DRUG 

ENDANGERED 

CHILDREN

Guide for Law Enforcement

FOR DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN

DRUG 

ENDANGERED 

CHILDREN

Guide for Law Enforcement
This Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement was developed by the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC) with the support of cooperative agreement number 2010-CK-WX-K014 awarded by the 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions contained 

herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S Department of 

Justice. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an endorsement by 

the authors or the U.S. Department of Justice. Rather, references are illustrations to supplement discussion of the issues. 

The Internet references cited in this publication were valid as of the date of this publication. Given that URLs and 

websites are in constant flux, neither the authors nor the COPS Office can vouch for their current validity.

ISBN: 978-1-932582-70-3

Recommended citation: National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. 2015. Drug Endangered Children Guide 

for Law Enforcement. Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. 

First published 2013

Revised 2015
Contents

Message from the COPS Office Director........................................................................................................................ 3

Message from National DEC’s President........................................................................................................................ 4

Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................................................................. 5

The Drug Endangered Children Effort: The DEC Approach ...................................................................................... 6

Benefits of the DEC Approach ....................................................................................................................................... 7

Expanded Knowledge of and Access to Other Disciplines ...................................................................................... 7

Greater Willingness of Other Agencies to Provide Information to Law Enforcement Investigations .................... 7

Enhanced Knowledge of Evidence Gathering.......................................................................................................... 9

Improved Crime Reporting and Increased Crime Prevention ............................................................................... 10

Heightened Morale and Job Satisfaction ................................................................................................................ 11

Challenges of the DEC Approach ................................................................................................................................. 12

Competing Goals and Priorities ............................................................................................................................. 12

Establishing Buy-In.................................................................................................................................................. 13

Limited Training Resources .................................................................................................................................... 14

Insufficient Information about other Disciplines’ Roles and Responsibilities ....................................................... 14

Difficulties in Measuring Success .......................................................................................................................... 14

Core Elements of the DEC Approach........................................................................................................................... 15

Identification of Children........................................................................................................................................ 15

Collaboration between Disciplines ........................................................................................................................ 15

Evidence Collection................................................................................................................................................ 16

Building and Participating in a DEC Local Alliance .................................................................................................. 22

Organization ............................................................................................................................................................ 22

Bylaws and Protocols ............................................................................................................................................... 22

Communication....................................................................................................................................................... 22

Develop Public Awareness....................................................................................................................................... 23

Policy Support.......................................................................................................................................................... 23

Steps and Timeline for Starting a DEC Alliance ................................................................................................... 23

Additional Resources Available from National DEC Website..................................................................................... 27

About National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children .......................................................................................... 29

About the COPS Office .................................................................................................................................................. 30

Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 3

Message from the COPS Office Director

Dear colleagues:

It is estimated that more than 9 million children live in homes where a parent or other adult uses illegal drugs. The 

impact on children growing up while surrounded by illegal drugs is devastating. They are three times more likely to be 

verbally, physically, or sexually abused and four times more likely to be neglected. It is not easy to find and protect these 

kids. 

Fortunately, organizations like the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children have made great strides in 

establishing training and resources that help law enforcement, social workers, teachers, community groups, and 

others track and assist children growing up within such tragic circumstances. We can provide a powerfully visible 

alternative to the neglect and violence that are part of the daily lives of too many children. We can reduce the 

incidence of children’s exposure to violence and neglect. We can intervene more effectively to help mitigate the 

long-term negative effects children face when they are exposed to this kind of trauma.

Identifying and responding to drug endangered children through trauma-informed approaches has not yet become 

a central part of law enforcement’s mission to serve and protect. The better the availability of training opportunities 

and tools focused on identifying and helping drug endangered children, the better chance we have of making this 

a central part of law enforcement’s mission to serve and protect. It needs to be clear that there is an alternative to 

the neglect, violence, and fear that is part of the daily lives of these children. This guide is designed to help you 

and your agency in collaborating with others in the community to identify and serve these children at risk and to 

make it a part of your daily routine. Every child deserves to grow up in a home that is free from abuse and neglect. 

Together, we can make that a reality.

Sincerely,

Bernard K. Melekian, Director

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services
4 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Message from National DEC’s President

Dear law enforcement leaders:

As the President of the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC), I am pleased to introduce 

this guide for law enforcement professionals on how to effectively deal with the risks that children face when their 

caregivers are involved in drug activities or substance abuse. We know that law enforcement leadership in a collaborative 

approach to helping drug endangered children is critical to breaking the multi generational cycles of abuse and neglect 

that we see too much of in our communities. From the many law enforcement professionals who are part of our national 

network of concerned and dedicated practitioners, we also know that implementing the DEC approach presents a 

significant opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of drug endangered children.

Incorporating the DEC approach into all aspects of law enforcement takes leadership, vision, commitment, perseverance, 

and creativity. The DEC approach is inherently a community policing approach under which law enforcement works 

closely with other disciplines and agencies to create effective solutions to the risks faced by children exposed to drugs 

and the often related violence and abuse. This collaborative approach results in greater resources, a broader perspective, 

and the creation of local alliances that have proven to be very effective in making sure drug endangered children don’t 

fall through the cracks of our criminal and child welfare systems. 

Since its inception in 2006, National DEC has worked with thousands of professionals across the country to develop 

training programs that provide tools for reducing the risks of abuse and neglect of children in drug environments. 

We hope that this guide is another tool that will help that mission. It is intended to be a practical roadmap on how to 

take the knowledge we have about the risks faced by drug endangered children and to identify ways that we all work 

more effectively together to reduce those risks. This guide incorporates the collective experience of law enforcement 

professionals from across the country who have helped create and participate in local DEC alliances which they firmly 

believe have significantly improved efforts to protect children in their communities. 

Thank you for taking the time to read through this guide. We hope this guide is useful to you and we welcome your 

comments and feedback on how to make it as effective as possible for the work you do each day. We also invite you to 

participate with and/or help develop drug endangered children alliances in your state, tribal, and local communities. 

National DEC exists to help spread the DEC mission and help implement the DEC approach across the country. 

Please contact us if we can help: www.nationaldec.org.

Best regards, 

Chuck Noerenberg, President

National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children 

9101 Harlan Street, Suite 245, Westminster, CO 80031

cnoerenberg@nationaldec.org
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 5

Acknowledgments

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC) is indebted to a number of talented, knowledgeable, and dedicated professionals who provided their time and expertise in the development of the Drug Endangered 

Children Guide for Law Enforcement. We would like to start by expressing our appreciation to the project’s advisory 

group that included law enforcement professionals from local and state law enforcement as well as child welfare professionals. The advisors helped direct the project’s format and practical information and reviewed the content to make it as 

useful to law enforcement and other practitioners as possible. 

We would also like to thank Bernard Melekian, Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS 

Office), U.S. Department of Justice, for his leadership on the drug endangered children issue and his agency’s significant financial and programmatic support for the drug endangered children effort and National DEC.

We are grateful to the Department of Justice for their continuing support in the effort to break the cycle of abuse and 

neglect of children exposed to illicit drug use, sales, possession, or manufacturing and other substance abuse and addiction. We would like to thank the COPS Office, which helped create the vision of a more effective law enforcement 

response to drug endangered children. We are grateful particularly to Deborah Spence of the COPS Office for her 

ongoing support and guidance to National DEC throughout the course of this project. 

© pio3 / Shutterstock.com
6 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

The Drug Endangered Children Effort: The DEC 

Approach

The DEC approach is a comprehensive approach that 

focuses on the formation of community-based partnerships that engage professionals from multiple disciplines 

in developing a collaborative approach to rescue, defend, 

shelter, and support children living in drug environments. 

This joint approach allows various disciplines to perform 

their job duties while also assisting in meeting the needs 

of these children. 

Law enforcement professionals see the risks and consequences of drug activity and its destructive impact on 

children every day. With a focus on public safety, law 

enforcement is trained to identify illegal activity, which 

may include abuse and neglect of children. Within the 

DEC approach law enforcement is a crucial entity in identifying children at risk of harm due to drug activity as well 

as a crucial part of a system focused on helping children.

The DEC approach recognizes the likelihood of harm and 

the extensive risks that drug endangered children face. It 

creates a collaborative mindset among law enforcement, 

child welfare workers, prosecutors, and other practitioners 

in an effort to break the cycle of abuse and neglect. All 

disciplines play a vital part in the DEC approach.

The DEC approach recognizes that children whose 

parents abuse alcohol or drugs are three times more likely 

to be verbally, physically or sexually abused, and four 

times more likely than other children to be neglected.1

Recognizing that these children are in need of earlier 

identification and intervention is the first step in assisting 

these children and changing the trajectory of their lives. 

1. Alcohol, Other Drugs & Child Welfare (Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of 

America Publications, 2001). 

Law enforcement has a unique opportunity to be involved 

in children’s lives and make a positive difference.

National DEC’s “Children + Drugs = Risk” perspective and 

trainings recognize that law enforcement performs a critical role in every investigation by identifying children at risk, 

gathering and sharing evidence, and filing criminal charges 

for prosecution. Upon completion of the DEC approach 

trainings, law enforcement will have the necessary tools to 

paint a more complete picture of the child’s life and the 

potential risks that he/she is facing. The information and 

evidence obtained during a DEC police investigation can 

be effectively utilized by child welfare and other disciplines 

involved in parallel investigations. The information gathered 

will further serve to enhance and streamline the identification of services available for children at risk. 
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 7

Benefits of the DEC Approach 

The key benefit to children, with respect to the law 

enforcement DEC approach, is earlier identification 

and intervention, which will assist in breaking the 

cycle of abuse and neglect for the next generation. This 

in turn gives children a greater opportunity to receive 

more timely and relevant interventions from other disciplines. Additionally, the DEC approach offers law 

enforcement several opportunities to enhance their 

efficiency and effectiveness in their response to drug 

endangered children. 

Opportunities to increase efficiency and effectiveness 

include the following:

● Expanded knowledge of and access to other 

disciplines

● Greater willingness of other agencies to provide 

information to law enforcement investigations

● Enhanced knowledge of evidence gathering, 

increasing law enforcement’s ability to file all 

applicable charges 

● Improved crime reporting

● Increased crime prevention

● Heightened morale and job satisfaction 

Expanded Knowledge of and Access to Other 

Disciplines 

When law enforcement collaborates with other disciplines 

regularly, they gain a greater understanding of the complexities, mandates, protocols, and needs of other agencies. 

This improved understanding generates very positive outcomes to include; decreased frustration, increased officer 

safety; quicker response times, and more innovative solutions for successful collaborations on behalf of children. 

Meetings and further contacts between law enforcement and other disciplines should include cross-training 

so each system understands the resources, policies, and 

limitations of the others. When agencies develop a collaborative mindset, their combined efforts begin to enhance 

the efficiency and effectiveness for all involved. Together, 

the disciplines develop new responses that would not have 

been identified in isolation. 

Greater Willingness of Other Agencies to 

Provide Information to Law Enforcement 

Investigations 

A common element for change is the recognition of an 

unacceptable situation. Once law enforcement recognizes the equation “Children + Drugs = Risk,” identifying 

children becomes a primary focus, and this creates a new 

decision-making process where relationships between 

professionals are built, disciplines collaborate, and information is shared. This exchange of information enhances 

law enforcement’s ability to make more informed decisions during criminal investigations. In turn, when law 

enforcement shares their report and evidence, it allows 

other disciplines to also make rational decision based on 

complete information. Credible information leads to better decisions which improve outcomes. 
8 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Discussion Points:

Other common elements for change, which lead to a greater willingness to share information, include: a shared vision for a desired 

outcome, strong leadership, guided activities of many, and persistence. If a shared vision is keeping children safe and providing 

intervention, that will break the cycle of abuse and neglect for the next generation.

▶ Do we share that common vision?

Each agency involved in DEC will have a unique mission with individual objectives. These should be generally understood so mutual 

objectives for the overall effort can be crafted without being in conflict.

▶ Do we have strong leadership?

Ensuring you have leadership buy-in will help keep the DEC movement supported in your agency. When participants engage middle 

management in the process, the middle managers can keep the entry-level personnel educated and trained. The middle managers 

can communicate up to the director about the successes of the effort.

▶ Do our DEC efforts involve the guided activities of many?

Certain agencies will generally be involved in the crisis intervention portion of DEC. For example, a law enforcement raid or arrest 

would cause an intervention at the point of family crisis. A child protective services referral investigation would be similar. Other 

stakeholders such as emergency medical services, victim assistance programs, and various mandatory reporters would all have 

roles in the initial intervention for families. At some point in the establishment of local DEC efforts, individual agencies should consider formally promulgating policies to reinforce DEC objectives. Multidisciplinary agreements can also be helpful in establishing the 

structure for multidisciplinary collaboration.

▶ Are we persistent?

The DEC response is an outstanding model of community policing. It started as a grass roots movement back in 1993, when law 

enforcement recognized they missed opportunities to identify children living in drug environments. Failing to identify these children 

as victims of abuse and neglect meant no services were provided to protect them. 

National DEC was formed in 2003 by these passionate leaders who recognized that for it to be successful, the movement needed 

strong leadership and national oversight to coordinate and leverage resources. National DEC promotes a model that calls for collaboration between agencies, and coordination between the social and political systems charged with preventing, intervening, and 

treating these cases. In short, National DEC promotes transformation or social change from the old response to a new response. 

There will be great success when identifying and protecting drug endangered children becomes part of our routine response and 

it is seen as everyone’s responsibility. 
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 9

Enhanced Knowledge of Evidence Gathering

Insufficient information equals poor decisions, which 

equals poor outcomes, so it is critical to gather evidence of 

abuse, neglect, or maltreatment of children when investigating drug related crimes. If law enforcement fails to 

identify drug endangered children as victims, they will 

miss the opportunity to safeguard the welfare of the child 

and open doors for services. 

Most states in the United States formalize the process 

of assessing risk by using some type of structured decisionmaking process or tool. Risk assessment tools generally 

include broad categories related to abuse and neglect, 

behavioral descriptions, and procedures to determine levels 

of risk, all collected on standardized forms for recording this 

information. Before child welfare agencies intervene with 

families, they are generally required to identify maltreatment or the risk of maltreatment. Therefore, the assessment 

of risk is a critical part of child welfare agency work.2

As discussed in this Guide, abuse of drugs or alcohol by 

parents and other caregivers can have negative effects on 

the health, safety, and well-being of children. Approximately 47 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the 

U.S. Virgin Islands have laws within their child protection 

statutes that address the issue of substance abuse by parents. Two areas of concern are the harm caused by prenatal drug exposure and the harm caused to children of any 

age by exposure to illegal drug activity in their homes or 

environment.3

Gathering evidence and filing charges related to abuse 

and neglect gives prosecutors the ability to influence 

terms of pre-trial release, sentencing, probation, or parole. 

2. Bay Area Social Services Consortium, “Risk and Safety Assessment 

in Child Welfare: Instrument Comparisons,” Evidence for Practice, July 2005, 

http://cssr.berkeley.edu/bassc/public/risk_summ.pdf.

3. Child Welfare Information Gateway, Parental Drug Use as Child Abuse (Washington, 

DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, 2012). 

When the criminal justice system files criminal charges 

of abuse and neglect it may impact what happens in child 

welfare dependency court. When these two systems work 

together they strengthen each other’s response and their 

ability to identify the appropriate services for the child 

and the child’s family. 

Here are seven outstanding reasons, outlined by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, why gathering evidence 

and filing child abuse and neglect charges is a critical step 

to breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect:

● Can safeguard the welfare of the child

● Identifies the child as a victim for services

● Can influence terms of pre-trial release, sentencing, 

probation, or parole

● May impact what happens in dependency court

● At sentencing, court establishes sanctions and 

activities considered necessary for rehabilitation 

● Even if child endangerment charges are dismissed, 

prosecutor can still ask that the court consider 

conditions relating to the child endangerment charge 

● Even if one parent or caregiver not charged with 

endangerment, prosecutor can influence terms of 

probation

National DEC’s Core DEC and discipline specific trainings provide law enforcement with a better understanding 

of what evidence to look for and gather during their investigations. The training also provides tools to help officers 

document their findings in a way that describes the “life 

of the child” and not just a day or a moment in time. Ultimately, this will strengthen the case for each of the courts; 

criminal justice and dependency and neglect. 
10 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Improved Crime Reporting and Increased 

Crime Prevention

Identifying children associated with illegal drug activity 

or under the supervision of an incapacitated caregiver is 

a critical step in breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect 

and diminishing future criminal activity, as well as preventing future substance abuse. This type of crime reporting will help identify the strong correlation between drug 

abuse and child abuse. More children will be identified 

as victims and that will open the door to services that can 

help keep these young children out of the criminal justice 

system as juveniles or adults. 

Law enforcement is responsible for public safety and has 

always seen its role in drug investigations as it relates to 

“supply reduction.” Basically, take the drugs off the streets 

and arrest those who are distributing, manufacturing, 

possessing, or using illegal drugs. The drug endangered 

children effort has broadened the perspective to include 

“demand reduction.” By identifying the children, who are 

at high risk of becoming the next generation of users, law 

enforcement can start the process of breaking the cycle of 

“Children see, children do.” 

What is known to be true includes the following:

● Children of parents with substance use disorders 

have a higher likelihood of developing substance use 

problems themselves.4–64, 5, 6

4. CSAT (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment), Substance Abuse Treatment for 

Persons with Child Abuse and Neglect Issues, Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 

Series 36, DHHS Publication No. (SMA) 04-3923 (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration, 2004).

5. CSAT (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment), Substance Abuse Treatment and 

Family Therapy, Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 39, DHHS Publication 

No. (SMA) 04-3957 (Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration, 2005). 

6. N. Young, S. Gardner, and K. Dennis, Responding to Alcohol and Other Drug 

Problems in Child Welfare: Weaving Together Practice and Policy. (Washington, DC: 

Child Welfare League of America, 1998). 

● In addition, children whose parents abuse alcohol 

or drugs are 3 times more likely to be verbally, 

physically, or sexually abused and 4 times more likely 

than other children to be neglected.7

● Children who experience child abuse and neglect are 

59 percent more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28 

percent more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30 

percent more likely to commit violent crime.8

● As many as two-thirds of the people in treatment for 

drug abuse reported being abused or neglected as 

children.9

● About 30 percent of abused and neglected 

children will later abuse their own 

children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.10

● It is estimated that between 50–60 percent of child 

fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as 

such on death certificates.11

7. “A Guide for Caring Adults Working with Young People Experiencing Addiction in the 

Family,” SAMSHA, www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov/files/TrainingPackage/ MOD6/YouCanHelp.

pdf.

8. Child Welfare Information Gateway, Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and 

Neglect (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006), 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 

9. N. Swan, “Exploring the Role of Child Abuse on Later Drug Abuse: Researchers 

Face Broad Gaps in Information,” NIDA Notes 13, no. 2 (1998), www.nida.nih.gov/

NIDA_Notes/ NNVol13N2/exploring.html. 

10. Child Welfare Information Gateway, Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and 

Neglect (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2006), 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm. 

11. Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities 2009: Statistics and Interventions, 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children 

and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau, 

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/ factsheets/fatality.pdf. 
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 11

Heightened Morale and Job Satisfaction 

By utilizing the DEC 

approach in every-day 

law enforcement duties, 

law enforcement has the 

satisfaction of knowing 

they are an integral part 

of breaking the cycle of 

abuse and neglect for 

that child and for the 

next generation. 

Instead of picking up 

a child, who is sitting 

on the floor during an 

undercover drug investigation, and saying, “Unfortunately, I will be arresting you in 10–15 years,” officers 

now see how they can play a significant role in changing 

the trajectory of the child’s life. 

After attending the Core DEC Train the Trainer Session, 

Tribal Police Officer Jayel Whitted, with the Cahto Tribal 

Police Department in California wrote, “Throughout 

my law enforcement career I have felt like I was where 

I needed to be, but lately I’ve felt like I was meant to do 

more, but I didn’t know what. I now feel like not only do I 

know what I was meant to do but, I feel like I have a good 

foundation to save children. Thank you!”

Used with permission by Lori Moriarity.
Challenges of the DEC Approach

12 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Enhancing the response to drug endangered children 

requires changing some of the values, attitudes, and beliefs 

in law enforcement agencies. Any time changes are introduced to an agency, it creates challenges. Overcoming the 

challenges requires a comprehensive, long-term strategy, 

as well as reinforcement, until the changes become integrated into the agency as standard operating procedure. 

Some challenges are as follows:

● Competing goals and priorities

● Establishing buy-in 

● Limited training resources

● Insufficient information about other agencies’ roles 

and responsibilities

● Difficulties in measuring success

Competing Goals and Priorities 

We know collaboration can be challenging, but why is it 

challenging? All disciplines involved in the DEC approach 

have different responsibilities, and therefore, have different goals and priorities. For example, law enforcement’s 

goals and priorities are public safety—it is their job to 

investigate crimes and to file charges when applicable. 

Child welfare will have different priorities—it is their job 

to keep children safe. These differences may cause each 

discipline to utilize different approaches to achieve their 

goals, which could make the road to a common resolution 

rather difficult. By working collaboratively and having an 

understanding of the possible difficulties, each discipline 

can maintain their goals but work as a team in the best 

interest of the child. This, in turn, will have a greater outcome than each discipline working separately.

Other reasons why collaboration is challenging—adapted 

from “Team Energy Drains” by Frank M. J. LaFasto and 

Carl E. Larson—include the following:12

● Relationship issues may arise when two or more 

members of the effort allow relationship difficulties or 

differences to determine their behavior, rather than 

allowing the actual goal to determine their behavior.

● Control issues may arise when the question of “who’s 

in charge” becomes more important than “what we 

should do.”

● Differing values - conflict may arise when those 

involved in the effort are in contention over what 

they value, how the effort should be defined, what 

behaviors are appropriate, etc.

● Helplessness - efforts may be stalled when members 

doubt their ability to achieve the goal or have an 

impact, or feel that too many critical factors are 

beyond their control, or they may adopt a strategy 

of going through the motions without actually 

changing anything.

12. Frank M. J. LaFasto, and Carl E. Larson, When Teams Work Best: 6,000 Team 

Members and Leaders Tell What It Takes to Succeed (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage 

Publications, Inc., 2001). 
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 13

Discussion Points: 

▶ Can we be patient and understand that trust is earned? Several of the DEC stakeholders may find that 

they have a great deal of mistrust based upon old experiences and the silo mentality. Others may not have 

worked collaboratively with law enforcement in the past and therefore have never been in a position to cultivate 

trust. Trust must be earned over time and patience is necessary to ensure trust is built.

▶ Does our DEC effort foster opportunities for trust? All multidisciplinary interactions are an opportunity to 

begin building trust. The more often these interactions occur, and the deeper the level of cooperation, the more 

rapid and meaningful the basis for trust.

▶ How does our communication system fit with building trust? Establishing feedback and conflict resolution 

will help build trust among stakeholders.

Establishing Buy-In

Sustaining the DEC response requires buy-in at many 

levels—including line-level practitioners, middle management, and executives—to help implement the transformation or social change within the organization. 

As mentioned previously, the DEC efforts began with 

officers in the field who were responding to drug deals 

or other calls for service and missed the risks to children. 

The buy-in of the DEC approach by the officer is relatively easy because they are involved in identifying the 

problem and finding a solution. However, if the first-line 

officers don’t have support from their supervisor, it creates 

internal conflict. The officers know they need to do things 

differently, but the supervisor, who is one step removed, 

may be focused on other outcomes (i.e., drug arrest and 

drug seizures). If an officer is evaluated on drug seizures 

and arrests and there is no value placed on identifying 

children, it is difficult to justify time spent on DEC efforts. 

Officers have been recognized by their agency for seizing 

kilos of cocaine or heroin and thousands of dollars, but 

have they been recognized for saving the life of a child 

living in these drug environments? Supervisors, who are 

not exposed to DEC either in the field or through DEC 

training, have a more difficult time acknowledging that 

identifying children is law enforcements’ responsibility. A 

critical step to sustainability is educating middle management about the DEC response. 

Frontline managers are not only in a unique position to 

show support for DEC, but are also critical advocates to 

support the DEC effort. The frontline manager is able to 

work directly with the line officers to ensure the DEC protocols are being followed. He/she is also able to follow up 

on the many challenges outlined in this Guide and demonstrate to the executive level leaders the positive benefits 

of using the DEC approach. It is crucial to get agency 

management-level buy-in for DEC efforts. Perceived lack 

of commitment on the part of agency management and 

leaders to enhanced victim response will weaken progress 

toward the goal. 
14 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Discussion Points:

▶ Which agency leaders do we know would be 

supportive of DEC? 

▶ Who can we bring to the meeting that will 

help communicate the DEC approach to the 

leadership?

Limited Training Resources 

To institute the DEC approach into a law enforcement 

agency, there must be consistent and ongoing training. 

Due to high turnover and job changes of personnel, it’s also 

important to make the training available on a regular basis. 

Mandated training and fiscal concerns may impact an 

agency’s ability to provide adequate training on their own, 

so for DEC training, law enforcement agencies may be able 

to partner with other disciplines and institutions in order 

to maximize the training potential for all involved. These 

institutions could include police academies, prosecutors’ 

offices, child welfare trainers, and universities and colleges. 

At times, a creative approach to being able to provide ongoing training is needed within law enforcement agencies.

Insufficient Information about other 

Disciplines’ Roles and Responsibilities 

Lack of knowledge of other disciplines’ challenges and 

responsibilities often results in limited access to information, specifically regarding drug endangered children. 

This lack of knowledge can cause frustration with other 

disciplines, which interferes with the development of 

good working relationships. When one discipline truly 

understands the roles and responsibilities of other disciplines, good communication and collaboration can begin.

Difficulties in Measuring Success 

Increasing awareness and the response to drug endangered children may very well lead to an increase in child 

abuse and neglect criminal charges, which may in turn 

confuse standards of success. Because the reduction of 

the rate of crime has been traditionally used to measure 

effectiveness of law enforcement, agencies may need to 

reconsider and redefine performance standards around 

drug endangered children. One measure of success could 

be the increased number of children identified as drug 

endangered children during law enforcement investigations due to increased awareness, DEC protocols being 

adhered to, and collaboration.

© arindambanerjee / Shutterstock.com
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 15

Core Elements of the DEC Approach

Identification of Children

The early identification of children in all criminal investigations is key to the DEC approach. Children need to 

be identified as early as possible in order to not only be 

removed from unsafe living environments, but also so 

they can receive earlier interventions. Law enforcement 

often sees more children than other disciplines. When 

law enforcement is able to identify these children as being 

at risk, this often will trigger a collaborative response for 

the safety of the children.

For example, in a non-DEC approach a patrol officer may 

pull a mother over and issue her a ticket for speeding, and 

also notice that she smells of marijuana. The officer may 

then arrest the mother on drug related charges and not 

notice or inquire about the car seat in the back seat. In 

using the DEC approach, this officer would be trained in 

identifying the car seat as an indicator of a possible child 

at risk. In the DEC approach, the child has a greater 

chance of being identified at the earliest point possible.

Collaboration between Disciplines 

Collaboration is a key component of the DEC approach. 

No single discipline can effectively or efficiently address 

drug endangered children on its own, especially over the 

long term. Instead, the expertise and resources of multiple 

disciplines combined assists to improve interventions for 

children. As mentioned above, successful collaboration 

requires a working knowledge of how other disciplines 

think, function, and define success. Professionals have to 

join together for the DEC effort to truly be effective. The 

professionals who can develop an effective DEC collaboration include: law enforcement, child welfare, prosecutors, judges, victim witness advocates, medical personnel, 

teachers, first responders, treatment providers, probation 

and corrections, prevention specialist, day care providers, 

fire fighters, among others. 

National DEC defines collaboration as: “The exchange of 

information, altering of activities, sharing of resources, and 

enhancement of the capacity of another for the mutual 

benefit of all and to achieve a common purpose.”13 One of 

the benefits of collaboration between systems is the ability to share knowledge that other systems may not already 

possess. 

When a drug endangered child is identified by law 

enforcement, a multi-disciplinary response can be initiated. A systematic response by disciplines can therefore 

lead to a better outcome for these children. In the DEC 

approach, the way to sustain the efforts in helping children is to develop long-lasting collaborative relationships, 

with children as the common denominator.

Collaboration benefits include the following:

● No reliance on grant funding for sustainability

● No reliance on individual champions for 

sustainability

● Builds broad community support

● Allows for comprehensive intervention to address the 

needs of children

● Increased knowledge, better decisions, and better 

outcomes for children 

13. Chris Huxham, ed., Creating Collaborative Advantage (London: Sage Publications, 

Ltd., 1996).
16 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

No reliance on grant funding for sustainability

Once the DEC approach is instituted within a law enforcement agency, it will become the way of doing business in 

the future. It does not require extra financial assistance 

or manpower resources to implement. Training should be 

the only cost, but can often use agency training moneys 

already in place when possible. 

No reliance on individual champions for sustainability

Again, once it has become the law enforcement agency’s 

operating norm it will become part of the law enforcement 

job function for all officers, not just the initial champions. 

Builds broad community support

It is helpful to get other community members and providers involved in identifying children at risk. Community 

members can be trained on identifying these children and 

giving the correct information on the child abuse hotline 

to help open an investigation. Community members may 

also be helpful during an investigation in providing more 

information about the environment of the child’s family 

and caregivers. With the proper community awareness 

and identification training, community members can be 

valuable resources and dedicated helpers to drug endangered children. The following are suggestions of additional disciplines to engage in the DEC approach:

● Victim service providers

● Advocacy organizations representing victim interests

● School systems, college and university campuses

● Elected officials

● Businesses

● Faith communities

● Media outlets

● Community residents

Allows for comprehensive intervention to address the 

needs of children 

It seems self-evident that the sooner that drug endangered 

children are identified, and the less time they spend in 

these traumatic and harmful environments, the higher 

the likelihood that the intervention and treatment strategies will be successful. When law enforcement officers are 

able to identify children earlier, the children are able to 

obtain specific and targeted services earlier. Law enforcement officers transferring and handing off necessary information and evidence to the appropriate disciplines when 

children are identified will increase the children’s ability 

to obtain these specific and targeted services earlier. 

Increased knowledge, better decisions, and better 

outcomes for children 

When there is an increase in knowledge obtained by any 

discipline, there will then be an increase in the ability to 

make better decisions. With better decisions on behalf of 

children, there will then in turn be better outcomes for 

children. 

Evidence Collection

It is difficult to understand how a parent or other caregiver 

could ever neglect or abuse a child and endanger their 

well-being with involvement with drugs. But whatever 

the reasons, it is the job of law enforcement to identify 

child endangerment and neglect or abuse of a child, 

and to gather the supporting evidence. Because parental 

or caregiver drug trafficking and drug use puts children 

at significant risk of harm, when law enforcement finds 

children living in drug environments, these risks warrant 

an investigation and the gathering of evidence. It is law 

enforcements’ charge to gather the necessary evidence of 

identifiable risks and potential harm to those children. 
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 17

Questions to ask when looking for evidence 

of the risks to children

What evidence can you look for that shows the risk of physical abuse?

What evidence can you look for that shows the risk of neglect?

What evidence can you look for that shows the risk of exposure to illegal activity?

What evidence can you look for that shows emotional problems?

What evidence can you look for that shows behavioral problems?

What evidence can you look for that shows cognitive problems? 

What other evidence can you look for that shows risks?

The following are some examples of evidence that indicate a child’s risk of physical abuse, neglect, 

exposure to illegal activity, or other risks:

Evidence that Indicates the Risk of Physical Abuse

— Drug use and withdrawal = increased irritability

— Signs of violence (holes in the walls, doors)

— Discipline that is inconsistent

— Threats of violence (notes, pictures, violent posters, 

words, etc.)

— Discipline that is unpredictable

— Out of proportion anger or rage

— Chaotic environment

— Child behavioral problems

— Irrational thinking

— Child already has physical injuries (child abuse) 

— Bruising in areas not prone to accidental injury 

(attention to age and physical ability)

— Impulsive, aggressive behaviors

— Previously reported abuse
18 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Evidence that Indicates the Risk of Neglect

— Impaired caretakers OR Inappropriate caretakers

— Chaotic environment

— Children left alone to fend for themselves; 

no supervision

— Weapons

— Unsafe living environment

— Booby traps

— Controlled substances in the residence

— Chemical or cooking elements in the home

— Controlled substances accessible to children (children 

are creative and can find ways to reach things that 

many adults think are out of reach)

— Parents allowing drug cooks, users, dealers, parolees, 

probationers, sex offenders, other unknown people 

who may pose a risk to the child in the home

— Drug buys happening with the children present 

— Children’s bedding soiled, dirty, or no sheets

— Air quality issues

— Dirty house—health risks (rodents, roaches, etc.)

— Exposed or uncovered electrical wiring

— Plumbing not working

— Lack of basic necessities such as food, clothing, etc.

— Spoiled or moldy food

— Feces and/or urine in the home

— Children are dirty

— Heating, cooling, utilities not working

— Children don’t react to sudden presence of law 

enforcement during an unannounced entry

— Residence is cluttered and injurious (garbage 

overflowing, dirty dishes scattered)

— Children are sick or have untreated illnesses or injuries

— Children are “parentified” due to a lack of parenting 

(ex: 4-year-old feeding/changing a 6-month-old)

— Educational delays

— Children imitate negative adult behavior
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 19

Evidence that Indicates the Risk of 

Exposure to Illegal Activities

— Parents allow drug users in the home

— Drug buys happen with children present

— Children committing crimes to support the drug 

use of their parents

— Children are traded for drugs or are victims of 

kidnapping because of the drug activity

— Children used as decoys during drug deals

— Children witnessing violence (domestic or other)

— Children witnessing other illegal activity—car 

theft, burglary, forgery, robbery, etc.

— Children committing crimes in order to survive 

(to eat, pay bills, etc.)

— Children witnessing sexual abuse, sexual 

violence, sex trade/prostitution to support 

drug habits

— Children exposed to drug trade

Evidence that Indicates Other Risks

— Incapacitated parent or caregiver who passes out 

or sleeps so soundly that he/she rolls over on and 

suffocates the child

— Loss in the child’s life; loss of security and trust; loss 

of normal interactions with family and community

— Increased risk of sexual abuse as a result of parents 

allowing drug users, dealers, cooks, parolees, 

probationers present, sex offenders, and unknown 

people in the home

— Incapacitated parent or caregiver places child in 

inappropriate place where child could suffocate 

(examples could be an infant in bedding where they 

could suffocate or become strangled or positioned 

with a pillow, mattress, or other object with loose 

plastic)

— Exposure to drugs—ingestion, inhalation, injection, 

absorption
20 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Children living in homes in which there is illicit drug use, manufacturing, cultivation, or distribution 

are not only at risk for harm, but are also at risk to experience emotional, behavioral, or cognitive 

problems. While some of these problems may be obvious, others may not; as a law enforcement officer 

it is beneficial to be able to recognize and identify these problems.

The following are some examples of evidence that a child has emotional, behavioral, or cognitive 

problems. 

Examples of Emotional Problems

— Attachment disorders

— Post-traumatic stress disorder

— Attaching to strangers too easily

— Difficulty trusting caregivers

— Anxiety 

— Mistrust or fear (especially with adults)

— Depression

— Complex emotions

— Acting out

— Parents or caregivers swear at the child, insult the 

child or put him/her down

— Child has a hard time understanding or sharing his/her 

emotions (love, anger, guilt, feels shame)

— Sleep disorders (nightmares, restlessness, insomnia)

— Withdrawal

— Parents or caregivers acted in a way that made the 

child feel afraid or unsafe (fear physical injury)
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 21

Examples of Behavioral Problems — Interpersonal problems — Inappropriate sexual behaviors — Attention issues — Poor communication skills — Aggressive behavior — Child seriously misbehaves (belligerent, 

destructive, threatening, physical cruel, 

deceitful, disobedient, dishonest)

— Impulsive — Low threshold for stimulation (lights too bright, 

room too loud)

Examples of Cognitive Problems — Difficulty talking and listening — Difficulty paying attention — Often does not learn from mistakes — Trouble picking up social cues (can’t read 

others’ emotions: happy, sad, fear, anger)

— Difficulty remembering — Aggressive behavior — Trouble reading — Preoccupied or tired — Poor school attendance — Educational delays — Repeated grades — Frequent change of schools
22 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Building and Participating in a DEC Local Alliance

Organization

All DEC alliances need to develop some sort of organizational structure and process. It helps people understand 

the work, the work flow, and their role within the work. 

Having a strong organizational structure creates increased 

effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. 

Discussion points:

● Are all community DEC stakeholders identified? 

● Who else can we involve? 

● Minimally, who do we need at the table to be 

successful?

● Who do we want at the table after we are established? 

● How and when do we bring other disciplines into the 

DEC alliance?

● Have we established roles for stakeholders in the 

DEC Alliance?

Bylaws and Protocols 

The DEC alliance will establish all parts of the bylaws 

and protocols.

Bylaws will include specific information regarding rules 

that the DEC alliance will follow. These will include but 

are not limited to membership, members, voting rights, 

meetings, and other regulatory requirements. Bylaws will 

provide structure within the alliance. 

Protocols will include detailed information regarding the 

DEC alliance mission or purpose statement, goals, and 

procedures. These will likely be detailed explanations of 

each discipline’s part in the DEC alliance.

● Mission or Purpose Statement: A mission or purpose 

statement spells out in general terms what the 

alliance hopes to accomplish over time.

● Goals: These would be specific to each discipline 

and would outline what each discipline is supposed 

to be doing to support the mission or purpose 

statement. The goals should be measurable, 

achievable, and shared. 

● Procedures: These would be a description of how 

each discipline will handle drug endangered 

children, so every discipline understands their roles 

and responsibilities. 

Discussion Points:

▶ Do we have an agreement about the 

objectives of our DEC effort?

▶ Do we understand the individual roles and 

combined objectives of the stakeholders, 

community members and providers, and 

other professionals?

▶ Are we in alignment with our statewide 

DEC plan if applicable?

Communication

Each member of the DEC alliance has to openly 

acknowledge each discipline’s individual mission, refrain 

from being “controlling” or egocentric, share resources, 

and agree upon doable common goals. Open communication among alliance members is a must in keeping the 

alliance running smoothly. When conflicts arise, resolution needs to be sought out quickly.
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 23

Discussion Points:

▶ How do we establish a communication framework? DEC efforts should establish formal and informal 

communication mechanisms. The local service providers need the ability to discuss and evaluate DEC 

efforts and there is often a need to share information with the state DEC alliance.

▶ Are we communicating to reduce conflict? An effective communication structure is necessary to 

prevent conflict from overshadowing the benefits to a collaborative DEC alliance.

▶ Are we sharing our DEC success stories to build momentum? One of the keys to establishing and 

maintaining a DEC effort is the ability to celebrate the small victories along the way. Stakeholders will 

likely begin to learn more about children and families and the full scope of tools to address their complex 

problems. Whenever a DEC intervention results in positive outcomes for children and/or their families, 

everyone can become excited and use these experiences to fuel the DEC approach.

Develop Public Awareness

Mobilization, implementation, and sustainability of the 

DEC response model at the local, state/tribal, and national/

federal levels, as well as within organizations, require public 

awareness and support. To maximize effectiveness, a DEC 

alliance should help develop public awareness of the DEC 

alliance and the DEC approach. This could be through 

presentations, trainings, publications, and brochures.

National DEC developed a Core DEC Awareness training curriculum that effectively highlights the risks faced 

by drug endangered children and delineates a collaborative intervention response model. Additionally, National 

DEC continually enhances their website with updated 

information about the risks faced by children and the 

effectiveness of the collaborative response. 

Creating public awareness through the delivery of DEC 

training, the dissemination of publications, brochures, 

and promising practices is a critical step in developing 

sustainable DEC efforts. 

Policy Support

At some point in the establishment of a DEC alliance, 

individual agencies should consider formally adopting 

policies to reinforce DEC objectives. The policy support 

becomes important when looking at funding the DEC 

alliance and it will also help institute the DEC approaches 

within the state.

Steps and Timeline for Starting a DEC 

Alliance

The following section will go through some common elements, questions, and a timeline to help you build your 

own DEC Taskforce. 

Stakeholders suggested for starting a DEC alliance

● Law Enforcement

● Child Welfare

● County Attorney’s Office/Prosecutors

● Medical (doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, etc.) 
24 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Discussion Points:

▶ Do our stakeholders have individual agency 

DEC policies? 

▶ Do we collectively have protocols to 

support our DEC efforts? Memorandum 

of Understanding agreements can also 

be helpful in establishing the structure for 

multidisciplinary collaboration.

▶ Do we have public policy (laws) that 

support our DEC objectives? Laws that both 

acknowledge criminal conduct and child 

maltreatment for DEC situations can help 

considerably with removing barriers between 

service providers.

Bring only a few disciplines to the table to start and then 

slowly add in more disciplines as the alliance allows. 

Examples of other disciplines to bring to the alliance 

include:

● Probation/Parole

● Judicial/Courts

● Victim Witness Advocates

● Fire and EMS

● In-home Service Providers

● Schools/Educators

● Substance Abuse Providers, Mental Health Providers, 

other treatment providers

Questions to ask prior to the initial meeting

● Who do we bring to the table?

● How do we mend broken fences?

● How do we help them understand/believe?

● How do we make this work?

● How do we make a DEC response everyone’s 

responsibility? 

● How long will this take?

● How do we build working relationships?

Work for the initial meeting

● Each discipline makes two lists of five items each. 

One list explains why that discipline wants to be 

involved in the DEC alliance. The other list explains 

what that discipline can provide to the DEC alliance. 

See Table 1 below.

● At the initial meeting, these lists need to be displayed 

and discussed in detail. 

● The initial meeting should also address or come close 

to addressing what every member would like to see 

addressed by the this DEC alliance.
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 25

Sample table

Why my discipline wants to be involved in DEC alliance What my discipline can provide to DEC alliance

Example: Better collaboration with other agencies Example: Law Enforcement has internal data base

1. 1. 

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

First steps following the initial meeting

● Developing bylaws

● Developing protocols—keep them realistic and 

simple—don’t make them work against the alliance

● Stress open and honest communication at all times. If 

a member cannot agree to communicate honestly and 

give and receive constructive feedback, an alternate 

person may need to be sought out. 

Review protocols quarterly

The protocols are a living document and should be 

reviewed often and updated as needed. When the alliance 

is reviewing and assessing if updates are needed, it is a 

good time to ask the following questions.

● Are the current protocols working?

● Are the current protocols realistic?

● Do we need to adjust any of the protocols?

Common elements for change to keep in mind

● Recognition of an unacceptable situation: All alliance 

members understand and believe that “Children + 

Drugs = Risk.” 

● Alliance members should have similar understandings 

of definitions, goals, vision, etc. These will be 

reviewed along with protocols as needed. 

● Shared vision for a desired outcome: All alliance 

members understand the outcome is safe children 

through identification, evidence collection, and 

collaboration.

● Strong leadership: All alliance members are strong 

leaders in all aspects. They are leaders in their 

communities and within their disciplines, and 

therefore strong leaders within the alliance. 

● Guided activities of many: All alliance members 

understand that collaboration is a key component of 

the DEC alliance and the DEC approach. 

● Never give up! Alliance members understand that 

there will be challenges along the way and are 

dedicated to solving problems and working through 

difficult times. 
26 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

Sample timeline for building a DEC alliance

1–3 months. Establish DEC alliance members. Start with only a few primary disciplines. 

● County Attorney (Lead, Multi-Disciplinary Team)

● Law Enforcement

● Child Welfare

● Medical (doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, etc.) 

During this timeframe the initial meeting should be held. This will be the time to establish each discipline’s needs 

and wants and to make the lists of five items. This is also the time to be working on bylaws and protocols and getting 

an idea of the direction of the alliance.

3–6 months. Finalize Bylaws and Protocols. 

● Incorporate needs and wants list into the protocols. 

● Make protocols realistic and flexible.

● Review collaboration and the need to communicate 

openly and honestly. Determine if collaboration is 

happening effectively and discuss the challenges if it 

is not.

6–9 months. Team should be up and running.

● Immediately address any obstacles as they arise (and 

they will). Make sure that anger and resentment does 

not build among disciplines. 

● Contact with alliance members should be made 

often, both in person and via phone. Encourage all 

disciplines to contact one another on a regular basis. 

● Alliance members should be making note of any 

challenges, successes, and ideas and sharing them 

with the alliance.

9–12 months. Review Protocols and Bylaws.

● Assess the current protocols and adjust as necessary. ● Start thinking of new alliance members that will 

strengthen and enhance the DEC alliance.
Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 27

Additional Resources Available from National DEC 

Website

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children website has a wealth of information about the issue of drug 

endangered children and the DEC approach. The following resources can be found at www.nationaldec.org.

National DEC’s CORE DEC Training – 90 Minute Version

90-Minute Community DEC Awareness Training Videos (www.nationaldec.org/training/coredectraining.html)

On-Line Resource Library with over 1,000 Downloadable Reports, Articles, Protocols, and Other Resources

National DEC On-line Resource Center (www.nationaldec.org/resourcecenter/atozresources.html)

Here are a few examples of the types of resources available which can be accessed by entering the title of the publication 

in the “A to Z Resources” Search Box:

“Child abuse reported to the police”

“Consequences of illicit drug use in America”

“Drug-endangered Children Act”

“Hazards of grow houses”

“Is meth next door?”

“Marijuana legalization: The issues”

“Multidisciplinary protocol for the investigation of 

child abuse”

“National Methamphetamine Initiative survey: 

The status of the methamphetamine threat and impact 

on Indian lands: An analysis”

“New unregulated psychoactive substances marketed 

as ‘bath salts’”

“One-pot meth alert”

“Protecting the abused & neglected child: A guide for 

recognizing & reporting child abuse & neglect”

“Situation Report: Synthetic cathinones (bath salts): An 

emerging domestic threat”

“Understanding the scope of drug endangered 

children victims: A need for data collection within law 

enforcement and child protective services”

“What you can do about child abuse”
28 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

DEC-Related Downloadable Webinars

National DEC presents a DEC-related professional development webinar each month that currently averages more 

than 350 participants from all over the country. Approximately 50 of these webinars are currently available for subsequent viewing on National DEC’s website: 

National DEC Webinars: www.nationaldec.org/training/trainingdownloads.html

Here are a few examples of the webinars available: 

Defending Childhood Initiative: Addressing Childhood 

Exposure to Violence

An Overview of Bath Salts and Other Synthetic Drugs 

from Law Enforcement and Medical Perspectives

Breaking Through Barriers: Connecticut’s Collaborative 

Response to Children and Families

National Medical Guideline for Children Removed from 

Meth Labs

Tribal Law Enforcement and DEC

Drug Identification

Skin Findings in Child Physical Abuse

Health Risks Associated with Indoor Marijuana Grow 

Operations and the Impact on Children
About National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children 

FOR DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN

Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement 29

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC) exists to make a 

difference in the lives of “drug endangered children” who are at risk of suffering physical 

or emotional harm as a result of illegal drug use, possession, manufacturing, cultivation, or 

distribution. These children may also have caretaker’s whose substance misuse interferes 

with the caretaker’s ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing environment. 

National DEC has helped create the “DEC approach,” which is a collaborative, 

multidisciplinary approach that engages each discipline to assist children who are living 

in drug environments or around drug activity. This DEC approach allows National 

DEC to work alongside and support professionals in law enforcement, judicial, child welfare, prosecution, medical, 

treatment, prevention, education, probation, parole, corrections, EMS, fire, and many more disciplines. It is the belief 

of National DEC that all of the professionals who have the opportunity to identify a child at risk of abuse and neglect 

due to drug activity should be trained in understanding what to look for, how to document the risk, and how to work 

collaboratively.

National DEC has established a national infrastructure that includes 24 affiliated state DEC Alliances along with 

tribal and local alliances. A volunteer network of more than one hundred DEC leaders provides the foundation for 

eight practitioner working groups that identify and develop best practices. Thousands of practitioners have received 

DEC training and over 200 professionals around the nation from various disciplines are trained as trainers in the DEC 

approach and provide training to others. National DEC also maintains working partnerships with federal agencies, as 

well as tribal, local, national, and international organizations. 

Some of National DEC’s work includes the following:

● Providing technical assistance to local, tribal, and state DEC efforts both nationally and internationally

● Developing and delivering training for professionals across disciplines to increase their expertise and enhance their 

work with drug endangered children

● Developing and disseminating resources and tools that address the needs of drug endangered children

● Increasing public awareness about the risks faced by drug endangered children

● An online resource center that includes hundreds of downloadable publications, protocols, and templates

● A monthly professional webinar series, monthly newsletter, and social media updates

● An annual conference attended by hundreds of federal, state, tribal, local law enforcement and other professionals

● A growing series of national partners who help develop our training and spread the DEC mission

All of National DEC’s resources, webinars, technical assistance, and training can be accessed through the National 

DEC website: www.nationaldec.org.
About the COPS Office

30 Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS 

Office) is the component of the U.S. Department of Justice responsible for advancing the practice of community policing by the 

nation’s state, local, territory, and tribal law enforcement agencies 

through information and grant resources. 

Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies that support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety 

issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. 

Rather than simply responding to crimes once they have been committed, community policing concentrates on preventing crime and eliminating the atmosphere of fear it creates. Earning the trust of the community and making those 

individuals stakeholders in their own safety enables law enforcement to better understand and address both the needs of 

the community and the factors that contribute to crime.

The COPS Office awards grants to state, local, territory, and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire and train community policing professionals, acquire and deploy cutting-edge crime fighting technologies, and develop and test 

innovative policing strategies. COPS Office funding also provides training and technical assistance to community 

members and local government leaders and all levels of law enforcement. The COPS Office has produced and 

compiled a broad range of information resources that can help law enforcement better address specific crime and 

operational issues, and help community leaders better understand how to work cooperatively with their law enforcement agency to reduce crime.

● Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested nearly $14 billion to add community policing officers to the nation’s 

streets, enhance crime fighting technology, support crime prevention initiatives, and provide training and technical 

assistance to help advance community policing. 

● To date, the COPS Office has funded approximately 125,000 additional officers to more than 13,000 of the 

nation’s 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the country in small and large jurisdictions alike.

● Nearly 700,000 law enforcement personnel, community members, and government leaders have been trained 

through COPS Office-funded training organizations.

● To date, the COPS Office has distributed more than 8.57 million topic-specific publications, training curricula, 

white papers, and resource CDs. 

COPS Office resources, covering a wide breadth of community policing topics—from school and campus safety to gang 

violence—are available, at no cost, through its online Resource Center at www.cops.usdoj.gov. This easy-to-navigate 

website is also the grant application portal, providing access to online application forms. 

It is estimated that more than 9 million children live in 

homes where a parent or other adult uses illegal drugs.

This exposure leaves them vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Identifying and responding to 

these drug endangered children needs to be a central part of law enforcement’s mission 

to serve and protect. The Drug Endangered Children Guide for Law Enforcement offers 

law enforcement professionals practical information on how to develop an effective 

collaborative response to this complicated issue and make a positive impact on the lives of 

drug endangered children.

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

145 N Street NE

Washington, DC 20530

To obtain details on COPS Office programs, 

call the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770.

Visit the COPS Office online at www.cops.usdoj.gov.

FOR DRUG ENDANGERED CHILDREN

National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children 

9101 Harlan Street, Suite 245

Westminster, CO 80031

www.nationaldec.org

ISBN: 978-1-932582-70-3

e011324541

First published 2013

Revised 2015