An all hands on deck approach is vital in order to make a difference in the lives of children who have been exposed to their caregivers' drug addiction, a nationally recognized juvenile justice advocate told a group gathered at the Charleston Civic Center on Tuesday.
James Copple stressed the importance of working together to the nearly 400 child service providers, law enforcement officials, educators, substance abuse treatment providers and nurses, among other professionals, in Charleston for the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children's 12th annual conference.
The three-day conference, which Copple kicked off Tuesday morning, is meant to enhance collaborative efforts between agencies to protect children from the effects of their guardians' drug addictions.
Copple has served as founding president of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and vice president of the national Crime Prevention Council. He specializes in designing and implementing comprehensive system responses across local, state and federal governments.
He urged attendees to reach out and step across agency and party lines to work together so that children can be protected in multiple settings.
When a police officer runs across a child in a home where a drug bust is taking place, they can't just think, "Well it's not my problem to solve," Copple said. They need to know the child advocates in their community to call.
Police finding young children during drug busts is something law enforcement officials from West Virginia are used to seeing, said Andrea Darr, director of the West Virginia Center for Child Justice. About 90 percent of all child abuse cases investigated by police in the state involve substance abuse, she said.
"When law enforcement is on the scene of a drug bust with a 4-year-old, that child needs [Child Protective Services], a medical exam, treatment and counseling," Darr said. "We want everyone to be on the same page about who needs to be called."
Those attending the conference will be introduced to the Handle with Care program, which was developed in West Virginia. Copple applauded the program and said it's the perfect example of a wide range of professionals working together to protect children.
When at a violent crime scene, police officers at agencies that participate in the program take note of children on-site. Police then notify schools of the students' names, so that schools can make appropriate referrals to treatment services and give the children special accommodations.
Darr said the program, which began in Charleston, is quickly spreading around the state.
There are 42 breakout sessions during the conference and participants have the choice of six different classes at any given time. Anyone is welcome to attend and state residents may receive discounted admission.
Reach Kate White at kate.white@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1723 or follow @KateLWhite on Twitter.