DHR STATE DIRECTOR TELLS GUNTERSVILLE ROTARY CLUB ABOUT LIFE ON 'BATTLEFIELD'

Alabama Commissioner of Human Resources Bill Fuller has ordered 100
bullet-proof vests, gas masks and chemical-resistant drugs for social
workers who have to go into crystal methamphetamine labs, such as the one
where several children were discovered last week.

"Parents in Alabama who are making crystal methamphetamine have their
babies at their feet," said Fuller, speaking Monday at the Guntersville
Rotary Club.

Fuller referred to a recent case where a couple were arrested on charges of
trafficking in crystal meth and three Marshall County DHR social workers
had to stay behind cover until police officers could remove four children
from the home.

"We are having lunch in the middle of a battlefield," Fuller told the
Rotarians. "Just when I think I cannot be shocked, I am shocked afresh. I
hear about incredibly dangerous drug cases."

Fuller also updated the group on the progress the state Department of Human
Resources and its county offices are making in the areas of collecting
child support and investigating adult abuse cases.

There are 5,500 foster children in the custody of DHR, and investigators
are working more than 30,000 open cases of child abuse and neglect. The
department also works more than 500,000 child support collection cases, and
Fuller said he is adding 100 new child support case workers to help collect
the $1.3 billion that is owed to Alabama children. About 10,000
non-custodial parents owe at least $25,000 in back child support.

"In the next year or so I plan to spend about $3 million on child-support
computer systems with additional staff and a team of eight retired law
enforcement investigators who will do nothing for me but investigate
fugitives who are running from their child-support obligations," Fuller said.

The DHR also licenses day-care programs and investigates the abuse of the
elderly and other adults. Fuller said 4,516 adults are currently in DHR
custody because they have been abused or neglected.

"I am convinced that there are 8,000 to 10,000 more cases that are
unreported," he said.