SC Drug Endangered Children Alliance established

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles announces that 22 federal, state and local leaders have entered into an alliance to identify and protect drug-endangered children in the State of South Carolina. The South Carolina Alliance for Drug Endangered children includes professionals; various law enforcement agencies, social services specialists, child advocates, prosecutors, physicians, firefighters, and local community groups, who are striving for an effective way to identify and protect those children removed from drug environments, who are in danger of physical, mental and emotional abuse, as well as, exposure to the use of firearms, violence or other dangerous items associated with drug manufacturing and distribution. “Drug Endangered Children are at greater risk of death, developmental problems, supervisory, educational and emotional neglect, as well as physical and sexual abuse.  It is the goal of the DEC Alliance to coordinate the response to these children’s needs in order to break the cycle of drug and child abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles. Importantly, these guidelines do not require additional funding in order to be successful.  This interdisciplinary model utilizes existing social infrastructure and creates the framework needed for each agency to not work within their own silo, but to instead work together toward a common goal; happy, healthy, protected children. Nettles said, “This is yet another progressive program instituted by our office assembling a broad based coalition to make the citizens of SC safer and healthier and break the circle of violence.  We thank everyone who has participated in this process.  I am proud of the results.”