Southwestern Community College (SCC) is committed to promoting student retention and success. SCC has identified internal and external resources that can minimize some risk factors that may have a negative impact on our students' academic progress. Listed below are some identified risk factors for community college students and helpful resources for each.
Students who are academically under-prepared: No high school diploma or developmental placement:
- SCC Literacy Program: ABE/GED/ESL. Contact Kay Wolf, Interim Educational Opportunities Director, 828.339.4361 or k_wolf@southwesterncc.edu.
Students who are single parents or caring for children at home:
- SCC: Time-management, attendance policies, faculty and advisors, scheduling, online classes.
- Southwestern Child Development Center: Focuses on helping parents locate quality, affordable childcare. Also, offers parent education and related resources. Call 828.586.5561 or visit http://www.swcdinc.org.
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters: Provides friendship/support for children and youth ages 6-14 in single-parent homes. Visit www.bbbswnc.org. (Bryson City 828.736.7501; Cherokee 828.644.9747; Waynesville 828.356.2148).
- Family Resource Center: coordinates comprehensive services geared towards keeping children healthy and families strong. it includes respite care, job coaching, parent education, alcohol and drug information and treatment and literacy. Call 828.586.2845 or visit http://main.nc.us/jackson/famres.htm.
- 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, access to medical and dental services, as well as in home visits by teachers. Call 828.456.4546 or visit www.mountainprojects.org/html/hscal.html.
- Health Families of Jackson County: Dedicated to assisting any family who would like additional support meeting the multiple challenges of being a new parent. Services are provided for families with children birth to three years of age. Call 828.586.8994 or visit http://health.jacksonnc.org.
- Macon Program for Progress: Comprehensive programs and services offering Head Start, Early Head Start, housing, literacy, medical, social services, etc. Call 828.524.4471 or visit www.mppnhc.org.
- Smart Start: Serving as a clearing house for numerous community agencies, Smart Start provides a wide variety of programs and services in early child care and education., health and family support. Designed to ensure that all children are healthy and prepared to succeed when they enter school. Call 828.586.0661 or visit http://regionakids.org.
- Jackson County Transit: Jackson County Transit provides transportation for human service agencies, the elderly, people with disabilities, and the general public of Jackson County. It offers deviated fixed routes, paratransit service, and a demand response service between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday, expect holidays. Visit www.jacksoncountytransit.com or call 828.586.0233 for more information.
- NC 211: Provides assistance in finding community health and human services resources. Visit www.NC211.org.
Students who are financially independent, relying on their own income as a major source for college costs, or identifying cost of attending college as a significant issue:
- SCC: Financial aid & Scholarship Program, Student Support Services Supplemental Grant Aid, work-study.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs: Supplies financial support for books, tuition,travel, as well as a housing stipend to students who are on the roll (must claim to be at least 1/16 Indian descent from a federally recognized tribe). Call 828.497.9131 or visit https://www.bia.gov/regional-offices/eastern/cherokee-agency
- Cherokee Tribal Education: Supplies financial support for books, tuition, travel, as well as a housing stipend to students who are on the roll (must claim to be at least 1/16 Indian descent from a federally recognized tribe). Call 828.497.7000 or visit http://nc-cherokee.com/education/hom/youth-adult-education-services/education-training.
- Community Health Access Network: (Jackson County) Links low-income 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) Call 877.570.0001 or visit www.ncaccesscare.org.
- Community Table: (Jackson County) Provides healthy meals at no charge in a restaurant style setting four nights a week. Call 828.586.6782 or visit www.communitytable.org.
- Consumer Credit Counseling: Offers comprehensive financial services, including debt - repayment programs, one-on-one financial counseling, budget assistance, housing counseling, etc., at little or no cost (United Way Funded) Call 800-769-3571 or visit www.consumercredit.com.
- Blue Ridge Health: (formerly Good Samaritan clinic) Blue Ridge Health is a patient-centered medical home for anyone in the western North Carolina communities, delivering high-quality healthcare for more than 42,000 individuals annually. With health center locations in six counties and four School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs), we provide healthcare services with the patient in mind. Same day appointments. All of our patients are offered the best care, close to home, and all under one roof. Call 828.692.4289 or visit https://www.brchs.com/.
- Health Department: Wide variety of services promoting quality healthcare and preventive 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. Jackson: Call 828.586.8994 or visit http://health.jacksonnc.org. Macon: Call 828.349.2081 or visit www.maconnc.org/health-resources.html. Swain: Call 488-3198 or visit www.swaincountync.gov/health-home.html.
- Housing Department: HUD Section 8 rental assistance- Financial assistance with monthly rent and utility payments for qualified families and individuals. Housing Rehabilitation/Home Repair: home repairs and renovations for qualified families. Energy Program: makes homes warmer, cooler and more energy efficient for qualified families and individuals. Jackson: 828.631.2292. Macon: 866.933.2293 ext. 49637 or visit http://www.affordablehousingonline.com/housingauthoritydetail.asp?id=NC154.
- Legal Aid of North Carolina: 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. Call Larry Nestler at 800.458.6817 or visit www.legalaidnc.org. Enter county in search box.
- Social Security: Gives financial assistance to those persons dealing with the long term consequences of a disability. Assists foreign students with the paperwork that enables them to find employment. Call 800.772.1213 or visit www.ssa.gov.
- 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. Call Jerry Coffey 828.586.5555 or visit www.sylvaclinical.com.
- United Christian Ministries: An inter-denominational 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. Referrals to other agencies also available. Call 828.586.8228 or visit http://ucmhelp.com.
- 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 education or employment. Call 828.586.4032 or visit http://www.nc-van.org/directory/macon/NCDivisionofVocationalRehabilitationServices.html.
- 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, coats, career counseling and job search consultation. www.doleta.gov/usworkforce/wia/act.cfm
