Sheryl Ewing, Executive Director

 

Sheryl Ewing is Executive Director of Family Support Network of Southeastern North Carolina Inc. and President of the North Carolina Foster Parent Association (2002 – 2005).  She has worked 20 years with people that have developmental disabilities and has been a fierce advocate for their rights.  Sheryl was trained under Wolf Wolfensberger in the philosophy of Normalization, the precursor for today’s self-determination.

 

Sheryl is a foster parent for children who have special needs and has completed training as a Guardian Ad Litem.  She serves on the various Local Interagency Coordinating Councils of the five counties that Family Support Network of Southeastern North Carolina serves and is past president of the Columbus Country Local Interagency Coordinating Council and the New Hanover Local Interagency Coordinating Council.  She is currently serving on the Wilmington Regional Interagency Coordinating Council and the DMC Task Force (Disproportionate Minority Contact with the Juvenile Justice System). 

 

Sheryl has a Bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and completed the certificate program in Non-profit Management at Duke University.  She participated in the Ohio de-institutionalization project and co-authored a study published in the 1980 American Association on Mental Deficiencies Journal entitled, “Consumer Roulette:  The Shopping Patterns of Persons with Mental Retardation.”  The research focused on the trend in the late 70's that saw the mentally retarded moving from institutions into group homes and becoming more and more involved in the purchasing of their own household items.

 

Sheryl can be reached by email at office at supportfamilies dot org

 

Teresa Mebane, Parent/School Liason

Teresa Mebane has been employed with Family Support Network of Southeastern North Carolina (FSN-SENC) since 1999.  Prior to taking the position of Parent/School Liason, she was a parent volunteer for several years where she gained valuable experience.  As the Parent/School liaison she serves as a parent advocate and and teaches workshops in advocacy to families and professionals.

Teresa's community involvement includes serving on the New Hanover County Schools Advisory Council for Children with Special Needs, being a parent representative on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Exceptional Children’s Advisory Council (4 year term), and serving on both the Local Interagency Coordinating and Wilmington Regional Interagency Coordination Councils. 

She has completed the Frank Porter Graham Parent Leadership Development Project training, and is also employed by the Autism Society of North Carolina as a Parent Advocate for Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender and Sampson counties in Southeastern North Carolina.

 

Teresa is a parent of three boys who have special needs. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  She can be reached by email at teresa at supportfamilies dot org.