County agencies unite to aid children affected by illegal drug users

Several Ventura County public agencies have joined forces in an effort to protect and provide services to children whose lives have been endangered due to drug activity in their homes, including methamphetamine labs.

The Drug-Endangered Child Program will host a press conference to educate the public about the new collaboration at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Fri., March 30 at the County Government Center, Sheriff's Department, in Ventura.

Attending the press conference will be Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks, Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, District Attorney Greg Totten, human services agency director Ted Myers, public health director Linda Henderson and behavioral health director Linda Shulman. Their short presentations will be followed by a PowerPoint presentation given by the program's first responders.

The program will enable child welfare and law enforcement to work together to make safety decisions on behalf of children found at narcotic crime scenes. The program addresses the immediate health and emotional needs of children exposed to drug use and manufacturing, and oversees foster care placement if needed.

Participating in the program are most county law enforcement agencies, fire departments, the probation department, the district attorney's office, Ventura County Human Services Agency, Health Care Agency and Casa Pacifica.