Who is impacted?
The closure of the Sandhills Children’s Center (SCC) Rockingham campus directly harms some of the most vulnerable members of our community—children with developmental delays and their families. Richmond County’s only developmental delay center is being shut down, leaving families scrambling to find alternatives in a county with extremely limited options. Parents are now forced to navigate long waitlists, unaffordable private therapy, or public preschool programs that simply don’t meet the full-day care needs of working families. Meanwhile, dedicated staff members are losing their jobs, and children risk losing access to the critical early intervention services they depend on for a strong start in life.

What is at stake?
If this closure goes through, Richmond County will be left without any developmental delay center—something no neighboring county currently faces. The Rockingham campus has served a vital role, offering developmental and therapeutic services far beyond what public schools or traditional childcare settings can provide. Eliminating this option threatens to widen health and education disparities, especially among children from low-income families. While the Moore County campus remains open and over-enrolled, no effort has been made to rebalance enrollment, involve the community, or seek public or private fundraising. Without immediate intervention, SCC will be making a decision that sacrifices children’s futures and erodes the trust of the families they serve.

Why is now the time to act?
We are in a brief 90-day window before the campus is set to close. Parents, staff, and Richmond County Schools have been left without clear direction or involvement in this life-changing decision. The time to act is now. We urge SCC leadership and the Board of Directors to pause this decision and engage with the community in good faith. Let’s work together on a transparent plan that reflects the needs of the families who rely on these services every day.

Add your voice!
We need your support. Please sign this petition to show that our community values early childhood services for all—especially for children with developmental delays. If SCC has made a positive impact on your life, your child, your students, or your community, we encourage you to leave a comment with your signature. Personal stories make a powerful difference. Your testimony can help decision-makers understand the true impact of SCC and why this campus—and the children it serves—deserve to be heard.

Together, we can fight for equity, inclusion, and the future our children deserve.