The three systems announced today that the efforts are part of a concentrated statewide push to find children who need special help they are currently not receiving. It is also an endeavor to inform parents and guardians of the services available from their local school system and other state and community agencies.

“Help is available for children with special needs,” said William Hussey, director of the state Department of Public Instruction's Exceptional Children Division. “This help is in the form of a complete evaluation, an education program specifically designed for the child and a referral to other agencies which provide special services.

Project Child Find is looking for children and youth who have been diagnosed or are suspected to have mental, physical or emotional disabilities and are unable to benefit from a regular school program without special assistance.

Contacts for this program are the superintendents — Elie Bracy III in Weldon; Dennis Sawyer in Roanoke Rapids; Monica Smith-Woofter in Northampton and Elease Frederick in Halifax. The exceptional children directors are: Shana Pendergrass in Weldon; Sheila Casey in Roanoke Rapids; Tikisha Joyner in Northampton and Cynthia Debereaux in Halifax.

“We need the help of all citizens in this effort to find children and youth who could benefit from special services,” Hussey said. “Without this help, some child with a disability may not be found. The right to a free appropriate education is guaranteed to every child with a disability, ages 3 through 21.”

Contact numbers are:

252-536-4821 for Weldon

252-519-7100 for Roanoke Rapids

252-534-1371 for Northampton

252-583-5111 for Halifax

919-807-3299 for the state

1-800-662-7030 for the referral service care line where the caller asks for the exception children division

1-800-TLC-0042 for the Family Support Network