Today we’d like to introduce you to Brenda Dozier Perkins.
Hi Brenda Dozier, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Brenda Dozier Perkins, A Certified Community Health Worker.
I started this organization because of my own family struggle. My dad was diagnosed with congestion heart failure back in 1990. He was employed by Georgetown steel. He was the provider of a family with a wife and six children,now he had to come out of work on disability with no health insurance.
Because his income was too high for Medicaid and he had to be on disability for two years before he would be eligible for Medicare. The family had to come together to pay his cobra insurance so that he could keep his health care plan. My mom then had to go to work me and my two oldest siblings had to start helping the family with the monthly bills.
when this took place we did not know of any resources that could help our family, because we lived in the rural area of Georgetown county. After working in Healthcare for 20 plus years I learned that other families in my community was suffering just like my family did. I started working for a (FQHC) a Federally Qualified Health Center which was St James Health and wellness as a Community Outreach worker. I learning about all the resources that Georgetown County had to offer, but no one was coming out to the rural area to share this information with us.
Browns Ferry Community Outreach was formed in March of 2017. Out of my home and in 2022 we became a 501c3 non-profit organization, In 2023 we change location we are now located at 8189 Choppee road Georgetown South Carolina our office number is 843-485- 1966. Website: www bfcoutreach.org.
We are a resource center our mission
“Empowering our community through essential resources, services and support one family at a time.”
We also provide a senior exercise and resource class every second and fourth Tuesday at St Paul AME Church 6269 browns Ferry Rd Georgetown SC in the Oatland community. This is a free class to the community. We also partner with Smith medical clinic and St. James Health and wellness to help our uninsured population. We have three certified community health workers that are able to go into the community and the client’s home to assess the needs of the family and assist clients with their doctor’s appointment to make sure they understand what’s medically going on in their life. This program is funded through Community Health Workers Alliance USC upstate CHAI program.
We also provide triple p parenting classes these classes help parents talk through what’s going on with within their family regarding their children behavior and what can they do to help change the outcomes. This program is funded through children’s trust and Blue Cross.
For the past 3 years we sponsored Summer Enrichment Program for over 40 youth grades 4K though 5th at Browns Ferry Creative and Performing Arts Elementary School in partnership with Georgetown County School District
Funded by The France Bunnelle Foundation and Black River United Way of Georgetown SC.
We also partner with South Carolina thrive using their system to be able to track our families help them sign up for Medicaid, food stamp, and welvista. This is just a portion of how we are giving back to our community.
Our vision is a community where every individual has access to the resource and support they need thrive regardless of their challenges
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The challenges is always finding funding. The community has accepted us with open arms, it’s just as we encounter more needs in the rule community of Georgetown County ,They are still transportation barriers, income barriers, housing barriers.
So we’re not always able to meet the need of every client but we do our best to leave the client better than we met them
As you know, we’re big fans of President and CEO of Browns Ferry Community Outreach. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Browns Ferry Community Outreach is a 501c3 organization
We are a resource center Bridging the Gap between the community and resources.
We serve our community with compassion and Love, because I live in the community that I serve we are a trusted organization. We are here for the community no matter what the situation may be our doors are always open.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We are always looking for partners We cannot do
this work alone.
You can contact us or
Make a donation by our
website:www.btcoutreach
.org
Contact us by email: bfcommunityoutreach
@gmail.com
843-485-1966 office number
0r Facebook: Browns Ferry Community Outreach nonprofit
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bfcoutreach.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BpBJhDUgF/
