Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen to Deliver Remarks at 7th Annual Drug Endangered Children Conference

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is pleased to address attendees of this year’s Drug Endangered Children (DEC) conference, “Promising Practices and Reasonable Expectations,” being held July 18-19, 2012, in Wisconsin Rapids.  Attorney General Van Hollen’s remarks are scheduled to begin around 8:30 a.m. on July 18 at Hotel Mead, located at 451 East Grand Avenue in Wisconsin Rapids.

“I want to thank those who participate and cooperate to make these DEC programs across Wisconsin a success in helping the most innocent of victims, our children,” Attorney General Van Hollen said.  “These conferences offer all of us an opportunity to learn from one another and improve upon what is, sadly, an essential component to fighting drugs in our communities.  Children in the care of those who abuse, distribute and manufacture drugs live at risk of physical, emotional and developmental harm, among other things.”

More than two dozen counties and five tribes already have DEC programs, and several more are in development in other communities.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) is one of several partners in the Wisconsin Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (DEC), which promotes a multidisciplinary approach to protecting children found in dangerous drug environments. DEC programs include individuals in law enforcement and prosecutors' offices, human services, corrections, schools and non-profits, and the medical and treatment communities.

Media interested in an interview about Wisconsin’s DEC programs should contact Dana Brueck. Or, for more information online, including a brochure about this year’s conference, visit the following link: http://www.wisconsindec.org/

The conference is sponsored by the Wisconsin DEC Alliance, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Wisconsin Department of Justice, Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, the offices of the U.S. Attorney – Western and Eastern Districts of Wisconsin and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department.