Become a country partner

More than 12 percent of children in the United States—nine million children—live in homes where a parent or other adult uses illegal drugs. The impact on these children can be devastating. They are three times more likely than children in drug-free environments to be verbally, physically, or sexually abused and four times more likely to be neglected. It is hard to find these kids—and harder still to protect them. Fortunately, organizations like the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC) and their affiliated state, local, and tribal DEC alliances continue to make great strides in establishing training and resources that help law enforcement, social workers, teachers, community groups, and others identify and assist children growing up in these tragic circumstances. National DEC regularly demonstrates that we can provide a powerfully visible alternative to the neglect and violence that are part of the daily lives of far too many children. We can intervene more effectively to help mitigate the long-term negative effects children face when they are exposed to this kind of trauma. Using trauma-informed approaches to respond to children who are endangered by drugs is increasingly becoming a central part of law enforcement’s mission to serve and protect. This new edition of Promising Practices for Helping Drug Endangered Children: Paths to a Common Vision (originally published in 2014) highlights resources National DEC has developed to facilitate the establishment of state, local, and tribal alliances; it also gives examples of how many agencies are consistently using those resources to carry out the organization’s three-part mission and make a difference in children’s lives. It can help you and your agency collaborate with others in your community to make identifying and serving these children part of your daily routine. Every child deserves to grow up in a home free from abuse and neglect. Together, we can make that a reality.

4 Innovative Online Training Courses; 30-45 minutes each The courses feature interviews with a wide array of experts from across the U.S., interactive graphics, scenario videos and a virtual tour of a home impacted by drug presence. All disciplines that come in contact with children should enroll in these trainings.

The following Regional Data Profile is based on information provided by knowledgeable professionals in the country. It is often difficult to capture the varying circumstances and ISPCAN was unable to verify the accuracy of the information. It is our hope that each profile offers a useful snapshot of issues related to child protection in each country. The 2020 World Perspectives survey was modified for this most recent data collection, mostly to help clarify the meaning of some questions and provide more guidance to respondents. Respondents were given a link to complete the survey online. The development of the survey was guided by input from an international advisory committee convened for the purposes of collecting country level data and who are acknowledged for their invaluable contributions. The content covered consideration of what circumstances were CM in the country; specific policies regarding CM; legal responses to child sexual exploitation (CSE); services used to address CM; prevention strategies; and barriers to prevention. Data was gathered between December 2019 and February 2020. It is important to note that data on many of the issues may not have been available, requiring respondents to provide educated estimates. We obtained information from 62 countries including 10 countries in Africa, 9 in the Americas, 19 in Asia, 22 in Europe, and Australia and New Zealand in Oceania. Countries were also categorized by income level using designations by the World Bank; 27 countries had high income, 20 upper-middle income and 15 were low income. Those who responded are considered experts in their countries in different disciplines with knowledge of country-level data, and they were encouraged to consult with colleagues when uncertain of an answer. That said, ISPCAN was unable to verify the accuracy of responses. In conclusion, this report offers a snapshot of the state of CM and child protection across many countries across the globe. Taken together over the history of publication, much has been accomplished—especially in terms of awareness of the child maltreatment problem and the development of systems to address it. That said, concerns from infrastructure to expertise, to leveraging the lived experience of communities, remains a challenge made even more.

This Country Data Profile is based on information provided by knowledgeable professionals in the country. It is often difficult to capture the varying circumstances and ISPCAN was unable to verify the accuracy of the information. It is our hope that each profile offers a useful snapshot of issues related to child protection in each country. The 2020 World Perspectives survey was modified for this most recent data collection, mostly to help clarify the meaning of some questions and provide more guidance to respondents. Respondents were given a link to complete the survey online. The development of the survey was guided by input from an international advisory committee convened for the purposes of collecting country level data and who are acknowledged for their invaluable contributions. The content covered consideration of what circumstances were CM in the country; specific policies regarding CM; legal responses to child sexual exploitation (CSE); services used to address CM; prevention strategies; and barriers to prevention. Data was gathered between December 2019 and February 2020. It is important to note that data on many of the issues may not have been available, requiring respondents to provide educated estimates.

This Country Data Profile is based on information provided by knowledgeable professionals in the country. It is often difficult to capture the varying circumstances and ISPCAN was unable to verify the accuracy of the information. It is our hope that each profile offers a useful snapshot of issues related to child protection in each country. The 2020 World Perspectives survey was modified for this most recent data collection, mostly to help clarify the meaning of some questions and provide more guidance to respondents. Respondents were given a link to complete the survey online. The development of the survey was guided by input from an international advisory committee convened for the purposes of collecting country level data and who are acknowledged for their invaluable contributions. The content covered consideration of what circumstances were CM in the country; specific policies regarding CM; legal responses to child sexual exploitation (CSE); services used to address CM; prevention strategies; and barriers to prevention. Data was gathered between December 2019 and February 2020. It is important to note that data on many of the issues may not have been available, requiring respondents to provide educated estimates.