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Agencies discuss ways to survive economy and meet youth needs
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Published: March 21, 2009
Encouraging parental involvement and an increased emphasis on networking are two steps area agencies plan to use to resolve unmet needs among Iredell County's youth.
The Iredell County Partnership for Young Children (ICPYC) hosted a Children's Summit to inform community partners about current services and unmet needs.
Attendees said the economic downturn was hitting their agencies hard. Pooling their resources, some said, would enable them to better serve children.
"I'm excited to get connected with you guys," said ICPYC Executive Director Marta Koesling. "If we walk out this door and just say 'Yeah, I learned a lot,' we will have failed. We have to be the advocate. We know there is a need."
Agencies participating in Friday's summit included the county Department of Social Services, the Health Department, Iredell Memorial, Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mi Familia Institute and the Mooresville and Iredell County Public Libraries.
Koesling said it was important for participants to gather a working knowledge of the other organizations and to utilize those resources.
"It's easier when you can put a face with an organization," said Exchange/Stop Child Abuse Now Child and Parenting Center Director Amy Eisele.
Norma Rife, the Health Department's director of Public Health Development, said it is important to know the people who have a working knowledge of how their agency works and how it fits into the big picture.
ICPYC Board Chairman Allen Smith said if the agencies can coordinate their actions, and not duplicate services, they can make things easier for the people they serve.
After a brief networking session, attendees split into small groups to discuss what they believe the county needs. Encouraging parental involvement and finding service providers who would travel all over the county emerged as needs.
"I learned a lot," said DSS Daycare Coordinator Aliesa Bowman. "If we can get other local services together we might find other funding services and other cost effective alternatives."
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