Learn more about ysup rowan
Who We AreTo engage the community in creating conditions that will lead to the prevention and reduction of substance use by young people in order that they may build healthy, safe and successful lives.




Only the BEst
Meet our YSUP Rowan Coalition Members
YSUP Rowan is growing with hard-working and passionate people. Rowan County Youth Services Bureau, a local non-profit, serves as the grant’s fiscal agent and provides staff and direct project management. Community volunteers from all community sectors are essential to the success of YSUP Rowan and our goal of creating sustainable change.
Our Staff

Karen South Jones
Executive Director/Fiscal Agent
Karen South Jones has served as Executive Director of Rowan County Youth Services Bureau, Inc. since 1999. Karen is a graduate of East Rowan High School and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She spent a decade in Washington, DC where she held positions on Capitol Hill, The White House, the U.S. Treasury Department and The Washington Post. Under her leadership, Youth Services Bureau has become a community leader in the implementation of trauma-informed practices, restorative justice, and collective impact. Karen has been involved with YSUP Rowan since its inception and serves as the Coalition’s Fiscal Agent.

Lauren Alexander-Persse
Project Director
A native of Rowan County, Lauren graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. She has worked in various capacities in the field of education, including positions at the Department of Education in the Migrant Education Program and as a middle school social studies teacher in Winston-Salem. Lauren has been Project Director of YSUP Rowan since August of 2019 and is working hard to grow the coalition’s Youth Council and community engagement. Lauren has a passion for working with young people and helping them live happy and healthy lives!

Courtney Meece
Youth Council/Project Assistant
Courtney is a Rowan County native that has always wanted to give back to the county she calls home. After graduating from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s in Health Promotion and from UNC Greensboro with a Master’s in Public Health Education, she wanted to use her education to influence how Rowan County addressed substance use. With this aspiration in mind, she took on the role of Youth Council/Project Assistant in February 2020. Courtney’s passion is providing teens, parents and community members with informative and evidence based information necessary to live a happy, healthy and productive life.

Gail Sce
Project Assistant
Gail Sce joined Rowan County Youth Services Bureau in 2014 working part time as an assistant for Teen Court. In 2017 she joined YSUP Rowan as a Project Assistant for the then newly formed coalition. She continues to work as a jury advisor for Teen Court. Prior to joining Youth Services Bureau, Gail worked as a territory sales representative for a small agency and retired in 2012. She and her husband are actively involved in Salisbury Elks Lodge #699 and enjoy golf, traveling and spending time with their family members.

Join us in our goal to prevent the use and abuse of alcohol, prescription medications, and tobacco by Rowan County youth.
704-633-5636
info@ysuprowan.org
1322 South Fulton St. Salisbury, NC 28144
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