CSC's Community Outreach Team wins statewide award

CareSouth Carolina’s community outreach team was named the ‘Community Health Worker Group of the Year’ by the South Carolina Community Health Worker Association.

CareSouth Carolina community health workers (CHWs) provide health education, assist in case management, address social needs and provide many more needed services in five counties throughout the Pee Dee region.

“I am so proud of our CHW program and the difference they make in our communities, for our patients,” CareSouth Carolina CEO Ann Lewis said. “Health care is not always clinical and CHWs are vital to insuring that the whole picture of the individual is known – addressing everything from food insecurity and housing to transportation and access. CHWs are a vital part of the mission of CareSouth Carolina - enhancing and improving the health AND WELL BEING for everyone.”

The team provides one-on-one case management and assistance in addressing social needs of everything from signing up for an insurance plan like Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to assisting with connecting patients to needed services and resources. They also provide health education related to disease prevention, screenings, and healthy behaviors. Examples of health education topics include:

• Chronic disease prevention
• Nutrition
• Physical activity
• Smoking cessation
• Transportation Services
• Translation/Interpretation services

“This is a great honor and a testament to the hard work and dedication that they bring to CareSouth Carolina, the patients and the community they serve,” Director of Social and Community Services Community Health & Family Support Services Marek Calhoun said. “I couldn’t be more proud of each and every one of them.  They a wonderful group and are so very deserving of this prestigious award.”

The South Carolina Community Health Worker Association (SCCHWA) is made up of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and supporters who are building a healthier South Carolina through the promotion of education, networking and advocacy for the community health worker profession. The association provides a forum for networking, sharing of strategies and resources, and provide a foundation for education of CHWs and the organizations and systems that support them.

CareSouth Carolina is a private, non-profit community health center delivering patient-centered health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake View, Latta, McColl and Society Hill.

Services provided by CareSouth Carolina include family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, women services, OB/GYN, HIV/AIDS primary care, dental, chiropractic services, pharmacy, geriatrics, social services, clinical counseling, laboratory, 4D ultrasound, X-Ray, migrant services and veterans choice provider.