Drug Courts present a multi-disciplinary team approach with early intervention and comprehensive wrap around services
Everyone Must Be Pro-Active
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• You are the eyes and ears for our office – if you can’t explain what happens, we don’t know.
• Your ability to communicate with the victim / witness is one of your most important jobs.
• Poor writing = poor results.
Writing / Communicating is Important
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Communicates the facts of the case to the DA.• Provides crucial witness information.• Report will likely be a key factor either at trial or disposition of
case.
CPS Report – Why it matters
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
•Emergency Placement•Non-Offending Parent•Relative Placement•Foster Care
Placement of DEC Children
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• The children’s needs for medical assessment, testing and on-going treatment.
• What symptoms to watch for and what to do should any be present.
• Their responsibility as temporary caregivers.• What CPS follow-up will entail.
Caregivers Need to Know
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Counseling• Parent Education• Child Care Training• Day or Residential Treatment• Random Drug Testing• Respite Care• Supervised Visitation
Family Maintenance and Reunification Services
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Chronic or abusive history of drug use• No treatment for the past three years
– Varies from state to state
• Prolonged incarceration
Denial of Family Reunification
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• VICTIM OF CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT• HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT• DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSER• LIFE-LONG HEALTH PROBLEMS• FINANCIAL DEPENDENCY• UNEMPLOYABLE• DRUG DEALER AND/OR GANG MEMBER• FUTURE FELON (CRIMINAL)• CHILD ABUSER/SEXUAL PREDATOR
The Future for a Drug Endangered Child Without Intervention May Be:
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NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
• Concentrate on the high value cases
• Fidelity to the 10 Key Components
• Ongoing judicial authority
• Interagency team approach
• Get it right the first time
Recipe for Success
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
NDCI: A Professional Services Division of NADCP
National Drug Court Institute
Tribal Healing to WellnessCourt TrainingThank You
National Drug Court Institute
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