CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — Right now, those who need a therapist in rural South Carolina might wait months, or drive hours for care; a new program could change that reality for thousands of families.
Those finding mental health and behavioral specialists in the Lowcountry faces two major barriers: long travel times and a provider shortage. The University of South Carolina’s new program aims to close that gap by recruiting students who understand rural challenges firsthand.
South Carolina ranks 49th in the country for mental health access. The Rural Occupations Workforce Expansion program, called ROWE, is funded by the South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare.
Program focuses on local recruitment
The key to the program’s approach is recruiting students who grew up in rural South Carolina, people who understand the frustration of driving two hours just to see a healthcare provider. ROWE will start with 14 students over the next two years, training them to support current providers and prepare them for future careers. The program will include training in burnout prevention and suicide assessments.
Beyond long travel times and provider shortages, the program hopes to ease families’ financial burden.
“Many of the federally qualified health centers in the state have closed because their sliding scales have had to slide up a bit, and people can’t walk in the door and pay a $75 fee just to be seen,” Dr. Candice Morgan, Assistant Professor at USC College of Social Work, said. “It’s a vicious cycle because people need the services, but if they’re not capable of paying for those services, they might as well not show up at the door to ask for those services.”
Program aims for lasting impact
Program leaders hope the initiative will strengthen rural behavioral health access and ultimately strengthen the mental health workforce throughout the state. The real test will be whether the trained students stay in the Lowcountry and whether families can finally get the help they need.
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