Operation UNITE : Unlawful Narcotics Investigation Treatment and Education
Drug Endangered
Child Training Network
On December 19, 2005, Operation UNITE partnered with the University of Kentucky to create a Drug Endangered Child Training Network in southern and eastern Kentucky through a $362,128 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
The grant covers 31 counties considered “distressed” by the ARC, including 23 counties in UNITE’s service region – Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Wayne, Whitley and Wolfe. UNITE is providing funding to add its 6 remaining counties – Bath, Laurel, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle and Rowan – to the network.
Utilizing existing UNITE coalitions to implement the DEC Training Network will strengthen local anti-drug education and treatment efforts, prevent duplication of resources, better coordinate efforts, and strengthen the coalitions themselves. “This is a perfect partnership,” said Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers.
1) Form community-centered planning and intervention teams. In the Fifth Congressional District, DEC team members will become members of the UNITE anti-drug coalitions. Teams will include the common first-responders in cases where children are found in methamphetamine environments (law enforcement, children’s protective services, emergency medical services, hospital and clinical emergency services, and mental health services) and will be expanded to include other community representation.
2) Develop a public health surveillance and medical training system to track and evaluate implementation of the new National Protocol for Medical Evaluation of Children Found in Drug Labs. This approach ensures current information and consultation are available to area physicians, hospitals and medical clinics that will help them identify methamphetamine exposed children with appropriate medical, developmental, mental health, dental and social assessments, acute and follow-up care, and safe placement.
3) Community education and awareness of the potential dangers to children exposed to the use and production of illegal substances.
The Health Education through Extension Leadership (HEEL) Program of UK’s College of Agriculture will oversee development of local DEC teams, provide training for team members, monitor their work, evaluate community training needs and develop training materials.
A public health surveillance system will be managed and maintained at the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center. This system will be utilized to implement and evaluate the National Protocol.
Benefits of the DEC Training Network include:
The community and healthcare workforce will be better trained to recognize indicators that children are drug exposed or living in a drug endangered home.
Children from drug endangered environments are more likely to become substance abusers themselves. By equipping child protective service workers with information about necessary medical protocol, this project will give these children an opportunity to live in an environment where criminal activity is not the model.
Healthcare workers will become familiar with the National Protocol thus increasing implementation of the protocol and best practices for evaluation and care of meth-exposed children. This will result in better immediate health outcomes for children and will also improve their ability to maximize their full potential as adults.
Through the county offices of the UK Cooperative Extension Services, the community will be kept abreast of drug trends in their county and the continued influx of illicit drugs in the state.
School personnel will receive training on how to identify, understand, and respond to the social emotional needs of children that affect learning and a child’s perception of safety. This intervention will have long-term effects on a child’s ability to succeed in the classroom.
For more information, contact Holly E. Hopper, coordinator of the DEC Training network, at 1-859-257-7793 or visit the Kentucky Alliance for Drug Endangered Children website: http://www.drugendangeredchild.org
To view press release about the grant announcement click here.
To view photos from the grant ceremony click here.
To hear a presentation about the announcement made on “UK At The Half” click here.
Operation UNITE : Unlawful Narcotics Investigation Treatment and Education
Official Site of Operation UNITE
2292 S. Highway 27, Somerset, KY 42501
606-677-6179 ● Toll Free 1-866-OP-UNITE ● Fax 606-677-6166
Operation UNITE : Unlawful Narcotics Investigation Treatment and Education
