CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON PROTECTING DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN

For Immediate Release:  October 31, 2005

HONOLULU – Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr., will lead a free conference that will focus on developing a coordinated multidisciplinary response to the problem of drug endangered children.

Increasingly, children are being exposed to an environment where drugs are being manufactured, sold, trafficked or abused, such as in clandestine methamphetamine labs and drug house. These children are often exposed to violence, crime, neglect and abuse, as well as chemical hazards and deplorable living conditions.

"Among the many innocent victims who are harmed by the illegal substance abuse and drug manufacturing, children are the most vulnerable," said Lt. Governor Aiona. "This conference will lay the groundwork for the development of a coordinated statewide plan to identify and rescue children who are exposed to drug-related environments, with the ultimate goal of preventing children from being caught in a cycle of drug abuse." 

The Drug Endangered Children conference will be held on O'ahu Nov. 1 and 2, at the Hawai'i Prince Hotel, and on Nov. 3 and 4, in Hilo at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. The conference will bring together first responder personnel such as police, narcotics enforcement investigators, emergency medical services, hazmat teams and firefighters, as well as child protective service workers, prosecutors, court officials, medical service personnel, educators and government officials.

Experts from the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children will provide participants with information relating to Clan Lab Safety and Awareness, Drug Endangered Children Investigations, The Role of Child Protective Services, Medical Assessment of Drug Endangered Children, Prosecuting Drug Endangered Children Cases, and the Psychological and Social Needs of Drug Endangered Children. These experts will also share lessons learned from other states that have developed multidisciplinary, cross-jurisdictional coordinated response systems to the problem of drug endangered children.

On Oct. 19, Lt. Governor Aiona convened a policy roundtable meeting to launch this initiative and lay the foundation for the conference and the work that will follow to help ensure that children receive protection, advocacy and support through a multidisciplinary approach. Another goal is to focus on improving approaches to investigation and prosecution of individuals involved in manufacturing, selling and abusing methamphetamine and other drugs and endangering children in the process.

A Drug Endangered Children Task Force will be convened by December, and the beginnings of a coordinated protocol for responding to drug endangered children are expected to be in place.

The statewide effort is sponsored by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Human Services, and the Department of Public Safety Narcotics Enforcement Division. The Big Island Conference is being coordinated by the East Hawai'i Planning Group with funding from Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).

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For more information, contact:

Tamah-Lani Noh  
State Drug Control Liasion
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Phone: (808) 586-0255

Celyn Chong Kee  
Public Liaison  
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Phone: (808) 586-0724

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications                                                                                                                   Office of the Governor/Lt. Governor
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations                                                                                                                                  Office of the Governor/Lt. Governor                                                                                                             Phone: (808) 586-0043