Sponsored by The Family Safety Alliance, Child Care Apprenticeship Program, and the Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County

We hear reports of “The Opioid Epidemic” and the fabulous work our Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has accomplished over the past year through much community collaboration decreasing our county’s death rate from these drugs by over 70%. Who though, has been asking, “What about the Kids?” What about the 2-year-old brought to a child care facility with the statement, “He’s a little tired today,” and then having to spend a week detoxing the legally prescribed drugs he ingested at home? He is fortunate that his child care facility staff knew enough to know he was more than just tired.

What do we not know that we need to know? What about the children in child care and in schools whose parents are using? What can we do to boost their mental health and ability to deal with the home life? How can we support children who are fortunate enough to be placed in foster care homes, and how can we support those wonderful families who open their homes?

Join Captain Todd Shear of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Department, Judge Teresa Dees of the 12th judicial circuit for dependency and delinquency, Nathan Scott III of the Family Safety Alliance, Kristie Skoglund of The Florida Center for Early Childhood, and several others in a panel discussion with Q&A about this topic. METV will be filming this for community sharing.

This event will be held at the Manatee Technical College in Bradenton. For general questions or more information, please contact Pam Parmenter at (941) 757-2900 ext. 261 or register here.