Community Resources

For more information on any of the service agencies, please contact Cheryl Conner in the office of Student Support Services at ext 245.

Directory of Services:

Service Providers:

A.W.A.K.E. - "Adults Working and Advocating for Kids' Empowerment," is a child advocacy center, coordinating Jackson County services for children who have been sexually or physically abused.
828.586.3574
828.586.5546 - To report a suspected case of child abuse

Big Brother/Big Sister - Provides friendship and support for children and youth, ages 6-14, in single-parent homes.
Robin Minick • 828.452.9644

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) - Supplies financial support for books and tuition to students who can claim to be at least 1/16 Indian descent from a federally recognized tribe.
Sam Lambert • 828.497.7480

Center for Independent Living - Offers a variety of services to help empower persons with severe disabilities to become or remain as independent as possible.
828.586.3455

Community Health Access Network - Links low-income, Jackson County residents with no insurance to prescriptions at a reduced rate or at no cost; must have primary care physician at Harris Regional Hospital; similar program in Macon County.
Debbie Baxter • 828.586.7718

Community Table - With similar agencies in Macon and Haywood Counties, it provides healthy meals in a restaurant style setting four nights a week.
Linda Nowers • 828.586.6782

Consumer Credit Counseling - Offers comprehensive financial services, including debt-repayment programs, one-on-one counseling in the office, by phone or computer, budgeting assistance, housing counseling, etc., at little or no cost (United Way funded).
Maxine Reese • 800.737.5485

Department on Aging - Gives wide-ranging programs and services to persons 50 and over, including home-delivered meals, home repair and winterization, Alzheimer's education and support, instruction on computer and internet use, recreational, educational, social, athletic and cultural events; many services are provided free of charge or from client donations.
828.586.7506

Family Resource Center - A clearinghouse for many area resources, it coordinates comprehensive services geared towards keeping children healthy and families strong, including respite care, job coaching, parent education, alcohol and drug information and treatment and literacy.
Linda Gillman • 828.586.2845

Family Restoration Program - Makes available an extensive range of counseling and education options to children and their families in the seven, western-most counties in North Carolina, including an in-patient stay component; fees are based on the ability to pay.
828.349.0345

Good Samaritan Clinic - Grant-funded comprehensive health clinic providing free services every Tuesday night at the Health Department; will also try and connect patients with sources that provide greatly reduced or no cost prescriptions.
828.586.8994

Head Start - Comprehensive child care centers (birth through pre-school) for low-income families geared towards the health and welfare of both the children and their parents; programs and services include education on nutrition, parenting, physical and cognitive development, as well as in home visits by teachers and access to medical and dental services.
828.586.4245

Health Department - Contains a wide variety of services promoting quality healthcare and preventative care, including the Women's Clinic, the General Clinic, wellness screenings, laboratory services, child health, family outreach services, nutrition programs and environmental health; students can usually obtain many of the services and screenings for free.
828.586.8994

Housing Department - Gives Section 8 rental assistance aimed at assisting low-income individuals (18 and older) and families in finding suitable existing housing; amount given is based on income.
John Ashe • 828.586.7594

Jackson County Department of Recreation and Parks - Manages sport and recreational activities for children and youth throughout the year - call for additional information and sign up; similar programs in Macon and Swain Counties.
828.293.3053

Jackson County Transit - Provides affordable transportation throughout the area, including lift vans that are handicapped accessible; Department of Social Services can pay for transportation costs through Medicaid; similar programs in Macon and Swain County.
828.586.0233

Job Corps - Makes available excellent job training, basic education and life skills to persons 16-24 (no age limit to those with a documented disability), providing residential facilities to those who need them.
Phyllis Utley, Admissions Counselor • 877.397.0452

New Beginnings - Offers low cost evaluation, counseling and treatment for persons who have received a D.W.I., including services that address follow-up care and offer improved quality of life for the client and their family.
Toni Wills/Dudley Wills • 828.627.2026

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service - Oversees services such as 4-H that are geared towards children and youth development, as well as a variety of educational programs and resources on family and consumer education (money management and budgeting, health and wellness, nutrition, and human development issues).

Pathways for the Future - Coordinates services for persons with all types of disabilities, helping to increase independence, to promote equal access and to build a peer support network.
John Eukers • 828.631.1167

R.E.A.C.H. - Addresses the causes and the effects of domestic and sexual violence by offering a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, substance abuse counseling, life skills, support groups, job skills and community education.
828.586.1911 (crisis hotline)
828.631.4488

R.E.A.C.H. Thrift Store - Located near downtown Sylva, the thrift store offers quality used clothing and home furnishings at greatly reduced prices.
828.586.8778

Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Makes available comprehensive services for those with visual impairments.
Karen Torrence • 828.456.6061

Services for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired - Western Carolina University Speech and Hearing Center - Offers extensive services for those with hearing impairments, including diagnosis, treatment, training, referral and consultation.
828.227.7251

Smart Start - Serving as a clearing house for numerous community agencies, Smart Start provides a wide variety of programs and services in early care and education, health and family support, designed to ensure that all children are healthy and prepared to succeed when they enter school.
Emma J. Miller • 828.586.0661

Smokey Mountain Mental Health - Supplies mental health, developmental disability, substance abuse and psychological and neuropsychological testing services to children, adolescents and adults; sliding scale, Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance payments are accepted.
Kim Franklin, counseling intake coordinator • 828.631.9281, ext. 1456
Shirley Koehler, testing coordinator • 828.631.9281, ext. 1436

Social Security - Gives financial assistance to those persons dealing with the long-term consequences of a disability; also assists foreign students with the paperwork that enables them to find employment.
Andy Koley • 828.369.2684, ext. 200

Social Services - Offers a broad range of assistance with physical, familial and health related needs, including subsidies for childcare, food stamps, child support collection, Medicaid and emergency shelter and fuel.
828.586.5546

Southwestern Child Development Center - Focuses mainly on helping parents locate quality, affordable child care; also offers parent education and related resources.
828.586.5561

Sylva Clinical Associates - Makes available psychological and neuropsychological testing services to SCC students via the Student Support Services Office at a greatly reduced rate; they will also work out a manageable payment plan.
Jerry Coffey • 828.586.5555

United Christian Ministries - An interdenominational crisis ministry that provides assistance and advocacy to those in need by offering help with gasoline, clothing, past due utility bills, temporary lodging, medical bills, diapers, food, household and personal items; they will also make referrals to other agencies.
828.586.8228

Vocational Rehabilitation Services - Affords vocational rehabilitation services to eligible persons with physical, mental, emotional or learning disabilities that wish to keep, return to, or locate employment.
828.586.4032

Webster Enterprises - Trains persons with disabilities and other special needs from Jackson and Swain Counties in overcoming barriers to employment in an effort to promote self-sufficiency.
828.586.8981

Western North Carolina Legal Services - Provides legal assistance to low-income persons who cannot afford a private attorney by helping them with matters such as domestic violence, consumer issues, education, housing problems, evictions, harassment by bill collectors, unemployment claims, public benefits and SSI.
800.458.6817 • 828.586.8931

Workforce Investment Act - Supplies comprehensive services to those who are seeking gainful employment or to those who have lost their jobs through layoffs and plant or business closings, by offering help with books and tuition, transportation costs, career counseling and job search consultation.
828.586.4091, ext 200

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