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Kershaw County Library’s community health worker program reports 50 clients and online resource guide
Summary
The county library updated council on a community health worker (CHW) program. Director Scofield and CHW Emma Wibler said the program has served about 50 people in its first three months and launched an online resource directory and food calendar for Camden, Elgin and Lugoff.
Kershaw County’s library briefed county council Tuesday on a community health worker pilot that county and library officials say is helping residents access health care, food, housing and transportation services.
Director Scofield introduced Emma Wibler, who has worked six months as the library’s community health worker. Scofield said the program began in 2022 with outside funding and that county and partner support allowed the program to continue and expand. Scofield said the CHW model positions the library as a “friendly, non‑stigmatizing” place for residents to seek help.
Wibler told council she had assisted more than 50 clients in the program’s first three months, helping with insurance navigation, Medicaid/Medicare questions, applications for SNAP benefits, locating food distributions and identifying transportation options — including referring people to the county’s van service and national programs like the American Cancer Society’s rides for cancer appointments.
The library has published an online resource directory cataloguing roughly 60 agencies and partner contacts, plus mapped food calendars for Camden, Elgin, Lugoff and the North Central area. Wibler said staff and partners use the directory for referrals and that case managers across agencies are coordinating more closely because of the library’s role.
Council members praised the work and invited Wibler to appear before the finance committee to discuss outside funding and collaboration with local agencies.
Ending
Council members commended the program’s early results and encouraged continued collaboration with United Way, Habitat partners and health providers. The library will continue to refine the online resource and coordinate with county agencies.
