TURNING IN PARENTS TAKES 'GUTS'

It's a rare act of courage when children turn their drug-using
parents in to police, says an expert on children from troubled homes.

"It takes a lot of guts because a child really doesn't know what is
going to happen," said Connie Freking, youth service department
director for the Brighton Center, a multi-program social service
agency headquartered in Newport.

"It also takes a lot of love. I don't think a child's first thought
is that the parents may go to jail. The first thought is, 'They need
help. We need help. I need help.' In the long run, they're looking
out for their family's best interest."

She said in her 10 years at Brighton Center, she could recall only
four or five cases of children taking such an extreme step.

The latest was Friday in Boone County. A 16-year-old boy told his
high school resource police officer about his parents' home-based
marijuana growing operation, and Boone County Sheriff's Department
deputies arrested his parents at their Hebron home.

John Williams, 51, and Jennifer Williams, 36, were charged with
cultivating marijuana, possession of cocaine and possession of drug
paraphernalia. Deputies also seized a cache of weapons from the home.

Sheriff's department spokesman Deputy Tom Scheben said he didn't know
what motivated the 16-year-old to turn in his parents.

"We could say he was mad at his mom and dad or we could say he didn't
want his 10-year-old brother to live in that environment," he said.

Scheben agreed the case was unusual. "When I was 16, I wouldn't have
thought about going against my mom and dad," he said. "The reason is
because I respected them both. Of course, you love and respect them
because they weren't dealing dope."

Freking, speaking in general terms about drug-using parents and not
about the Boone County case, said children today are more aware of
drug issues than previous generations were.

"Nowadays, kids get a lot of information on what could happen to
their family because of drugs," she said. "These kids are very
resilient. They have a lot of things going for themselves, and they
don't want to see it all go down the tubes.

"It takes courage to reach out for what we need and say enough is
enough. It takes a lot for a kid to get to that point. Just think how
long it takes adults. It definitely takes a very resourceful child."

Freking said when a child turns parents over to police, the welfare
of the child is of paramount importance. Authorities assess the
situation and, if necessary, remove the child from the home.

"If the home is not safe, children can be put in an emergency shelter
or a relative's care or in state foster care," said Freking.

The Williamses have been released on bond. Scheben said he didn't
know if their sons were with them or living elsewhere.

A call to Northern Kentucky offices of the Kentucky Cabinet for
Health and Family Services' Department of Community-Based Services
was not returned.

Freking said children's allegations of their parents using drugs are
sometimes difficult to authenticate.

"A child may say, 'My parents are using drugs,' but without evidence,
it is difficult to call in the legal authorities," she said.

Scheben said the couple's older son gave authorities detailed enough
information that they were able to get a search warrant for the home.

"We have to name particulars - what room the marijuana is growing in,
what rooms have weapons - and he gave enough specific information
that we got the search warrant," said Scheben.