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Iowa Department of Human Services Wants a Tougher Law to Protect Children

Child welfare advocates at the Iowa Department of Human Services want to change state law to help protect children who are exposed to drugs by their parents or caregivers.  Siouxland Public Media’s Mary Hartnett has more.

The current Iowa law protects children who are at home when methamphetamines are being used, sold or manufactured. The Des Moines Register reports that the proposed bill would trigger a child abuse investigation if the drug activity occurs even if the child is not at home.  The bill covers a wider variety of controlled substances. A similar bill was voted down last year. 

The department says when cocaine, heroin, opioids and methamphetamines are in the house, caregivers often have a record with the DHS.

The DHS says it wants to protect children and get caregivers the help they need to be good parents. For Siouxland Public Media, I’m Mary Hartnett.

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