|
UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. talks with Associate Dean and
Director of UK Cooperative Extension Larry Turner after the announcement of
the Drug Endangered Children Alliance.
“Through
this partnership, this group of dedicated individuals focusing on community
health and safety will build the capacity for Kentucky’s drug-endangered
children to be identified and protected.”
Lee T. Todd Jr.,
UK President
|
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 15, 2004) − Clandestine drug labs are
a significant and growing problem in Kentucky. Many labs used to manufacture
methamphetamine are inside homes, exposing children living there at risk.
An alliance, announced today by University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd
Jr., will provide the tools needed to identify these at-risk children and to
provide health care and developmental assistance.
Kentucky’s Alliance for Drug Endangered Children is a collaborative effort of
UK’s College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service’s Health Education
through Extension Leadership (HEEL), College of Medicine, College of Social
Work, College of Public Health, College of Law, and College of Pharmacy, and
College of Dentistry in partnership with many agencies across the state.
“The alliance exemplifies our continued commitment to make Kentucky healthier by
forging partnerships that ensure the best information is available to all,” Todd
said. “Through this partnership, this group of dedicated individuals focusing on
community health and safety will build the capacity for Kentucky’s
drug-endangered children to be identified and protected.”
According to Kentucky State Police statistics through Dec. 6 of this year, 66
children have been found living in one of the 515 meth labs discovered in
Kentucky. It is believed that for every lab found, 10 to 15 labs are
undiscovered.
“The drug-endangered child initiative is unique in its focus on children’s
health issues,” said Holly Hopper, alliance chair and HEEL Extension associate
for health. “The ability of professionals to treat these issues is only as good
as the information we provide those charged with their care.”
Four training sessions will be conducted by national experts, including the
author of the national medical protocol for drug-endangered children, a
prosecutor, law enforcement officer, developmental specialist, and
drug-endangered child investigator. The training will educate 1,200 law
enforcement, social workers, health care providers, emergency responders, family
resource center employees, victim’s advocates, community mental health care
providers, prosecutors and community coalition members.
Educational resource materials will be provided by the HEEL program to educate
communities on meth-identification on farms and in homes. In-state resources
will also be shared including recommended practices for Children’s Emergency
Medical Service by Kentucky Board of EMS/Children’s EMS, dental screening by UK
Pediatric Dentistry, and Kentucky protocol for social workers.
Training is possible through a U.S. Office of Victims of Crime, COPS grant that
supports the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. The Division of
Adult and Child Health Improvement in the Kentucky Department for Public Health
will help identify children and community education efforts that are in line
with the alliance’s mission.
Registration for the training programs is from Dec. 15, 2004, through Feb. 4,
2005. Forms are available at: www.ca.uky.edu/heel/. Training dates and locations
are:
• Feb. 28-March 1, The Forum, Hazard, Ky. (101 Bulldog Lane, Hazard,) Site
sponsors: 4-H, the City of Hazard Mayor’s Office, UK Agricultural
Communications, UK Health Education through Extension Leadership Program
• March 3-4, Chrysalis House Community Center, Lexington, Ky. Site sponsors:
Chrysalis House Community Center, UK Health Education through Extension
Leadership Program
• March 5, University of Kentucky, special training for physicians (details
forthcoming) Continuing education credits sponsored by AHEC and the UK Health
Education through Extension Leadership Program
• March 7-8, The Executive Inn, Paducah, Ky. Site sponsors: Pennyrile Narcotics
Task Force, Regional Prevention Center, and the Community Coalition Against
Violence and Drugs
• March 10-11, University Plaza, Bowling Green, Ky. Site sponsors: Kentucky
National Guard, Lifeskills Prevention Center, and Bowling Green Narcotics Task
Force.
Writer: Laura Skillman
270-365-7541 ext. 278
Return to Main News page. |
