State of the Child to be held in March at University of Mount Olive
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on February 8, 2016 1:46 PM
The 15th annual State of the Child Conference will be held March 11 at the University of Mount Olive.
The one-day event, from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., features an array of workshop topics, speakers, as well as vendors and educational materials.
What is especially interesting, though, is how simply the whole concept started.
"We just came up with this idea on our own and felt it would be beneficially to do locally," said Sudie Davis, treasurer of the initiative that launched the idea, targeting Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties.
The committee has been comprised of representatives from such agencies as Communities in Schools (of which Mrs. Davis had been executive director before retiring), Wayne County Public Schools,4-H and cooperative extension, Eastpointe, Guardian Ad Litem and the court system.
The purpose of the conference is to educate those who work with families and children, she explained. It has especially catered to those working in the areas of early childhood development, school counselors and social workers, non-profits and those in the field of juvenile justice, she said.
"We felt like it would be beneficial to bring in trainings since many couldn't afford to go anywhere for training," she said. "It was beneficial to me when I was with Communities in Schools."
The first one was held in Lenoir County, she recalls.
"It grew and grew to the point where we talked to Mount Olive College (now University of Mount Olive)," she said. "We have been there probably nine or 10 years.
"Our biggest problem is that the conference has become so popular there's no place bigger to move it to. We have 350 openings and we turn people away."
It has also expanded in other ways, drawing attendees from as far away as Lumberton, Greenville, Raleigh and Jacksonville, she said.
"It's really eastern North Carolina," she said of the conference's reach appeal. "We always have handouts, vendors, a lot from mental health, non-profits.
"It has become so successful that now we're doing it for the 15th time and it's strictly volunteer-driven. I'm just excited that we have managed to keep it going so long."
Opening plenary speaker is Gail Marsale, on the topic of stress management. David Rendall, closing speaker, will talk about "Using Your Uniqueness."
Workshop topics include gang education and awareness, autism from a personal/parent and professional perspective, working with military families, meeting unmet needs of exceptional children and suicidal behaviors in adolescents. A potential five contact hours can be earned for attending the entire conference.
Lunch is also provided.
There is a $25 registration, which is non-refundable and due by Feb. 10.
For more information on registration, contact Debby Barnes at 919-731-7916 or debbybarnes@ncps.gov.