About Us

Who We Are

LWK was founded by a group of community members interested in using data to guide action aimed at addressing the health issues faced by the residents of Kershaw County. Today, LWK works to foster collaboration between citizens of all ages, working in partnership with public and private sector organizations and schools to increase community awareness of health issues. The goal is to improve access to quality healthcare and encourage the people of Kershaw County to take ownership of the health of the whole county, acting together to reduce chronic disease and obesity among the members of the community.

Learn About Our History

History of the Livewell Kershaw Coalition

All people deserve to live well.

Out of this simple, powerful idea grew the LiveWell Kershaw Coalition.

2012

July 10, 2012

Back on July 10, 2012, roughly 60 people gathered to discuss the state of population health and wellness in Kershaw County, South Carolina, working from the notion that living well starts with good health across the community. Those 60 visionaries brainstormed, collaborated, and completed a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)…Read More

2014

May 2014

In May of 2014 and after spending nearly two years to build the coalition, LWK was awarded a contract with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to address over-utilization of emergency room services after data revealed this issue among residents of the northeastern Kershaw County, a hotspot for…Read More

2015

January 2015

In January of 2015, this work was expanded by opening the first School-Based Health Center (SBHC) at North Central High School in Kershaw. Realizing that graduating from high school is the greatest predictor of health, LWK set up the county’s first SBHC as a “minute clinic” to see students for…Read More

2017

May 2017

In May of 2017, LWK was chosen to participate in the Duke Endowment’s Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas initiative to support our work to advance population health in Kershaw County. This award included a grant for $150,000 of annual funding, allowing LWK to grow under the leadership of a full-time director…Read More

2017

November 2017

LWK launched the “Healthy Lifestyles for Youth” initiative in November of 2017 after the coalition examined data from a CHNA conducted in April of that year, funded by the Health Services District of Kershaw County, to identify the most pressing health needs of the community. Healthy Lifestyles for Youth focuses…Read More

2018

Also in 2018, Healthy Lifestyles for Youth created a new “Health Ambassador” program through which one high school student from each Kershaw County high school was selected to co-design an evidence-based intervention plan to implement in their schools. This program was recognized with a 2019 Golden Tusk Award from Carolinas…Read More

2019

March 2019

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve health outcomes across all populations in Kershaw County, LWK convened a group of county residents and leaders in March of 2019 to build a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). In that meeting, the group chose three top concerns to actively address through…Read More

2020

This important work received a boost in 2020, when LWK was awarded another round of funding through the Duke Endowment’s Healthy People, Healthy Carolinas initiative. Thanks to this extended funding, LWK’s work will be sustained for another three years, powering us to put people on the ground who can advocate…Read More

Livewell Kershaw Coalition continues to work to foster collaboration between Kershaw County citizens of all ages in partnership with public and private sector organizations and schools to increase community awareness of health issues. Our ultimate goal is to move the needle toward improved access to quality healthcare while encouraging the people of Kershaw County to work together to take ownership of the health of the whole county.

Helping Residents Find Care & Support in Kershaw County

Use our database to find a doctor, support group and more.

Visit Our Where is Care Page

Where is Care Livewell Kershaw Coalition