Wellness and Community Health Institute
Our Mission
To eliminate racial health disparities and ensure equitable community health outcomes.
Our Vision
A South Carolina in which informed and empowered citizens achieve health equity and a high quality of life.
Our Purpose
We are dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique health needs of the communities we serve. By engaging with local leaders and stakeholders, we ensure that our programs are culturally sensitive and effectively meet the needs of the population.
About Us
South Carolina’s Institutes of Innovation and Information (SCII), inspired by the late Senator John L. Scott, Jr.’s vision to revolutionize and cultivate the state’s seven four-year HBCUs overall capabilities and contributions for the citizens and resident of the state, will be a seamless conduit for partnerships between SCIII HBCUs and state business and industry, diversifying and improving the state’s workforce, retaining graduation students, and lifting the economy of the entire state.
The Wellness and Community Health (WACH) Institute was established to address racial health disparities and ensure equitable healthcare access for the Rock Hill community and that state of South Carolina. Founded in the summer of 2022, WACH has worked towards improved health outcomes in mental health, chronic disease and STI prevention.
Meet the Team
Wakita Barksdale, MPA, MA, LPC
Wellness and Community Health Institute (Interim) Director
Shameka McClinton Wright
Administrative Assistant
Takeria Barber
Community Health Coordinator
Sarah Beth Sisney, MPH, CPH
Community Health Coordinator
Naomi Kemp
Community Health Coordinator
Resource Center & Tools
Mental Health & Wellness
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Social & Community Wellness
Sexual and Reproductive Wellness Resources
Physical Wellness Resources
Spiritual Wellness Resources
Financial Wellness Resources
Academic Wellness
Initiatives
Ask for Help
Community Partnerships & Collaborations
- Affinity Health Center
- Parent Smart
- South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare
- North Central Family Medicine
- York County Out of the Darkness Walk
- The Nola Network
- Winthrop University
- Heart 2 Heart Foundation
- Rawlinson Road Middle School
- Nami
- Rock Hill School District
- Atrium Health
- Keystone Substance Abuse Services
- Catawba Area Coalition f00or the Homeless
- Rock Hill Housing Authority
- Tressa W. Watson
- United Way of York County
- Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen
- Family Trust Federal Credit Union
- York County all on Board
- Mt. Prospect Baptist Church
- All on Board
- Habitat for Humanity
- Impact York County
- YCIC
- A Fathers Way
- Oakdale Elementary
- Foodshare York County
- City Council Members
- 5210-Healthy Together Program
- Hope Wells
- Catawba Community Mental Health Center
- C.O.P.E
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (SC Chapter)
- Solo Center Outreach