Pubdate: Mon, 29 Aug 2005
Source: Stevens Point Journal (WI)
Copyright: 2005 The Stevens Point Journal
Contact: 
http://www.wisinfo.com/journal/contactus/readerservices/letter_to_editor.shtml
Website: http://www.wisinfo.com/journal/index.shtml
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2517
Author: Jessica Bock
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON KIDS ENDANGERED BY DRUGS

Children endangered by adults who use or keep drugs in their homes will be 
the focus of a conference today and Tuesday in Wausau for investigators, 
emergency responders, child protection workers and others.

The conference, held at the Plaza Hotel and Suites, will educate 
participants on the devastating effects of drugs on children, and encourage 
the community to collaborate on efforts to help kids in dangerous homes.

The National Drug Endangered Children Alliance is an initiative by the 
federal government that involves different groups in the community working 
together to help children living in drug environments.

Marathon County Sheriff's Capt. Tom Kujawa is leading the effort to begin a 
program here for drug-endangered children. So far, 11 counties in Wisconsin 
are working to obtain resources and start drug-endangered children 
programs, said Cindy Giese, the special agent with the Wisconsin Department 
of Justice who is in charge of the Wisconsin Methamphetamine Initiative.

"It's all a work in progress," Giese said.

About 300 people from across the state are expected to attend the 
conference, one of two this year in Wisconsin. The other was held in May in 
Chippewa Falls.

Children living in a house where methamphetamine is manufactured are 
exposed to chemicals that are so hazardous that everything in their home 
must be considered contaminated.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman