The Prevent Child Abuse Rowan board of directors and volunteers are taking on more responsibilities after the child advocacy center’s executive director position was eliminated due to funding shortage.
In the past, Prevent Child Abuse Rowan has relied on grant funding from the N.C. Governor’s Crime Commission to pay for many of its services including a family advocate for the Terrie Hess House child advocacy center and its executive director.
Since May 2011, the position was held by Karen Barbee after she retired from the Salisbury Police Department.
“That position was funded entirely from the Governor’s Crime Commission 2011-2012 grant cycle and that grant ended June 30, 2012,” said board member Matt Freeze.
Freeze said the board was hoping to find other sources of funding and have since applied again for the Governor’s Crime Commission grant. He said the board should know within 30 to 60 days whether the organization received the grant. He feels as though now that the organization has been accredited it is in a better position to receive the grant. The organization was accredited through the National Children’s Alliance following a lengthy application and review process.
Forensic Interviewer Beth Moore has also taken on much of the responsibilities that were held by Barbee. Freeze said it is the board’s desire to reopen the position and fill it quickly.
Fundraising chair Matt Marsh has also taken on the role making sure financially the organization is sound. Freeze is working with others to find grant and other funding opportunities. The organization has a number of upcoming events this month, which is Child Abuse Awareness month. Many of those events are also opportunities to not only educate the public, but raise money for the organization.
Prevent Child Abuse Rowan and the Terrie Hess House child advocacy center is still looking to partner with other organizations and individuals to bring about more awareness of child abuse.
“The Terrie Hess House offers a valuable asset to the community, but we would like to see the number of children decrease because that means the number of incidents are going down and that is a goal of Prevent Child Abuse Rowan, along with providing education,” Freeze said.
For more about Prevent Child Abuse Rowan visit www.preventchildabuserowan.org or call 704-639-1700.