For years, staff within the Children’s Division have heard how the use and manufacture of methamphetamine has contributed to our Alternative Care caseloads. When speaking about this, staff needed to rely upon anecdotal information as the existing Alternative Care Tracking System is not capable of accurately tracking the impact of this particular drug.
In December 2005, Interim Director Paula Neese asked staff in each judicial circuit to gather information to provide a baseline count of the children currently in Children’s Division legal custody (foster care) due to methamphetamine use/manufacture by their caretakers, or due to the drug’s use by the youth themselves. This figure will be updated monthly, at least through May 2006.