Connecticut State Police Recognizes Drug-Endangered Children Awareness Day


April 27, 2016 is National Drug Endangered Children's Day. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is formally recognizing this day which appropriately falls within National Child Abuse Prevention month.

Drug endangered children are youth who are at risk of suffering physical or emotional harm as a result of illegal drug use, possession, manufacturing, cultivation or distribution by their caretakers. They may also be children whose caretaker's substance misuse interferes with his/her ability to parent and/or provide a safe and nurturing environment.

The Connecticut State Police, the first State Police agency in New England to advocate for drug endangered children at risk, has also been nationally recognized by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children for their work in this area. The State Police and its community partners recognize drug-endangered children as youth who are at risk of suffering physical or emotional harm as a result of illegal drug use, possession, manufacturing, cultivation or distribution by their caretakers. They may also be children whose caretaker's substance misuse interferes with his/her ability to parent and/or provide a safe and nurturing environment.

The State Police, working in a collaborative effort with other state and local agencies, is committed to identifying children at risk and ensuring services are made available to these families to break the intergenerational cycle of abuse.
The State Police accomplishes this in part through its participation in the Connecticut Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, a collaborative of nine state agencies and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, which strives to improve the outcomes of drug-endangered children and youth.
Research suggests that children whose parents or caretakers abuse substances are at increased risk of being abused or neglected. Addressing this risk is of paramount importance to DCF, whose central focus, in collaboration with families and communities, is the safety and overall well-being of children. DCF accomplishes this in part through its participation in the Connecticut Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, a collaborative of nine state agencies and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, which strives to improve the outcomes of children and youth exposed to drug endangered environments.

A recognition that "Children + Drugs = Risk" is the foundation of the collaborative’ s approach to the work with drug endangered children that includes families, community providers, DCF, and other entities, providing services and support to those at risk. DCF underscores the central role of family and seeks to support parents and other caretakers in their recovery efforts toward ensuring safe environments for children.
Today, April 27, 2016, is but one day in the life of a child. But every day of a child's life matters and recognizing and addressing the risks to safety, development, and well-being of drug endangered children supports breaking the abuse/neglect cycle. If you suspect that a child is being abused or neglected please contact the DCF Careline at 1-800-842-2288.

Feel free to visit the website: www.nationaldec.org

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Submitted by Ridgefield, CT

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