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                                                                                        February, 2006

 TO:                District Superintendents
                        Superintendents of Schools
                        Non Public School Administrators
                        Charter School Administrators

FROM:            Rebecca Gardner  

 SUBJECT:      Methamphetamine Awareness

        School personnel who are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or maltreatment incidents and who as part of their usual responsibility visit children’s homes shall be provided with information as how to recognize the signs of an unlawful methamphetamine laboratory.  

Background:

        Governor Pataki signed into law on August 2, 2005 an act that enhanced criminal penalties relating to the manufacture of the highly addictive drug, methamphetamine. This law also amended the Social Service Law, the General Municipal Law, and the Mental Hygiene Law in relation to the provision of information on unlawful methamphetamine laboratories.

         Specifically, Social Service Law Section 413 is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:

 Any person, institution, school, facility, agency, organization, partnership or corporation, which employs persons who are mandated to report suspected incidents of child abuse or maltreatment pursuant to subdivision one of this section and whose employees, in the normal course of their employment, travel to locations where children reside, shall provide, consistent with section four hundred and twenty-one of this title, all such current and new employees with information on recognizing the signs of an unlawful methamphetamine laboratory.

         Pursuant to Mental Hygiene Law § 19.27, the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) shall serve as the principle source for the statewide dissemination of information about the dangers of methamphetamine production and how to report suspected methamphetamine laboratories. This section further provides: 

         Such information shall be made available to the following individuals and groups: chemical dependence prevention programs; child protective services; social services; schools; community-based organizations; chemical dependence treatment programs; health care providers; emergency service personnel (including police, fire fighters and ambulance personnel); and other entities or individuals deemed appropriate by the office.

         Pursuant to this recently enacted legislation, (Chapter 394 of the Laws of 2005), a brochure has been developed entitled, “How to Recognize the Signs of a Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory” which is to be provided to your employees who are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse or maltreatment incidents and who as part of their usual responsibility visit children’s homes. The brochure and other information related to this topic may be obtained from the OASAS website: http://www.oasas.state.ny.us/meth/index.htm.

Steps to Take:

• Identify staff who routinely as part of their responsibility visit children’s homes;
• Share the “How to Recognize the Signs of a Clandestine Laboratory” brochure that is available at the following URL: http://www.oasas.state.ny.us/meth/index.htm;
• Notify staff that additional staff development is available by contacting the staff development coordinator at the local Department of Social Services or Judy Tomisman of the Office of Children and Family Services, to determine the nearest location of staff development regarding methamphetamine awareness and education programs. Ms. Tomisman’s phone number is (518) 486-4740 and her email is Judith.Tomisman@ocfs.state.ny.us; and,
• Develop reporting procedures consistent with the legislation for instances that are required to be reported.

Contact Greg Bayduss (518) 486-7327 of the Student Support Services Team with any questions regarding this requirement.

cc:       Gregory Bayduss
            Tom Hogan