2008 Woodie Awards
Commissioners tackle drug abuse of mothers
Editor-In- Chief
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Community
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A new resolution was passed unanimously by the Butler County Board of Commissioners Monday, Oct. 8 that allows children's services to conduct a full investigation on the home life of mothers with illicit drugs in their bodies at the time of childbirth.
According to Butler County Commissioner, Greg Jolivette, before this resolution was passed, pursuing an investigation against a mother required the mother and child to test positive for illegal drugs or for the child to show signs of withdrawal after birth.
"It doesn't make sense that if the child has drugs, then we will do an investigation, but if the child is clean and the mother has drugs, than we don't do anything," Jolivette said. "Even though the baby doesn't have signs, that is still an indication that there is something going on in the household that isn't right."
Now that the resolution is passed, any mother who has illegal drugs in her system while giving birth can be subject to a full investigation to make sure that the conditions of the home are suitable for raising a child.
"We're talking about infants," said Butler County Children's Service spokesperson Denise Winkler. "And infants at that age are unable to protect themselves, and are therefore a very vulnerable population to abuse and neglect."
According to Jolivette, the investigation could have several outcomes, such as the confiscation of the child, but the most desirable outcome of this resolution is getting the mother the help she needs for her drug addiction.
"We want to make sure that when the baby comes home, they aren't coming home to a household that is using drugs," Jolivette said. "We don't want to be punitive by taking the child away, but we want to get help to the mother."
Children's services is in charge of enforcing this new resolution, according to Jolivette, and will be conducting all of the investigations of the homes of the mothers in question.
"We are going to be assessing the family and home to make sure the child will be safe after leaving the hospital," Winkler said.
According to Winkler, children's services is not preoccupied with the additional work that this resolution may give them.
They are much more focused on the overall impact that this resolution will have on Butler County.
"We don't believe that it will be that much additional work for us, but we do believe that it is a greater protection for children," Winkler said.
The Butler County Children's Services were in favor of the resolution from the very beginning and believe that it will have a good outcome in the community, according to Winkler.
"Our mission is to protect children and preserve families," Winkler said. "This helps us do both."
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