The Iowa Alliance for Drug Endangered Children defines drug endangered children as children who are at risk of suffering physical harm or neglect as a result of illegal drug use, possession, manufacturing, cultivation or distribution.
They may also be children whose caretakers' substance misuse interferes with his or her ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing environment.
Iowa's drug endangered children efforts are a coordinated response to the impact of parental/caregiver substance abuse on Iowa children, who are often found to be living in deplorable conditions; neglected and suffering. Iowa professionals are coming together as teams to provide immediate intervention and follow-up care for these children.
The Iowa Drug Endangered Children web site reflects an advocacy community in Iowa driven by the need to stand up for Iowa children endangered by their parents or caregivers illicit drug use. The Iowa DEC community, like similar collaborative efforts in other states, is a committed group of professionals from multiple disciplines dedicated to finding solutions to the problems children face as the result of living with substance abusing parents, and to build a better world for these children.
It's all about children-- and the impact of parental drug abuse.
Iowa Alliance Vision
Iowa’s Children will grow-up in drug free homes.
Iowa Alliance Mission
To empower communities to break the cycle of drug abuse in families by providing the tools, technical assistance and training that allows for a collaborative response that ensures the safety of children.
REGISTER NOW! The 2012 Iowa DEC Conference will be held on Monday, March 26 at the Meadows Conference and Events Center in Altoona, IA. Check out the Iowa DEC Conference page for more information and to register.
Coming to Iowa next October - The 9th Annual National Drug Endangered Children Conference. The National Conference will be held October 23-25, 2012, at the Marriott Downtown Des Moines.
Core DEC Community Awareness Training
The Core DEC Training, which was developed by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children is now available in Iowa. There is a 90 minute version that is appropriate for anyone interested in learning more about how communities can respond to drug endangered children, as well as a more intensive training for those who work with these children and their families. There are several in Iowa who have become certified to conduct this program. To learn more about the training or for a list of certified trainers, please contact Becky Swift at 515-725-0301 or becky.swift@iowa.gov.
"Friend" the Iowa Alliance on Facebook!
Updated 1/27/12
