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Professional Resources

"Who Can Help Me?"

Community Coalitions

 

LRADAC has assisted various communities in the Midlands in addressing community issues and concerns by creating community coalitions. LRADAC has been instrumental in providing programmatic oversight, funding strategies and science-based technical assistance to aid communities in addressing substance use and abuse, risk behaviors, crime and health matters. By partnering with parents, schools, government, law enforcement, health care, businesses, civic groups, church and youth, LRADAC has helped communities to become creative, action-centered groups that are making a difference in strengthening families and improving the well-being of youth in Lexington and Richland Counties. Read on to learn about our current coalitions. If you would like to talk to us about creating a coalition in your community, please call (803) 733-1390 ext. 136.

Community Roundtable of Irmo, Dutch Fork and Chapin

Visit the website: www.communityroundtable.org

The Community Roundtable of Irmo, Dutch Fork and Chapin was established in the fall of 1998 in response to the risk-taking behaviors exhibited by teenagers in the community. Believing that schools alone can not successfully meet the challenges, Dr. Rick Perrin, Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, and Dr. Dennis McMahon, Superintendent of School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, invited community members to participate in a roundtable discussion of issues related to risk behavior among youth.

As a result of that invitation, the Community Roundtable has developed into a community-wide organization of leaders that includes parents, schools, government, law enforcement, health care, business, civic groups, church and youth. The community leaders have become a creative, action-centered group addressing the risk-taking behaviors of young people within the community of School District Five. The Roundtable group numbers over one hundred with 40 to 60 active members, and meets five to six times a year at the District Five office.

The expressed mission of the Community Roundtable is "To encourage and enable the entire community to make a positive response to the problems of teenage risk behavior by bringing together interested parties from government, business, civic associations, the medical community, law enforcement, schools, faith groups, parents, students and others to discuss, coordinate, and be a catalyst for new initiatives to strengthen families and improve the well-being of youth in our community."

Membership in the Community Roundtable is open to anyone who is interested in the community and committed to making District Five a safe and healthy place for children and families. If you would like more information on becoming involved in the Roundtable, please visit www.communityroundtable.org.

Lexington One Community Coalition (LOCC)

Visit the website: www.locc.info

The LOCC is a partnership among parents, teachers, businesses, churches, civic groups and students. The group was founded in the spring of 2003 by members of the Lexington One School Board, Lexington County Sheriff's Department, LRADAC, Lexington Police Department and other concerned citizens in response to issues involving underage drinking and other high-risk behaviors among young people in the district.

The mission of the LOCC states: "In partnership with the total community, the Lexington One Community Coalition is committed to empowering young people and adults to make healthy lifestyle choices and to reduce underage access to alcohol. Ultimately, the LOCC plans to preserve the quality of life by taking action to reduce the negative consequences of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by young people in the community."

Membership in the LOCC is open to anyone, and the group encourages participation of many different groups in the community. For more information about the coalition, please call (803) 733-1390 ext. 140 or email locc@lradac.org.

Richland One Community Coalition (ROCC)

Visit the website: www.richlandonecc.org/initiatives.html

The ROCC is a diverse interagency, interfaith, education and community coalition united by a shared vision of caring for the well-being of our youth. The mission of the ROCC is to mobilize and involve the greater community to encourage youth to make wise choices through community engagement, modeling, education and advocacy. This group of Richland School District One parents, neighbors, teachers, businesses, law enforcement, students, churches and civic groups encourages involvement from anyone interested in caring for the youth in the community.

Reconnecting Communities and Schools Coalition

The Reconnecting Communities and Schools Coalition is dedicated to strengthening relationships between the community and its schools.  The Coalition has a long-standing history of grass roots community effort.  The Coalition was initiated in 1997 as a project of the South Carolina Department of Education and the South Carolina School Boards Association. The Coalition focuses on many topics, ranging from reducing and preventing substance abuse among its youth to discouraging gang activity in our community.  The Coalition has been instrumental in creating a synergism of people working together.

The mission of the coalition is to improve communication between Richland School District Two and the Richland Northeast County community.  By coming together it is hoped that dialogue is conducted in such a way that connections are strengthened and to ensure that issues affecting both groups are addressed in a positive and satisfactory manner.