September is National Recovery Month. Get your 2025 recovery month toolkit here.

Our call for speakers closes on September 30,

so don't wait to send us your pitch.

PUT YOUR TRAINING FUNDS TO GOOD USE

As your grant year wraps up, don’t let training funds go unused! You may be able to apply them toward the NADEC 26 Conference registration.

At the conference, you’ll experience:

• Inspiring keynote speakers
• Hands-on breakout sessions
• Valuable networking opportunities
• Time to celebrate our shared impact for Drug Endangered Children

Ask your grant manager if these funds can be used for registration—and secure your spot early!

SHOW YOUR NADEC PRIDE

Great news! The online NADEC shop is now live. Owning your own NADEC swag - from shirts and hats to mugs and water bottles and so much more - is now just a click away. Order today and show your NADEC pride.

SPOTLIGHT ON THE ILLINOIS DEC ALLIANCE

From Liesl Wingert, member of the Illinois DEC Alliance and certified DEC trainer...

NADEC has been instrumental in giving me the tools and guidance to bring attention to the need of not only drug endangered children in Illinois, but also children who are forced into familial sex trafficking for the purpose of securing drugs. From providing the DEC Train-the-Trainer training to slides to expert guidance and support, they have answered my frequent questions and given me feedback that is invaluable from a national viewpoint.

The following case study is a clear demonstration of the impact collaboration among community services and organizations can make.

HELPING A FATHER AND HIS CHILDREN

A young father was a participant in drug court for almost a year when he was called by CPS in another state to ask if he would be willing to take custody of his two elementary school aged children. The children’s mother was arrested for drug charges and was facing time in prison, and CPS did not want to put the children in foster care. As the father was successful with his drug court participation, it seemed a good fit. The drug court reached out to me as a DEC trainer and asked for help with this situation. The father was still new to sobriety after years of drug use, and the drug court knew that his success would now depend on having appropriate supports in place to help him succeed in being a parent, something that this young father knew nothing about. The drug court team had been through a brief DEC training at a conference within the last year, so they understood the big picture of caring for not only the father but also the children.

Within hours of receiving his children, the drug court authorized financial assistance from their 501c3 organizational funds to help him with needs such as beds, clothing, groceries, and more. I was asked to oversee the funds and assist with needed purchases, as well as help connect the father to community resources such as Medicaid, Project Child (daycare assistance), school registration, and other local resources that would provide much needed practical help. 

Throughout the following weeks, the children exhibited the typical effects of having lived in a drug endangered environment, many of which were frustrating to this new father. During our many conversations, I was able to share with him why the children were acting the way they were and how he could appropriately deal with those actions. He said, “I never thought about what the KIDS went through while living in that situation. What you are saying makes sense.” Over several months, as he implemented some of the appropriate parenting actions to deal with their behaviors, the children made vast improvements in their well-being and behaviors. Although not perfect, the whole family is working toward healing and healthy living because of the collaboration between a DEC educated drug court and other the helpful hands of those who are also DEC educated. Education, understanding, and collaboration at its best!  

REACTION FROM OUR FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRAINING:

Hi Nikki and Carrie,

Feedback from our team has been amazing!!! 💯

We’re so thankful you both made the trip (even virtually and then in person next time 😉) to connect with us and share such valuable knowledge. We loved the energy, the interaction, and the way you made a tough topic engaging and practical for everyone.

We’re definitely looking forward to more trainings with you and keeping this partnership going strong. 💪🏽💙 The work you’re doing is so impactful and we’re grateful to be part of it!

Until next time — thank you again for everything! 🙌🏽

V/R,



Mariah

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

While our training calendar for 2025 is full, you can book now to secure your spot on our 2026 training calendar. Click here for more information.

Calls are from:

• 11-12pm Alaska Time
• 12-1pm Pacific Time
• 1-2pm Mountain Time
• 2-3pm Central Time
• 3-4pm Eastern Time

WELCOME Pottawatomie County, Kansas DEC Alliance

Leslie Campbell, Health Director/DEC for Pottawatomie County Health Department and, Jennifer Ebert, Community Health Educator/DEC Pottawatomie County Health Department, are coordinators for the newly formed Pottawatomie County DEC Alliance.

The Pottawatomie County DEC Alliance is committed to improving the lives of children living in dangerous drug environments. By assessing their needs, fostering cross-agency collaboration, and implementing positive changes in practices and policies, the initiative works to create safer environments and better long-term outcomes for these vulnerable children.

WELCOME Franklin County, Kansas DEC Alliance

Ashlea Confer, Franklin County Public Health Educator and Franklin County DEC Alliance Coordinator, shared with us that since 2018, the Franklin County Substance Use Prevention Coalition has been working alongside community partners to promote health and safety through harm reduction and prevention efforts. Together, they have:

✔️ Distributed thousands of Deterra drug disposal bags

✔️ Provided hundreds of Naloxone kits

✔️ Led campaigns to reduce underage drinking

"In recent years, our focus has expanded in response to the opioid crisis and the growing dangers of fentanyl," Ashlea wrote. "We’ve offered community trainings on how to use Naloxone (Narcan) and hosted presentations with nationally recognized speakers to raise awareness and save lives. Now, we’re excited to share our next step: joining the DEC Alliance!"

She added, "This partnership will give us new tools, resources, and connections to make an even greater impact in prevention, education, and intervention across Franklin County."

WELCOME Webster County, Kentucky DEC Alliance

Webster County, Kentucky has been doing an amazing job under the Western Kentucky DEC Alliance, and we are pleased to officially recognize them now as their own DEC Alliance! Please welcome the Webster County DEC Alliance, which is part of Western Kentucky DEC Alliance! This new Alliance fits within The Beacon of West KY Webster County (WC) CARES (Child Abuse, Resilience, Education, and Support).

Donna Bumpas, Chairperson of the new Alliance and CEO of The Beacon West KY, explained that the goal of WC CARES is to reduce child abuse and neglect in Webster County. They provide information and education for parents on topics such as discipline, stress management, talking to kids about drugs and more. They also provide support to the Department for Community Based Services and other referral agencies to assist with basic needs for families including gas cards, food/groceries, and clothes for families. Children being placed in foster care or with a relative receive clothes, suitcases, backpacks and other items from WC Cares.

Recent DEC Trainings and Conferences

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children continues to bring training and support throughout the country.

Here's where we've been and what we've been doing over the past month:



• Oregon - In-Person DEC Summit
• Webster County, KY - Train the Trainer
• Oregon - Virtual DEC Academy 101
• Washington DC - NADEC Executive Director Eric Nation, and NADEC Board of Directors Vice President Tabatha Curtis presented at the National Prevention Network conference
• Nashville, TN - Eric joined representatives from over 100 countries at the 39th annual International Drug Enforcement Conference

Our Social Media is very active daily! Sharing resources, statistics, ideas, videos and the amazing work from DEC Alliances across the nation.

Website Update!

Check out our new and improved website. It is easier for you to navigate and find the resources and support you need for your DEC Alliances and efforts!

www.nationaldec.org

www.nationaldec.org