Bryan Stewart

Richmond County Daily Journal

Like many businesses Sandhills Children’s Center has felt the budget crunch and funding cuts, yet in the wake of harsh economic times they have recently been awarded a 5-star license from the state of North Carolina.

“It makes me very proud,” Melanie Carnes, director of center services at Sandhills Children’s Center’s Richmond County campus said. “I knew we provided quality care and it’s great to finally have the finally state recognize it.”

The center remains the only 5-star licensed center in Richmond County which was put through a, “rigorous program.”

“It’s a ton of work that goes into getting a 5-star rating,” Carnes said.

The center received seven out of seven potential points in areas raging from the educational backgrounds of teachers and the facility itself, according to Carnes.

“There’s teachers in our classroom who have four-year degrees,” Carnes said. “And that helped us.”

The facility currently educates 165 children; 37 of which with special needs.

SCC staffs educators and volunteers; some with bachelors degrees, extensive educational backgrounds and associates degrees.

The center opened its doors on Sept. 8, 2008 and within the first year was honored with the award.

“I was thrilled when they opened a campus in Richmond County,” Jan Stivers, member of the Sandhills Children’s Center board. “This helps meet the needs of the community.”

Within its first year the center has battled with reductions in Medicaid, which help with fund therapies some children need according to Kathy Desmond, director of development with Sandhills Children’s Center in Southern Pines.

“We’ve been hit pretty hard,” Carnes said. “It hasn’t affected the educational aspect of the children thankfully. We can give thanks to a dedicated set of donors and providers.”

According to Carnes, much of the therapy funding comes from the donations of those in the community. Following cuts from mental health funds, they have been looking into ideas for fundraisers in Richmond County.

“We’re a non-profit and like most non-profits, people have to look at their budgeting closely,” Stivers said. “We’re fortunate we’ve had a lot of people to donate.”

The mother of a special needs student, Jennifer Blake, says that she is ecstatic her four-year old son Caleb has the chance to attend a center like SCC.

Caleb who was diagnosed with autism.

The center offers occupational and rehabilitative programs for special needs students, as well as integrates typically developing children with special needs children.

“It’s a worry and I always worry about other children judging and picking on him,” Blake said. “There they learn compassion and understanding for children that are different.”

Currently, the center is close to capacity but Carnes says they have a waiting list for potential students and always leaves the door open for volunteers.

Sandhills Children’s Center is located at 108 Crow Run, Rockingham and can be reached at 997-7160.

n Staff writer Bryan Stewart can be reached at 997-3111 ext. 15 or by e-mail at bstewart@yourdailyjournal.com.