Who are drug endangered children?
Iowa DEC 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.
About the Program
The Iowa Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (DEC) is an advocacy community in Iowa. DEC is driven by the need to stand up for Iowa children endangered by their parents' or caregivers' illicit drug use.
Vision
Iowa's children will grow up in drug-free homes.
Mission
To empower communities to break the cycle of drug abuse in families by providing the tools, technical assistance, and training that allow for a collaborative response that ensures the safety of children.
Iowa's Drug Endangered Children efforts are a coordinated response to the impact of parental/caregiver substance use on Iowa children. These kids 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 DEC community is a committed group of professionals from multiple disciplines. They are dedicated to finding solutions to the problems children face as the result of living with substance-misusing parents. They work to build a better world for these children.
Child Endangerment Laws
- Iowa Code Section 124.401C Manufacturing methamphetamine in Presence of Minors
- Iowa Code Section 726.6(1)(g) Child Endangerment
- Iowa Code Section 232.2(6) Child in Need of Assistance
- Iowa Code Section 232.68(f) Child Abuse
Resources
National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children
Continuing Education
Core DEC-Awareness Training and DEC Approach - Moving from Awareness to Action Training are available in Iowa. These programs were developed by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. To learn more about these free trainings, please contact Jennifer Sleiter at Jennifer.sleiter@unitypoint.org or 515.224.3300.
- IBON Provider #31, UnityPoint Health – Des Moines awards 6.0 contact hour(s) for full attendance.
- Approved for 6.0 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) hours, including 1.5 wellness hours.
- Approved for 6 hours of in-service training for foster parents.
- IBC approved for 10.5 hrs. Total/1.5 hrs. Special Population/1.5 hrs. Generic/1.5 hrs. Counseling Theories & Techniques/6.0 hrs. Alcohol & Drug