Child-abuse panel to meet March 30

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Staff report
The recent deaths of infants sleeping with adults is expected to draw the attention of the Rowan County Child Abuse Prevention Task Force.
Carl Ford, chairman of the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, has called for the annual session to be held March 30 at 5:15 p.m. in Room 201 of the Cohen Administrative Office Building, 130 W. Innes St.
Ford has asked Arnold Chamberlain, a former commissioner and a member of the task force since its inception, to lead the discussion.
The panel meets annually to review how the various agencies have worked during the past year and to determine if changes need to be made in the protocol document that serves as a guide.
The participants include those from law enforcement, health care, Department of Social Services, help agencies, courts and probation.
The task force and protocol were established in 1997 after four children in the Department Social Services system died tragically, three at the hands of their caretakers. The community protocol was developed and adopted in October 1997.