- For the
Fall
2002, a graduate student from USC Columbia, Lisa Nelligan
began
her field placement with our Center in Sumter.
- The
Fall 2002
semester was spent making contacts and presentations in the
Sumter community; one example was a program for the Alzheimer's Support
Group at Covenant Place, a progressive care facility in our
community.
Activities this semester were numerous, but of note would be the "Caregiver's
Tea" which was held in October in conjunction with the local
Caregivers
Support Advocate office operating out of the Santee Lynches Council of
Government. This two-hour morning "tea" consisted of an hour of
sharing
and an hour of caring. The sharing hour gave time for the 35
participants
to introduce themselves and share with those experiencing similar
caregiving
issues. The hours of caring consisted of informational programs
on
stress management, advanced care-planning, information on hospice
services.
All of the participants received "respite support" consisting of
someone
to sit with the person they care for while they attended this
"tea".
Money for this program came from funds provided by the Caregiver
Advocate
office serving Sumter, Lee, and Clarendon counties. Informational
packets were available for all that attended. This was an
innovative
program which has been replicated by other "caregiver advocates"
working
in South Carolina.
- One of the primary focuses for
the Spring
of 2003, was hosting the "Living with Grief: Coping with
Public Tragedy" teleconference held in April. Timing was
excellent
because of 9-11 and continuing education hours for offered for nurses,
social workers, counselors, clergy, psychologists, physicians, EMS
personnel,
EAPs and nursing home administrators. Following the broadcast,
Vic
Jones, Sumter County Public Safety Director and Marie Hodge, the
Victim's
Advocate with Sumter-City Law Enforcement facilitated questions and
answers.
Of course, Hurricane Hugo came to the mind of folks attending as well
as
9-11.
- Academic
Year
2002-2003 was a successful year for our graduate student
who
graduated in May 2003 with her MSW from USC Columbia. Today, she
is working as a social worker with Tri-County Hospice serving Sumter,
Lee,
Clarendon, and Kershaw counties. To me, this is an excellent
example
of "workforce training".
