Countywide

Hoping to provide a single organization within the county capable of developing and coordinating programs designed to protect children, Supervisor Susan Golding on Tuesday announced the formation of the Child Safe Council.

Golding said the council will be an “advocate for children in San Diego” and will be made up of concerned leaders “who urgently want to improve the safety, health and well-being of our children through community action programs.”

A key goal of the council will be to implement a program to teach children the safest route to and from school and neighborhood play areas, and to designate “safe harbors” where children can go if they need help along the way.

The council includes Golding as founder and chairwoman; Judge Judith McConnell, presiding judge of Juvenile Court; Blair Sadler, president of Children’s Hospital; Norma Hirsh, president of the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation, and Sallie Cadawallader, president of the PTA for the 9th District, which covers San Diego County.

Also on the 32-member board of directors are Chamber of Commerce President Lee Grissom, Police Chief Bill Kolender, Sheriff John Duffy, school Supts. Tom Payzant and Jerry Rosander, and several other religious, cultural, educational and community leaders.