Page 43 - Camden Kershaw 2018

support, now reaches out to the community rather positive behavior
than waiting on uninsured or underinsured supports,
residents to find the clinic. truancy
“It wasn’t about building another building or prevention
making another marketing statement, it was about staff, parenting
understanding and creating those relationships,” support, youth
Witkowski said. “We try to go out to where they court and
are, and so they trust us.” school-based
She added that Food for the Soul, an important mental health
area non-profit that works on hunger and counselors.
homeless issues in Kershaw County, often The project
accompanies clinic staff when they go into the served a total of
community in an effort to bring services to those 3,112 students,
same people. or 31 percent
of the district’s
students.
Another important player in the effort to help
at-risk youth has been a partnership with the
Jackson Teen Center, now under the auspices of
the Boys and Girls Club of Kershaw County. The
center has put together afterschool and summer
programs reaching hundreds of young people in
the area.
“We have always felt that kids tend to want
positive, rather than negative choices, and the
work the Jackson Teen Center has done to that
end has just been phenomenal,” said Dr. Frank
Morgan, who recently retired as superintendent of
the school district.
Another aspect of this effort is in education and Underpinning much of this is the county’s Vision
recreation. In Kershaw County, a number of public, 2030 Plan, which clearly showcases a strong
private and public/private partnerships have example of communitywide planning, input,
come about to develop and improve opportunities engagement and action. The plan, which was more
-- educational and otherwise, for youth and the than a year in
community -- in Kershaw County. Carpenter and the making and
the PLAY Foundation spearheaded the effort to relied heavily
develop, design and build what ultimately became on input from
the Kershaw West Recreational Complex, an ADA community
accessible and compliant recreational facility/ball forums as well
field complex in the county’s West Wateree area. as guidance from
After a gang-related death in 2005, a group public officials, is
of collaborating state and private agencies a 15-year comprehensive plan that serves as the
worked with the community on a diverse and county’s roadmap for the future. It projects growth,
comprehensive planning process, leading to the shows potential areas of development, and sets
Kershaw County School District’s application for short-term, mid-range and long-term goals for a
a Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant. The grant variety of community needs, from recreation to
was intended to prevent violence and the illegal economic development.
use of drugs and to promote safety and discipline. Ultimately, it is that “boots on the ground”
In 2009, the school district was awarded more than mentality that helped showcase Kershaw
$1.4 million in Safe Schools funding, eventually County on a very real level. And it’s that level of
totaling $4.7 million over a five-year period. This commitment and spirit of optimism that makes
funding, diffused through all schools, provided Kershaw County an All-America City and a great
security equipment, school resource officers, place to visit and to call home.

68 s Discover Camden-Kershaw County s 2018/2019