By Kathy Chaffin
Salisbury Post
The well-being of children is the topic of the Rowan County Department of Social Services’ sixth community round table.
“We want to use this as an opportunity to inform the public, the Rowan community about the status of children,” said Sandra Wilkes, Social Services director. “We can foresee making this an annual report to the community.
“It’s just keeping in the forefront the needs of children and families and how we can work together as a community to address possible gaps in services and how we might work better together.”
Wilkes said it’s not just organizations that need to work together for the benefit of children, but the community as a whole.
Scheduled for 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Friday in the Stanback Room of Rowan Public Library, the round table will feature an overview by Rosie Allen, president and chief executive officer of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina.
Other presenters and their topics are: Dr. Jim Cowan of the Rowan County Health Department, children’s health; private practitioner James Mallinson, children’s emotional well-being; Barbara Sharpe of the Department of Social Services’ Child Protective Services, abuse and neglect; Rich Smith of the N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, youth and crime; Investigator Todd Sides of the Salisbury Police Department, youth and gangs; and Karen South Carpenter of Rowan County Youth Services Bureau, education and community services.
Allen will follow with a question-and-answer session, after which she will facilitate a discussion on the next steps that should be taken to improve outcomes for children.
Dr. Nilous Avery, chairman of the Rowan Board of Social Services, will give the welcome and closing remarks, and Tom Brewer, the department’s Child Welfare Program administrator, will introduce the speakers.
Wilkes said the round table is open to the public, but asks that anyone planning to attend pre-register by calling Kelley Williams at 704-216-8400 or by e-mailing Kelly.Williams@rowancountync.gov.
Invitations will be sent to organizations working with children.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249 or kchaffin@salisburypost.com.