2000 Best Practice Awards

Best Practice: Neighborhood Health Clinic

Health Care Clinic Brings Human Services, Prevention, Health Care to Community

Charleston. The Charleston Enterprise Community and Medical University of South Carolina are working together with local government agencies to construct a new state-of-the-art health care facility for residents in the community. This partnership addresses the health care needs of residents and the academic mission of the university through the development of a health care clinic that is innovative and cost-effective. In addition to receiving human services and health care, residents of the community will have the opportunity to participate in evening classes that provide education on preventive health care, diet and exercise. The Greater Charleston Empowerment Corporation and the cities of Charleston and North Charleston are assisting the Medical University of South Carolina in this project. The partners raised more than $3 million to ensure that the clinic was constructed.

Contact: Patricia Crawford, Phone: (843) 724-3768
Tracking Number: 1694
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)

Best Practice: Citizen Participation/Columbia Council of Neighborhoods (CCN)

Columbia Council of Neighborhoods Coordinates Efforts of Diverse Community Groups

Columbia. The Columbia Council of Neighborhoods (CCN) serves as a clearinghouse for information, provides a forum for discussion of neighborhood issues, and fosters the education of neighborhood leadership. CCN is a volunteer, community-based umbrella organization that coordinates the activities of 73 city neighborhood organizations. CCN committees address issues such as drugs, crime, and toxic waste. CCN also works to improve communication between diverse neighborhood groups, recognizing common problems, and sharing solutions and has enhanced citizen participation and empowerment in Columbia. Since CCN serves as a communications vehicle, local involvement and commitment at all levels is paramount for this type of initiative to succeed. Using over $34,000 in funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the organization provides a link between neighborhood groups and city officials, enhancing the process of identifying neighborhood problems and setting priorities for solutions.

Contact: Katherine Trimnal, Phone: (803) 765-0006
Tracking Number: 1701
Winning Category: Program (Community Planning and Development)

Best Practice: Voorhees-Denmark Community Center

Voorhees-Denmark Community Center Provides Assistance and Support for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Denmark. The Voorhees-Denmark Community Development Center (VDCDC) is a buzzing one-stop resource for more than 1200 low- and moderate-income residents, including students, female heads of households, at-risk youth, and senior adults each year. In addition to seminars, workshops, and housing counseling, the VDCDC also offers fair housing services, employment and job referral services, computer literacy, internet access, and small business assistance. In only it’s second year of operation, the VDCDC has set a precedent by providing space for the operations of a small business incubator which now comprises four micro-enterprises, a Welfare-to-Work/Workforce Development program, and a Tri-County Workforce Center (funded by the U.S. Department of Labor) which provides technical assistance to individuals classified as "hardest-to-employ." Further, the VDCDC administers a housing rehabilitation program for which two substandard housing units have been renovated and conveyed to qualified low- or moderate-income homebuyers. Through the combined resources and efforts of HUD, Voorhees College, City of Denmark, Lower Savannah Council and Governments, and the Counties of Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell, SC, the VDCDC was created to provide facilities and resources to enhance social and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents of the community.

Contact: Dr. Leonard E. Dawson, Phone: (803) 793-3351
Tracking Number: 1676
Winning Category: Program (Community Builders)

Content Archived: April 20, 2011