MARION, S.C. – The board of directors of the Marion County Healthcare Foundation presented an $80,000 community impact grant to Marion County School District and PACE Center for Girls to serve up to 40 girls in Marion County by providing individual, peer group and family counseling sessions along with individual goal setting and implementing strategies for future success.
PACE Center for Girls Reach Program Director for South Carolina Lisa Spears said the program has locations in Florence and Darlington. Marion will be one of five locations with expansions coming to both Florence and Darlington counties.
Pace is expanding its Reach programming to provide social, emotional, behavioral and mental health counseling to girls ages 11-17 in Marion County. Officials said the expansion is in response to the growing need for mental health resources for young girls in the region and made possible thanks to the Marion County Healthcare Foundation.
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“I think girls in the area have a need for empowerment and assisting them on their path to emotional wellness and we’re excited to help them fill that need.” Spears said. “Our program provides individual counseling and group counseling for girls and we do counseling with the parents as well. We are going to be focused on referrals from girls in middle school and the alternative school.”
Spears said the biggest benefit of the program is helping girls get motivated about the future and finding their voice.
Senior Director of Program Performance and Innovation April Brownlee said an investment in girls in an investment in community.
“We break multigenerational cycles and we know that our girls become better and we are beyond grateful for the support of the Marion County Healthcare Foundation,” she said.
The PACE mission is to provide girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training, and advocacy. The program launched in Florida in 1985 and has grown from 21 locations to expanding in Georgia in 2018 and South Carolina in 2022.
“Pace’s team of counselors, therapists and educators develop individualized approaches based on each girl’s unique strengths — centering her experience as a young woman in this world,” Brownlee said. “There is great in every girl, and we are optimistic that our programming will empower girls and change outcomes in South Carolina and beyond.”
Marion County Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Pete Mazzaroni said the program aligns with the school district’s strategic plan and focus area in public education.
“When we assessed the grant we felt that this was something really important for us to support,” he said.
Marion County Superintendent Dr. Kandace Bethea she appreciated the partnership because it goes hand-in-hand with academics.
“Any type of support and wrap-around service we are able to provide is a benefit,” Bethea said. “We’re just excited and we’re looking forward to growing this program already.”
Bethea said the Marion County Healthcare Foundation continues to be a large supporter of the school district.
“This will have a tremendous impact,” she said. “We have not had as many supports in place for our female population and that is a great need so I think it will be much needed a long overdue.”
Marion County Department of Juvenile Justice Director Cynthia O. Ford said she is grateful to have the opportunity for young girls.
“It is needed and I’m glad to have the resources.”
Enrollment in the program at Palmetto Middle School will begin this August 2023 with outreach to the Success Academy Alternative School.
“The emotional health needs in Marion County are significant. For many girls, participating in Pace Reach will be one of their first opportunities to learn about mental and emotional wellness,” Spears said.
Girls who participate in the program improve their skills and ability to make healthy decisions and reduce harmful habits to their health, wellness and safety. Through these services, girls learn how to manage stress and adversities, improve personal relationships, learn new communication skills and improve school performance.
“I am thrilled to see much needed gender-responsive, trauma-informed, and strength-based mental health and social services coming to adolescent girls in Marion County, through Pace Center for Girls,” Sen. Kent M. Williams said. “This is an organization I believe will do great things for our community, and I look forward to continuing to support their work.”
For more information about Pace Center for Girls, visit www.pacecenter.org.
