June 30, 2021 3:50 a.m.

Douglas C.A.R.E.S. is welcoming a new executive director.

Sarah Wickersham comes to C.A.R.E.S. from the Douglas County Juvenile Department. Board Chair Anita Cox said Wickersham has built 15 years of experience in service to children and families experiencing poverty, mental health and behavioral challenges, substance use disorders, trauma and child welfare involvement.

Cox said, “The board is thrilled to have someone with Sarah’s wide range of experience with youth in Douglas County”. Cox said this transition marks the beginning of the next phase of growth for the non-profit.

Wickersham succeeds Mike Nores, who announced his retirement earlier in the year. Nores led the organization for seven years, following his wife Evelyn Nores, who was also the executive director for seven years.

A release said in her most recent role as the Treatment Services Manager for Douglas County Juvenile Department’s Residential Treatment Programs, Wickersham was responsible for designing and implementing trauma-informed treatment programming for the most behaviorally challenging youth in Oregon, most of whom were in the custody of Child Welfare.

Douglas C.A.R.E.S. stands for Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services. It was established in 1994. The release said Douglas C.A.R.E.S. offers a caring, multidisciplinary approach to child abuse interventions, coordinating services to support the child and family from the time of disclosure to the court process, as needed. C.A.R.E.S. serves children from birth to 17 years of age who may be, or are currently at risk of being victims of physical or sexual abuse.

More information about the organization is at: http://www.douglascares.org/