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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday April 29, 2004
| Contact: |
John Tennis, Public Information Program Manager, 360-709-3073 |
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Kathy Raettig, TOGETHER! 360-493-2230 Ext. 16 |
Child
Endangerment Expert To Speak At Lacey Seminar
OLYMPIA – A nationally known expert on
drug-endangered children will speak at a special seminar next week.
Susan Webber Brown will discuss what happens to children who live in
homes where illegal drugs are used by parents or guardians.
She will also present information on the impacts on kids who live in
homes where clandestine drug labs are in operation.
Ms. Brown travels the United States delivering information on the
subject. She is an investigator
for the Butte County, California District Attorney’s Office.
She was the first person in California to set up a Drug Endangered
Children Program and is a leading proponent of such programs.
The Thurston County Methamphetamine Coalition and
the anti-substance abuse, anti-violence organization TOGETHER! are sponsoring
Ms. Brown’s appearance. The
free, day long, seminar is aimed primarily at individuals who work in law
enforcement, fire, medical services, social services or any discipline where
they may interact with children who may be threatened by the impacts of drug
manufacture and use. Coalition
member John Tennis says the idea is to make more people aware of the
situations that some children are in. “We
have been fighting the battle against methamphetamine intensely for several
years now and this is an extension of that work.
We have been a statewide leader in connecting these unfortunate
children with various kinds of assistance and if we broaden the web of folks
who are involved, then maybe we can reach even more kids.”
The Street Enforcement Team of the Thurston
County Sheriff’s Office will open the seminar in the morning with a
discussion of their efforts to crack down on clandestine drug labs and the
manufacture, sale and use of such drugs.
In the afternoon, attendees will hear an extensive presentation from
Ms. Brown.
Seating is limited, so those who wish to attend
must contact TOGETHER! for reservations.
The seminar runs from 9AM to 4:30 on Friday, May 7th at the
Lacey Community Center on Pacific Avenue.
Please call Kathy Raettig at 360-493-2230 Ext. 16 to reserve a seat.
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