Kewaunee County recognized for DEC program

Kewaunee County is being recognized by the Wisconsin Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (DEC) for developing a DEC program that helps children who have been exposed to illegal drugs and/or may be at risk for abuse and neglect.

The Wisconsin Alliance for Drug Endangered Children defines a DEC program as an organized effort that responds to the immediate needs of drug endangered children, while working to convict those who have put them at risk. The group involved in the effort typically includes, law enforcement, prosecutors, probation and parole, human services, health departments, schools, treatment centers and community members.

Kewaunee County has numerous community partners involved in developing its DEC program, according to Kewaunee County Department of Human Services Director Robert Mattice,

“Kudos to my staff at Kewaunee County Department of Human Services, Kewaunee County Department of Public Health, Kewaunee County Corporation Counsel, probation and parole, law enforcement and school districts in Kewaunee County for working together to make this happen,” Mattice said.

Kewaunee County is following DEC protocol that includes alerting schools when law enforcement has contact with a family for any reason, but not releasing specific information regarding the circumstance. Instead, school officials are notified that a specific child or certain children may need some additional support in the coming days.

Mattice said he believes that change starts with collaboration between all the providers or systems that an individual or family may interact with.

“We work with a family to pull together both the formal and informal supports and help the family reach their best functioning level,” he said.

According to the Wisconsin Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, there are now more than 50 DEC programs in the state.
For more information about this initiative, visit http://www.wisconsindec.org/

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Kewaunee County recognized for DEC program