Local DEC Alliances
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 Wendy Thompson, Appanoose Co. DHS Buena Vista County DEC Melissa Patten, Boys and Girls Home of Sioux City Alisa Dixson, Cherokee County DHS Stephanie Mesner, Child Health Specialty Clinics 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 Story County DEC Wright County DEC
Bill Knight, Centerville Police Department
Boone County DEC
Kelly Wooden, Boone County SAFE
Sally Bonnensen, BV County Public Health and Homecare
Cherokee County DEC
Nola Aalbert, Northwest Iowa Community Empowerment
Clay County DEC
Barbara Wilkerson, Child Health Specialty Clinics
Clinton County DEC
Kristin Huisenga, Clinton Substance Abuse Council
Chris Corken, Dubuque County Attorney's Office
Sgt. Dale Snyder, Dubuque Co. Drug Task Force
Pat Jackson, Des Moines County Attorney
Margaret Johnson, Fremont County Attorney
Jasper County DEC
Eric Nation, Jasper County Sheriff's Office
Linn County DEC
Sheriff Donald Zeller, Linn County Sheriff
Jana Enfield, Child Abuse Prevention Services
Anne Matthai, Mills County DHS
Polk County DEC
Steve Palmer, Polk County Attorney Investigator
Jennifer Sleiter, Regional Child Protection Center at Blank Children's Hospital
Pottawattamie County DEC
Jackie Richert, Pottawattamie DHS
Dawn Landon, Pottawattamie County Attorney's Office
Rod Bunn, Story County Sheriff's Office
Stacy Pratt, Story County DHS
Wapello County DEC (Community Task Force for Drug Endangered Children)
Kathy Hasley, Ottumwa Substance Abuse Task Force
Kaye Grossnickle, Child Health Specialty Clinics
Woodbury County DEC
Barb Small, Woodbury County DEC Team
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.
Methamphetamine manufactured locally in clandestine meth labs represents only a small portion of drug problem in Iowa. Large quantities of meth are imported into the state, and other controlled substances, such as cocaine, marijuana,and heroin, continue to ravage the lives and families of users. Additionally, the abuse of prescription drugs continues to rise, negatively impacting Iowa families.
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 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. 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.
With the strong bipartisan support and leadership of Senator Charles Grassley , Senator Tom Harkin and Representative Leonard Boswell of Iowa, communities throughout Iowa are forming multi-disciplinary response teams to address the safety, medical and psychological needs of these innocent children.
Limited quantities of this poster are still available. Please contact Becky Swift at 515-281-5593 or becky.swift@iowa.gov if you would like a copy.
