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Chapter IX: Drug Endangered Children Change Notices

Date: January 1, 2005

Child Welfare Change Notice 11-2004

Manual: Family Services, Volume 1, Children’s Services, Chapter IX, Section 1000, Drug Endangered Children

To: County Directors of Social Services

Effective: January 1, 2005

Attached to this letter is the new Chapter IX: Drug Endangered Children and fourteen (14) attachments. Representatives from several county and State agencies came together as a work group to address the issues of methamphetamine laboratories and safety for the children and the professionals that respond to these sites. The attached policy is designed to outline the process for county Departments of Social Services’ response to methamphetamine laboratories when children are involved, as well as provide guidance around developing the local multidisciplinary protocol. The policy was approved by the North Carolina Association of County Directors of Social Services in December 2004.

The attachments are A) Medical Assessment, DSS-5256, B) Placement Guidelines, DSS-5257 C) Field Decontamination, DSS-5258 D) Exposure Record, DSS-5259 E) Feedback Law Enforcement, DSS-5260 F) Feedback Social Worker, DSS-5261 G) Feedback Health Provider, DSS-5262 H) Feedback Placement Provider, DSS-5263 I) Glossary, J) Precursor List, K) Manufacture Meth-Endanger Children (Short title of HB 1536), L) Meth Precursors-Increase Criminal Penalty (Short title of HB 1510), M) Senate Bill 1054 and N) NCGS 90-21.1. Please note that Attachments A and B are the only required forms. Attachments C through H are suggested forms for use by other first responders and to get feedback on how the protocol worked. Attachments I and J are resource information that will be useful in completing investigative assessments involving methamphetamine laboratories. There is also new legislation attached regarding stiffer penalties for manufacturing methamphetamine in the presence of a person under the age of 18, possession of precursor substances and decontamination of a building that a methamphetamine laboratory was located. These are in Attachments K through M.

Please ensure that all staff members who have child welfare responsibility are provided copies of this material or can access it via the DSS web site. The on-line manual web address is:

http://info.dhhs.state.nc.us/olm/manuals/dss.

Once on the Division’s web page, click on “Quick Links,” then click on “Child Welfare Manual,” and click on Chapter IX, Section 1000. Any questions may be addressed to the Family Support and Child Welfare Services Section staff at (919) 733-4622.

CHILD WELFARE CHANGE NOTICE07-2004

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January 1. 2005

Instructions

Insert

Chapter IX Section 1000

Drug Endangered Children

Sincerely,