About The Children's Resource Center

The Children's Resource Center is a non-profit child care resource and referral agency that has been in operation since 1995. We are funded by Smart Start, the Division of Child Development, and by private donations. Our agency works to assist, educate, support, and educate parents, child care providers and our community about quality child care and issues relating to children and families.

OUR MISSION

The mission of The Children’s Resource Center is to ensure that all children and their families in Catawba County have access to quality, reliable child care and developmental opportunities.

OUR GOALS

• Collaboration toward cutting-edge educational opportunities for child care staff
• To provide support and technical assistance to area child care providers
• To educate parents and business leaders about accessing quality child care
• To inform the community and local businesses about children’s issues and child care needs

OUR STAFF

Director—Monica W. Thomas

Under the direction of Monica Thomas, The Children's Resource Center strives to meet its goal of advocating for children, families, and child care providers in order to promote quality child care and quality services for families.  We work very hard to help identify and to fill in gaps in services to families.  This is done by creating new avenues and connecting with many community partners such as area agencies, organizations, families, and child care providers.  We care about our children in Catawba County!

Lead Family Support Coordinator—Patty Ehrnsberger

As our Lead Family Support Coordinator, Patty works to ensure that quality education and information is given to parents and the general community.  She also strives to make sure that we have accurate data to give state and national authorities toward a goal of finding gaps in services to children and families in our community.  Providing quality services to providers, family and community is very important to us.

Provider Support Coordinator - Virginia Pritchett

Our Provider Support Coordinator assists potential centers and homes in planning and developing plans for their new programs, as well as providing technical assistance and support to existing centers and family child care homes.

Provider Specialist/Professional Development (Part-time) - Lynne Abee

Lynne works to provide consultation and support to area family child care homes and centers. She also works with a goal in mind of encouraging professionalism including training, education, and business planning.

Latino Community Specialist (Part-time) - Leonor Tobar

Leonor helps to connect The Children’s Resource Center with the Latino community in Catawba County. She is available for parent referrals, as well as interpreting and translating information for our child care and business community.

Regional School-Age Specialist - Karen Darby

Karen Darby is our Regional School-Age Specialist serving Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, and Catawba counties. If you have any needs or questions regarding school-age programs, please call Karen at 828-234-7169 or email: Email

Family Support Specialist - Marie Corne

Marie joined the staff of The Children’s Resource Center in August of 2007 as a Family Support Specialist. She will be working with families and childcare centers within Catawba County helping with child care referrals.
Marie was the Director of High Hope of Hickory from 1996 thru 2003.  High Hope was a developmental childcare center, which provided early intervention services for children from birth to 5 years of age.  When High Hope closed she became involved with the placement of those children with special needs and has continued her involvement in this area.  In October of 2006, she became the Inclusion Coordinator for the United Way Partners Inclusion Program, a program that is funded by the United Way and administered by the Catawba County Partnership for Children.  This was a part time position that left time for her continued work in this area with The Children’s Resource Center. Marie’s contact information:  Phone 828-328-8228 x301  Email: Email