SALISBURY — The Rowan County Board of Commissioners will hear a brief presentation about child abuse and neglect in the county during its upcoming meeting on Monday.

The presentation, which will be given on the first day of Child Abuse Prevention Month, will cover up-to-date statistics about child abuse and neglect in the community as well as what efforts are being made to increase prevention, intervention and awareness.

Some of the main issues the Community Child Protection Teams identified as areas to focus on in 2023 were preventative parenting education aimed at the dangers of cigarette smoking, opioid use and consumption of alcohol during pregnancy; firearm safety; mental health services; and regular and early prenatal care, according to a report submitted to the meeting agenda by Social Services Director Micah Ennis.

The report submitted by Ennis includes several recommendations that will be made during the presentation, including proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness month and encouraging agency collaboration and support.

The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Monday and will be held at the Rowan County Administration building located at 130 W. Innes St. in Salisbury. The other agenda items that will be discussed include:

• A proclamation recognizing the first week in April as Rowan County Public Health Week.
• The commissioners will hold an appeal hearing on a 911 address change for a home that is currently addressed as 4596 Cook Road. The Address Program Administration has previously issued a decision that the home should be changed to 4584 Cook Road for concerns regarding emergency response abilities, which the homeowner has appealed.
• The commissioners will hear about citizens who applied for membership of local advisory boards and potentially approve their appointments.