CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON KIDS ENDANGERED BY DRUGS

Children endangered by adults who use or keep drugs in their homes will be
the focus of a conference today and Tuesday in Wausau for investigators,
emergency responders, child protection workers and others.

The conference, held at the Plaza Hotel and Suites, will educate
participants on the devastating effects of drugs on children, and encourage
the community to collaborate on efforts to help kids in dangerous homes.

The National Drug Endangered Children Alliance is an initiative by the
federal government that involves different groups in the community working
together to help children living in drug environments.

Marathon County Sheriff's Capt. Tom Kujawa is leading the effort to begin a
program here for drug-endangered children. So far, 11 counties in Wisconsin
are working to obtain resources and start drug-endangered children
programs, said Cindy Giese, the special agent with the Wisconsin Department
of Justice who is in charge of the Wisconsin Methamphetamine Initiative.

"It's all a work in progress," Giese said.

About 300 people from across the state are expected to attend the
conference, one of two this year in Wisconsin. The other was held in May in
Chippewa Falls.

Children living in a house where methamphetamine is manufactured are
exposed to chemicals that are so hazardous that everything in their home
must be considered contaminated.