Facing Facts

"Facing Facts: A Study of Issues that Shape Our Region" conducted in 2002 and updated in 2004, identified 18 issues across five key areas prioritized by need.  Since the original publication, the Richland-Lexington county area has grown 7%, and the populations of Hispanics and persons 60 years of age and older have increased significantly. 
A new study is being conducted during 2008.  Facing Facts: Seeking Solutions is an effort to identify the region's most pressing health and human service issues and to develop solutions to improve the community.
This August, community partners are asking the citizens of Richland and Lexington counties to provide input on the issues they face in their community, the services and support they need and on ways to improve the community.  This community assessment survey, Facing Facts: Seeking Solutions, will be available at all Lexington and Richland county library branches from August 4-10, 2008 and online at www.facing-facts.org.
In October, community forums will be conducted to discuss the issues identified in the August surveys and to identify community-based solutions.  The results of the survey, along with the identified solutions, are scheduled to be released in January 2009, and will address four to six key community issues. Data will be presented describing each issue, the goals and strategies for addressing those issues and ways to measure change.
The partner organizations include: 
 Click picture to visit the   Facing Facts.org

Please click here to view the United Way 2004 "Facing Facts" update in PDF format.

Please click here to view "Facing Facts" full version in PDF format.
 
United Way of the Midlands' volunteers, donors and program providers have also published an assessment of Newberry and Fairfield counties. You will note that rural issues are similar to the urban/suburban issues noted in Facing Facts. Often, however, they are even more serious and pervasive in rural areas.
 
Please click here for the Newberry/Fairfield assessment in a PDF format.