| About Us |
Center-Based Program
Center-based program services began in September 1970 with the
primary goal to provide a day school alternative to institutional placement
for young children with severe and profound disabilities. The Center was
incorporated in 1975 as the Moore County Children’s Center, and later
changed its name to Sandhills Children’s Center to reflect the broadened
geographic area of service to counties in this south central region.
Center-based program services began in September 1970 with the
primary goal to provide a day school alternative to institutional placement
for young children with severe and profound disabilities. The Center was
incorporated in 1975 as the Moore County Children’s Center, and later
changed its name to Sandhills Children’s Center to reflect the broadened
geographic area of service to counties in this south central region.
Outreach Program
Sandhills Children’s Center expanded its program in July of 2004 to
include home-based, outreach services in a multi-county area. Currently
serving an additional one hundred fifty children in counties throughout
south central North Carolina, the focus of this project is to provide direct
services of educational, speech, physical, and occupational therapies in
home or child care settings. By providing this, Sandhills Children’s Center
allows family members and/or caregivers to gain a better understanding of
the goals and objectives that have been set for their child. Home visits are
scheduled on a regular basis to assist children with cognitive skills,
language and communication, self-help, social skills and physical
development. By supporting each family in this way, they have an
opportunity to take part in their child’s individualized plan.
Sandhills Children’s Center expanded its program in July of 2004 to
include home-based, outreach services in a multi-county area. Currently
serving an additional one hundred fifty children in counties throughout
south central North Carolina, the focus of this project is to provide direct
services of educational, speech, physical, and occupational therapies in
home or child care settings. By providing this, Sandhills Children’s Center
allows family members and/or caregivers to gain a better understanding of
the goals and objectives that have been set for their child. Home visits are
scheduled on a regular basis to assist children with cognitive skills,
language and communication, self-help, social skills and physical
development. By supporting each family in this way, they have an
opportunity to take part in their child’s individualized plan.
Sandhills Children’s Center does not have a formal affiliation with any
other non-profit organizations, but works intricately with a large number of
community based and state sponsored agencies. These agencies
include Moore and Richmond County Schools and Health Departments,
Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA), Community
Alternatives Program (CAP), Mental Health programs, Head Start, the Early
Intervention Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Governor
Morehead School for the Blind Preschool Program, Child Care
Connections resource and referral agency, The Arc of Moore County,
Lenox Baker Children’s Hospital of Duke University Medical Center, the
Center for Development and Learning and Division of TEACCH of the
University of North Carolina System, and local pediatricians and family
care providers. In addition to coordination of service provision with these
agencies, the Center has repeatedly been requested to participate in a
variety of research projects to replicate programs and determine best
practices for the birth to five special needs population. These research
projects have been conducted by the University of North Carolina on
Chapel Hill and Charlotte campuses, Western Carolina University, and the
Early Childhood Research Institute through the University of North
Carolina and Rhode Island College.
Sandhills Children’s Center holds a Five Star license through the North
Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Division of
Child Development. This license is reviewed annually for compliance with
day care standards and includes an annual fire safety review and quarterly
sanitation inspections. The Center is accredited by the Division of Mental
Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services of the North
Carolina DHHS to provide developmental day and case management
services. As well, the Center must comply with the Department of Public
Instruction guidelines for exceptional children and is monitored through its
contract with Moore and Richmond county school districts.
other non-profit organizations, but works intricately with a large number of
community based and state sponsored agencies. These agencies
include Moore and Richmond County Schools and Health Departments,
Children’s Developmental Services Agency (CDSA), Community
Alternatives Program (CAP), Mental Health programs, Head Start, the Early
Intervention Program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Governor
Morehead School for the Blind Preschool Program, Child Care
Connections resource and referral agency, The Arc of Moore County,
Lenox Baker Children’s Hospital of Duke University Medical Center, the
Center for Development and Learning and Division of TEACCH of the
University of North Carolina System, and local pediatricians and family
care providers. In addition to coordination of service provision with these
agencies, the Center has repeatedly been requested to participate in a
variety of research projects to replicate programs and determine best
practices for the birth to five special needs population. These research
projects have been conducted by the University of North Carolina on
Chapel Hill and Charlotte campuses, Western Carolina University, and the
Early Childhood Research Institute through the University of North
Carolina and Rhode Island College.
Sandhills Children’s Center holds a Five Star license through the North
Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Division of
Child Development. This license is reviewed annually for compliance with
day care standards and includes an annual fire safety review and quarterly
sanitation inspections. The Center is accredited by the Division of Mental
Health/Developmental Disabilities/Substance Abuse Services of the North
Carolina DHHS to provide developmental day and case management
services. As well, the Center must comply with the Department of Public
Instruction guidelines for exceptional children and is monitored through its
contract with Moore and Richmond county school districts.
Executive Director
Melanie C. Gayle, M.Ed.
Director of Center Services
Mary F. Sonnenberg, M.Ed.
Director of Development
Kathy K. Desmond, B.A
Special Events Coordinator
Teresa Copper, B.A.
Business Manager
Gala LeGrand
Billing
Kathy Thompson
Child Enrollment Assistant
Jennifer Jones
Auxiliary Services Manager
Becca Bradley
Melanie C. Gayle, M.Ed.
Director of Center Services
Mary F. Sonnenberg, M.Ed.
Director of Development
Kathy K. Desmond, B.A
Special Events Coordinator
Teresa Copper, B.A.
Business Manager
Gala LeGrand
Billing
Kathy Thompson
Child Enrollment Assistant
Jennifer Jones
Auxiliary Services Manager
Becca Bradley
Laura Kite, Chair
Kamron Monroe, Vice Chair
Bill Eastman, Treasurer
Bob Baillie, Secretary
Foster Brown
Jay Clatworthy
Andrew Doolittle, M.D.
Tina Fasolak
Michael Gutschmit
Kathy LaRose
Deb Lawson
Bob Lloyd
Sue Lloyd
Harriet McCollum
John McKean
Wendy Smithson
Rusti Welch
Fredanel Woronoff
Peter Zimmermann
Kamron Monroe, Vice Chair
Bill Eastman, Treasurer
Bob Baillie, Secretary
Foster Brown
Jay Clatworthy
Andrew Doolittle, M.D.
Tina Fasolak
Michael Gutschmit
Kathy LaRose
Deb Lawson
Bob Lloyd
Sue Lloyd
Harriet McCollum
John McKean
Wendy Smithson
Rusti Welch
Fredanel Woronoff
Peter Zimmermann
| 2008-2009 Board of Directors |