News and Events

Center is awarded Duke Endowment Grant

JJuly 1, 2007   |   Back to News and Events

The Duke Endowment has awarded the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families a $600,000 grant to be given over the course of the next three years.  The overall purpose of the Duke Endowment grant is to improve men's health through access to health education, screening and referral for treatment services.  "Through this grant, the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families will have the opportunity to give these men a chance to gain access to healthcare and medical insurance.  These men are often an overlooked population in today's society and usually fall between the cracks when it comes to medical care," says Pat Littlejohn, Interim Center Director.  The Center hopes to improve health care of low-income, non-custodial fathers through accessible health education, screening and other health care services; increase access to prescription drugs and other medical services necessary for good health and increase good health behaviors as a critical part of continued employment and the ability to pay child support.  The grant will help fatherhood programs in Lancaster, Lexington, Marlboro and Richland counties.    

Through the Duke Endowment grant, the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families will partner with Communicare and the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council.  "The level of partnership between Communicare, the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council and the Center is outstanding.  This type of partnership is unprecedented and we are excited about the outcome of our efforts from working together," said Littlejohn.  Communicare, a statewide nonprofit organization which was founded in 1993, will coordinate a network of physicians, health-care providers and pharmaceutical companies which will donate services and prescriptions to fathers enrolled in the programs.  The South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council will provide education, testing and self-management services to the fathers.  The project will also support a nurse practitioner with experience in working with low-income populations to provide health education, screening and case management in securing primary and specialty services to the fathers.