Episode 24: Forensic Nursing and Drug Endangered Children (DEC)

In this Bell Works Talk, Executive Director, Scott Henderson, discusses the history and evolution of National DEC. Scott also discusses National DEC's updated mission and vision statement, as well as National DEC's new definition. Scott discusses how the DEC Approach is being used across the United States, as well as new tools, apps, and other resources that National DEC has to offer. Lt. (Ret.) Eric Nation, discusses the importance law enforcement involvement in the DEC mission, as well the positive impact the DEC mission has on children, families, and communities. Eric also discusses the importance and the connection of having Law Enforcement and Forensic Nurses as part of a collaborative DEC alliance. Eric discusses the importance of early identification of drug endangered children, as well as the importance of a DEC Alliance. Stacee Read, BA, MSW, discusses the importance of child welfare involvement in the DEC mission, as well as the importance of the DEC mission for communities and disciplines. Stacee also discusses the importance of collaboration and connection of having Child Welfare and Forensic Nurses as part of a local DEC Alliance. Stacee discusses the scope of the DEC problem, understanding what community members and professionals should be looking for and who to contact. Stacee shares about the National DEC Roadmap and Toolkit and how it is used in developing DEC Alliances by using awareness, implementation, and institutionalization. Stacee shares the trainings offered by the National DEC. Stacee wraps things up with the partnership between National DEC and the Academy of Forensic Nursing and the importance of this partnership to being successful. Scott Henderson, National DEC Executive Director. Scott joined National DEC on February 24, 2020, as a full-time Executive Director. He brings 21 years of nonprofit executive leadership experience to the organization. For fifteen years he served as the executive director for organizations that provided experiential education, leadership deve