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Children and the Opioid Crisis: A Conversation with Representative Joanne McClinton—February 9, online discussion

February 9, 2018 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Should the child(ren) of a parent who overdoses be reported to child welfare?   

Should PA create a felony drug-related child endangerment offense?

Friday, February 9th beginning at 2:00 p.m.

RSVP to join the conversation

(click on the link or paste this address into your Internet Browser – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KidsOpioidFebMtgs)

The Center for Children’s Justice (C4CJ) has invited Joanne McClinton, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing Delaware County and Philadelphia, to have a conversation with stakeholders about her work to address the impact of “parental substance abuse” on children.  Inviting her colleagues to co-sponsor legislation she has authored, McClinton wrote:

“The opioid and heroin epidemic has shown us that parental substance abuse does have negative effects on the health, safety, and general welfare of children. From the many media reports of young children alone in cars, stores, parks, parking lots and homes with a parent (or parents) who has overdosed on heroin or an opioid, we know that children are harmed and some die because of parental substance abuse. Child welfare advocates are also concerned about the harm caused to children of any age who are exposed to illegal drug activity in their homes or environment.”

House Bill 1899 seeks to amend Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) altering existing requirements for health care providers to notify a county children and youth service (CYS) agency when the health care provided is involved in the care of an infant (up to 1 year) affected by prenatal drug exposure.  Her CPSL-related bill would also would require a mandatory report from a health care provider or emergency medical service professional to the CYS agency after care has been rendered to a person “for a heroin or an opioid overdose or an overdose resulting from the use of another illegal substance by a parent of a child under 18 years of age or by any other individual residing in the parent’s household.”

House Bill 1191 would amend Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code creating new two new felony criminal offenses – Drug-related child endangerment and Aggravated drug-related child endangerment. Drug-related endangerment would be defined: “if the person intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently endangers the life or health of a child by exposing or allowing exposure of the child to an environment where a drug is delivered, stored, processed, compounded, packaged, possessed, consumed, concealed, used or otherwise present.”  If a child “suffers serious bodily injury” or dies then it is defined as aggravated drug-related child endangerment.

Inform the February 9th conversation, provide feedback about the McClinton bills.

(click on the link or paste this address into your Internet Browser – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KidsOpioidFebMtgs)

Details

Date:
February 9, 2018
Time:
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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