Social worker charged with child abuse quits

A state social worker charged with having a friend strike the worker’s two children repeatedly with a belt has resigned her job with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Sharra Blakemore, 41, who worked in the cabinet’s Hardin County office, quit Friday after cabinet officials notified her they were seeking to fire her for the June 18 incident in Louisville that left her two adopted children, ages 10 and 12, with multiple bruises, according to personnel documents released by the cabinet.

The 12-year-old has cerebral palsy, according to court records.

Cabinet officials notified Blakemore on Aug. 7 that they intended to dismiss her from her job as a social worker following the incident in which an arrest warrant said Blakemore took her two children to the home of a friend, Jaqueline Lewis, gave Lewis a belt and instructed her to strike each child 10 times.

Blakemore and Lewis were each charged with child abuse after workers at the children’s day camp noticed the bruises and contacted child protection authorities at the cabinet.

Both women have pleaded not guilty in Jefferson District Court and their lawyers said they plan to contest the charges.

Cabinet officials told Blakemore they were seeking to fire her for lack of good behavior and violating ethical standards.

Under state personnel guidelines, Blakemore had the right to ask for a hearing and present information on her behalf.

Instead, she submitted a letter of resignation Aug. 14. Cabinet officials accepted the resignation “with prejudice” because of the pending charges of dismissal.

Meanwhile, cabinet officials have taken steps to terminate Lewis as a foster parent.

Lewis had served as a foster parent for the state but is not currently caring for any foster children and officials are seeking to terminate her from the program, a cabinet spokeswoman said.

Reporter Deborah Yetter may be reached at (502)582-4228. Follow her on Twitter at @d_yetter.