Issues facing social workers at focus of talks Methadone labs, clinics addressed

BANGOR – When parents and others who care for children use illegal substances, abuse alcohol, misuse medications or manufacture illegal drugs in their homes, they put at risk more people than just the children they tend.

Substance abuse in the home also can endanger social workers, family support workers, nurses, psychologists, police and many others who enter such homes.

The 12th annual Child Welfare Conference co-sponsored by the University of Maine’s School of Social Work on Thursday, April 27, will address some of those dangers and related issues. “Children, Families and Substance Abuse: From Recognition to Intervention” will be held at the Bangor Civic Center.

Other co-sponsors are Eastern Maine Medical Center and the KidsPeace National Centers for Kids in Crisis. The public is welcome to attend.

The conference will offer tips on how professionals and first responders who assist at-risk families, or others who work with children, can determine if a member of a family is affected by illegal drugs, alcohol or prescription medications, and how that can affect the family. A special workshop also will take up the hazards of entering a home-based methamphetamine lab in a residence, and signs that a home may have one.

In addition, participants will learn about the impact of substance addiction on children and parents, how to recognize drugs and drug-use paraphernalia and signs of drug impairment or intoxication. A simulated drug-impairment dramatization will help illustrate some of these issues.

Of particular interest for social workers are the community implications of the emergence of methadone clinics, latest research on drug-affected babies and new legislation governing hospital policies when staff members find evidence of legal and illegal drugs in new mothers or infants, said Nancy Kelly, a UM lecturer and field coordinator of social work.

Though public, the conference is geared toward social workers and other professionals who work with children and families. It is expected to attract as many as 250 people, Kelly said.

The conference planning committee is composed of health care providers from the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect committee of Eastern Maine Medical Center, a member of the Bangor Police Department, social workers from various community agencies, including the Penobscot Community Health Center, the state Department of Health and Human Services, KidsPeace and faculty from UM.

Conference presenters include Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe and Bangor Police Sgt. Tom Reagan, a drug recognition education trainer.

Workshop panelists are Pat Kimball, executive director of Wellspring Inc.; Brent Scobie, Acadia Hospital Substance Abuse Services; Marie Hayes, associate UM psychology professor; Dr. Kumar Akilesh, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at EMMC; Dr. Paul Tisher from Acadia Hospital; Special Agent Ralph Bridges from the Maine Drug Enforcement Task Force; and Renee Bunker, assistant U.S. Attorney and coordinator of the Maine Meth Watch program.

Registration deadline is April 23. For cost and conference details, call the UM School of Social Work at 581-2398.