CITY DRUG RAIDS YIELD MOST KIDS

At Least 55 Seized From Calgary-Area Grow-Ops

More than 100 kids have been taken from their families since the
province introduced the nation's first legislation to protect
youngsters being raised in drug houses or by drug dealers.

Between November 2006, when the Drug Endangered Children Act (DECA)
became law, and the end of this February, at least 55 are from the
Calgary area -- accounting for more than half of the children seized
under the act.

"That's a huge number out of the Calgary region," said Calgary and
Area Child and Family Services spokeswoman Dawn Delaney.

She said the Calgary numbers speak to good collaboration between
child welfare workers and police.

In the first four months of 2009, police seized more than $28 million
worth of pot plants in 37 grow-op busts in Calgary, compared to all
of 2005, when $68 million worth was seized.

"Essentially, drug activity has been increasing -- unfortunately,
innocent kids are often caught up in the middle of it," said Alberta
Children and Youth Services spokeswoman Lisa Elliot.

DECA is designed to protect children from parents or caregivers who
put them at risk by drug trafficking or manufacturing.

"It makes it clear, this is a form of child abuse. These kids need
protection," Elliott said.

Added to health concerns, from exposure to toxic mould, pesticides
and herbicides, there is peril posed by the criminal realm.

And the cases are heartbreaking, said Delaney, including toddlers in
homes where drugs are in easy reach, children sleeping in bedrooms
with hanging electrical wires and newborns found amid toxic levels of mould.

"Unfortunately, we've seen them as young as they come," Delaney said.

A conviction under DECA sees a fine of up to $25,000, imprisonment
for as long as two years, or both.

Calgary police have gathered evidence in 22 cases to recommend
charges, but none were laid. In fact, provincewide to date, there
have been just nine charges laid and no convictions, according to
Alberta Justice statistics.

Still, child welfare workers say the act is working by getting kids
out of harm's way.

"Due to the fact we have apprehended 100-plus children provincially
to date, I do feel this legislation is achieving its intended goal,
removing children from unsafe environments," said Delaney.

DECA allows workers to take a child into custody for up to 48 hours
and if needed they can apply for temporary guardianship.

A month after it became law, six Calgary children aged 18 months to
16 years were taken into custody after two grow-op busts -- their
parents the first in the city charged under the act.