At it’s annual statewide conference in Stevens Point in September, the Wisconsin Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (DEC) recognized 12 counties for their efforts in organizing and developing county-wide programs to respond to the needs of drug endangered children.  Children living in residences where illegal drugs are manufactured, possessed, distributed or used are at particular risk of abuse and neglect.  The Chippewa County DEC program was one of the twelve recognized and City of Chippewa Falls Police Officer Deborah Brettingen received the award on behalf of that program.  Officer Brettingen initially brought the idea of a DEC program to Chippewa County.  She garnered support for a program and was then instrumental in developing the county-wide protocol that got the program up and running.  It is in operation now and continues to grow, supporting and bringing aid to those children put in harms way by drug abuses in their homes.

A DEC program is a multi-disciplinary team commonly comprised of members from law enforcement, human services, prosecutors, the medical community, the public health department and Department of Corrections.  Other participants in Chippewa County include the L.E. Phillips Treatment Center, Chippewa Falls Fire and ‘Emergency Services Department and the Chippewa Fire District Fire and Rescue Services.  Through this DEC program, organizations within the County work together to enhance their response to the immediate need of drug endangered children and to gather adequate evidence to substantiate prosecution of appropriate endangerment and other charges.