Countywide : Council’s New Chief Seeks to Raise Profile

Shelley Westmore, who was elected this month to head the Child Abuse Council of Orange County, said that her primary goal is to increase the council’s public exposure.

“The council is (well-known) among professionals working with abused children,” said Westmore, 29. “Now we want to reach out to the community at large and be a focal point for public awareness and education.”

Up to now, the 19-year-old council’s main job has been as a coordinating body for its members, who include educators, social service workers, therapists and law enforcement officials. They rely on the council to provide general information about child abuse prevention and to organize joint activities and programs, said Westmore, who is acting director of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

“By being together, we can see where there are gaps in service,” she said.

This coordinating role will continue, but Westmore seeks to broaden the council’s public outreach by letting people know that they can turn to the organization for information about child abuse.

To do this, the council plans to sponsor local events during annual national Blue Ribbon Week, which commemorates child abuse prevention. Westmore also hopes to organize events in honor of the council’s 20th birthday next year.

Right now, the group has a booth at the Orange County Fair, where officials are conducting a survey of attitudes about child abuse and parenting. Westmore said the survey will “give us a feel for where the needs are.”