COLUMBIA, S.C. — The doors to a rural health resource center opened Thursday in Orangeburg.
The Family Resource Center, located at 1031 Middleton Street, makes it easier for residents to receive help of all kinds. From sewing classes to legal advice, the community-based services aim to improve and support families and their quality of life.
"I'm going to need some help, I'm going to need an understanding of what to do and how to do it," said Latasha King, who when pregnant with their first child, turned to resources at Family Solutions.
"I was introduced by my provider, and they gave me information about the program and then once I was enrolled, they referred me to Family Solutions," King said. With those resources available, King said she was able to learn how to approach her life's next chapter.
Family Solutions now provides assistance in the Orangeburg community, according to resource center Director Lamikka Samuel.
"We noticed as we were with families in the community, meeting them in their homes, and supporting them throughout their pregnancy, that there were some challenges to getting some of the resources we sometimes take for granted."
That's why Family Solutions opened a resource center directed towards improving the quality of life for families in rural areas.
"We are hoping by doing this as a collective effort with organizations and the county, it will bring more health to the county and support the citizens of Orangeburg," Samuel said.
That support includes resources such as case management and social work services, childbirth and breastfeeding classes, referrals for healthcare, child care, job training and more.
All of those resources will greatly benefit the Orangeburg community, according to the CEO of the South Carolina Office of Rural Health, Dr. Graham Adams.
"For the last couple of years, we've been talking about the need for something like a family resource center, working with the Children's Trust of SC and with SC Department of of Social Services, really for the last year and a half, to make sure we put all these pieces in place," Adams explained.
As one of the largest counties in the state, the center also aims to eliminate travel by having all available resources under the same roof.
"Creating one location where they can go to break down barriers around transportation and get the care that they need, meeting with our different partners that are here really was a resource that was needed," Adams said.
Graham's hope is that families make use of these resources, like King did for her pregnancy and other areas of her life.
"They taught us finances and budgeting as well as making sure you go to our appointments. They will even go to your appointments with you," King said.
The resource center says they are always looking for additional partners to help provide other resources and services for communities around the state.