IOWA DEC PROGRAMS
The number of Iowa communities implementing DEC Programs is growing. Currently, the following communities have formed multi-disciplinary alliances for the benefit of drug-exposed children. Appanoose County DEC Boone County DEC Buena Vista County DEC Cherokee County DEC Clay County DEC Clinton County DEC Dubuque County DEC Des Moines County DEC Fremont County DEC Diane Wyckoff, St. Lukes Child Protection Center Advisory Council Marshall County DEC Stephanie Whitmore, Child Abuse Prevention Services Mills County DEC Polk County DEC Pottawattamie County DEC Story County DEC Wapello County DEC (Community Task Force for Drug Endangered Children) Woodbury County DEC
Robert Bozwell, Appanoose County Attorney
Julie Nash, Boone County DECAT and Empowerment
Sally Bonnensen, BV County Public Health and Homecare
Nola Aalbert, Northwest Iowa Community Empowerment
Barbara Wilkerson, Child Health Specialty Clinics
Kristin Huisenga, Clinton Substance Abuse Council
Sgt. Bob Lynn, Dubuque Drug Task Force
Pat Jackson, Des Moines County Attorney
Margaret Johnson, Fremont County Attorney
Linn County DEC
Sheriff Donald Zeller, Linn County Sheriff
Jana Enfield, Child Abuse Prevention Services
Helen Travis, Iowa Department of Human Services
Steve Palmer, Polk County Attorney Investigator
Jackie Richert, Iowa Department of Human Services
Dawn Landon, Pottawattamie County Attorney's Office
Jeff Dodds, Story County Sheriff's Office
Kathy Hasley, Ottumwa Substance Abuse Task Force
Barb Small, Woodbury County DEC Team
In the years 2002, 2003 and 2004, 982 Iowa children were discovered to be residing in meth labs, where their parents were involved in manufacturing methamphetamine. Data collected by the Iowa Department of Human Services indicates that from the year 2002 to 2003 the number of Iowa children that were confirmed abused on the basis of drug-exposure nearly tripled. As Iowa policymakers seek to find solutions to this disturbing trend, the numbers continue to rise.
Methamphetamine manufactured locally in clandestine meth labs represents only a small portion of the met problem in Iowa. Large quantities of meth are imported into the state, and other controlled substances, such as cocaine and heroin, continue to ravage the lives and families of users. A criminal justice system over-burdened with a disturbing rate of drug convictions coupled with a dramatically rising number of terminations of parental rights in which the underlying problem is substance abuse makes a compelling case for a strong response to the problem of drug addiction in Iowa.
The Iowa Drug Endangered Children initiative recognizes that children are often the innocent victims when their parents are involved in drug manufacturing and use, and that intervention is needed to assure safety and health for these children. The Iowa Drug Endangered Children Program (DEC) was established in 2004 and is administered by Director Gary Kendell of the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy in collaboration with Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.
The Iowa DEC program proposes to establish Best Practices in the State of Iowa to assist local communities in their efforts to address the growing problem of vulnerable children and their exposure to toxic chemicals and illicit substances. The program emphasizes strong multi-disciplinary collaboration in the provision of treatment services and medical intervention, and further strives to track the health outcomes and long-term safety of children exposed to drugs. With the strong bipartisan support and leadership of Senator Charles Grassley and Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, communities throughout Iowa have begun to form multi-disciplinary response teams to address the safety, medical and psychological needs of these innocent children.
Iowa DEC Poster
The Iowa DEC poster was developed through generous support and funding of the Polk County Sheriff, the Polk County Attorney, the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Blank Children's Hospital and other partners. The poster is available through the Iowa DEC Coordinator at (515) 281-5428.
