CFK Reports From: The Impact of Meth on Foster Care, Children, and Families
Event: Panel Discussion
Organized By: Generations United
Where/When: June 8, 2006; Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC

Report by: Kate Carta

The discussion at this congressional briefing on the impact of methamphetamine abuse on foster care, children, and families paid special attention to the role being played by grandparents who step forward to become legal guardians for children who are removed from their homes due to a parent's methamphetamine abuse. The talk centered on the need for community support for the grandparents and children. Along with the panel of speakers, Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat from Montana joined the conversation.

James O'Hara, the director of policy initiatives and of the Health and Human Services Program at the Pew Charitable Trusts, spoke about the need for the panelists and other advocates to raise awareness and leadership in communities. He went further to talk about how the courts need to act in the best interest of children by placing them in homes of extended family, instead of foster homes. O'Hara wants to speed children out of foster care and into safe and permanent living. He stated that "on average children will remain in foster care for three years and remain in three different places at that time."

Dr. Rizwan Z. Shah, the medical director of the child abuse program at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, said that parental drug abuse and the exposure of their children to drugs is behind most of the child abuse and neglect that she encounters in her work. Shah reported that "some 8.3 million children are living in a home where there is drug abuse." She added that "90 percent of my time is taking care of drug exposed children," and explained that many meth-abusing parents are not able to provide care for their children because they need to sleep off the depression that follows a meth high.

Leona O'Connor is a grandparent raising her two grandchildren, Cassandra and Alexander, in Tucson, Arizona with her husband. These two children also have a brother, Jonathan, who had high levels of meth in his system when he was born and has required special care as a result. The children's parents have had their parental rights terminated in court, and O'Connor said that Jonathan's aunt plans to adopt him in order to keep him in close contact with his siblings. She said that Alexander is now doing well in school and that although Cassandra is doing well, she suffered through periods of isolation and lack of food while living with her mother and has temper tantrums and wets the bed.

Betsy Dunn, child protection services case manager at the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, declared that meth is the "worst form of child abuse that I have ever seen." She said that in Tennessee in 2004, "Seven hundred children came into state custody due to meth-related issues."

Sen. Baucus of Montana told the audience about his involvement with the Montana Meth Project, which produces public service ads that graphically portray the effect of meth use. Baccus said that in Montana, "sixty-six percent of all foster care placements are drug-related and of that 55 percent are meth-related." He noted that Montana legislators are considering a new law, the Combat Meth Act, which would require pharmacies to keep the cold and sinus products which include the components used for making meth behind the counter. Baucus said he hopes that strict control of the sale of these products will lead to a decrease in the number of meth labs.

The last speaker, Charlotte Ann Sanders, is a parent and recovered meth addict who lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She spoke of her painful struggle to reclaim her daughters from state custody and come clean from this highly-addictive drug. Sanders said that "meth made me feel like I was super mom," and "I was on meth for over ten years." Her children were taken from her home one night to live with their grandmother. Because fumes from the meth had contaminated the house, they were not allowed to bring any clothing, toys or other possessions with them. (In addition to using the drug, Sanders had "cooked" meth in her home as well.) The two girls were taken to the hospital to be tested for exposure and decontaminated. "My kids lost everything," Sanders said. She has been clean now for three years and has managed to get regain custody of her children. She said, "I have found God in faith-based groups," and is trying to live a happy Christian life.

The audience was given a booklet entitled, Meth and Child Welfare: Promising Solutions for Children, Their Parents, and Grandparents.

The panel was moderated by Donna Butts, the Executive Director for Generations United.