Program areas at Brookland Center for Community Economic Change
Provide academic enrichment opportunities, during non-school hours for children in high poverty and low-performing schools. Helps students meet state and local student standards in core subjects, such as reading and math, STEAM focused subjects and other enrichment activities. Offered Scouting opportunities to complement academic tutoring.
Through the Food and Nutrition Security Program, the BCCEC seeks to decrease food insecurity in Lexington and Richland Counties, South Carolina community areas. Through partnerships with various granting agencies, the BCCEC intends to increase the accessibility and affordability of quality, healthy foods. This is accomplished through a Food Policy Council, Community gardens, Farmer's Markets, weekly distribution of food including fresh vegetables and fruits and a summer feeding program targeting children under age 18. The program seeks to provide a safe, nutritious, and secure food supply for residents who might not otherwise receive healthy food choices.
Health Education and Behavioral Services Program provides Health and Human Services Education for Diabetes and Mental Health for adults and teens. The Diabetes Intervention Program (DIP) for Families is designed to reach African American and Hispanic families living with Type 2 diabetes in the high poverty communities of Cayce, West Columbia, and surrounding Lexington and Richland South Carolina. The DIP consists of weekly intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) sessions, a lifestyle change incentive program, and text messaging reminders, designed to increase access to health education. The Mental Health Initiative offers free Mental Health First Aid Training to adults and teens on identifying, understanding and responding to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. Since February 2022 over 300 persons have been trained.
Senior Services -a diverse menu of regular activities to help seniors remain active and engaged in their community. Program offering include regular meetings with presentations on topics of interest to seniors, Bible study, senior dinners, gardening, board games, needlework (crochet, knitting, quilting), health fair/screenings and travel to places of interest in South Carolina and bordering states including State Parks, places of historic value, beaches and mountains. Future programs are: line dancing instruction and performance, computer skills development, senior prom, birthday celebrations, aging well, etc.
Long-term case management to families with children who are at risk of experiencing homelessness.
National Park grant for Historic Renovation of the facility