HEALTH INITIATIVES

Trident United Way, in partnership with Roper St. Francis Hospital and the Duke Endowment, supports 7 programs aimed at improving nutrition and overall well-being in the Tri-County area. These initiatives align with the goals of the Healthy Tri-County Community Health Plan to enhance the health and quality of life for local residents.

MULBERRY FOOD FOREST

In partnership with Charleston Parks Conservancy 
2,050 POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED TO 500+ INDIVIDUALS

COMMUNITY GARDENS

In Partnership with Clemson Extension and the USDA
167 INDIVIDUALS SUPPORTED 
47 COMMUNITY EVENTS HELD
117 GARDEN VOLUNTEERS

FOOD PHARMACIES

In partnership with Lowcountry Foodbank
355 INDIVIDUALS SERVED
6,454 POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED

SOUTH CAROLINA HEALTHY BUSINESS FELLOWS

5 HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL GRADUATED

NORTH CHARLESTON DENTAL OUTREACH:

Bridging the Gap in Dental Care with Support from Trident United Way’s ALICE® Initiative and the SafetyNet Assistance Network

“The SafetyNet Assistance Network gets us out of our usual health and wellness bubble. It allows us to meet individuals and organizations outside of our typical connections, creating partnerships that enable us to address the broader needs of our community,” explains Elijah Melendez, Director of Operations and Development at North Charleston Dental Outreach.

In the heart of the Tri-County, dental care is an ongoing challenge for ALICE populations—those who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed. These individuals and families face the constant struggle of meeting basic needs like rent, food and utilities, leaving them with little financial flexibility to address healthcare concerns, including essential dental care.

This is where North Charleston Dental Outreach plays a pivotal role in our community. As a nonprofit clinic dedicated to providing essential dental services to those in need, North Charleston Dental Outreach strives to bridge the gap in access to care for ALICE households. By leveraging United for ALICE data provided by Trident United Way, North Charleston Dental Outreach has been able to tailor its services to the unique needs of the ALICE population, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent individuals from receiving the care they deserve.

Building Partnerships to Better Support Our Community: North Charleston Dental Outreach and the SafetyNet Assistance Network

Trident United Way’s SafetyNet Assistance Network also plays an integral part in the success of NCDO’s outreach efforts. SafetyNet Assistance Network is an informal collaborative group that provides local nonprofit organizations the opportunity to share resources, connect and refer individuals to services that help meet a variety of needs. For North Charleston Dental Outreach, the SafetyNet Assistance Network is a crucial link to individuals and organizations who may otherwise not know about available dental care options.

A “Gamechanger” in Community Care: Using ALICE Data to Determine Eligibility for Care

North Charleston Dental Outreach recognizes that even with dental insurance, many ALICE individuals are still unable to afford care due to financial constraints and the high cost of dental procedures. Director of Operations and Development at North Charleston Dental Outreach Elijah Melendez shares, “We hear from patients who are grateful for our services because they’ve visited other clinics only to find they either earn too much to qualify for assistance or can’t afford dental care after paying for basic necessities like groceries and rent. Using the ALICE data to determine eligibility has been a gamechanger for us; it allows our patients to finally find a place where they can receive care.”

The insights provided by ALICE data allow North Charleston Dental Outreach to assess eligibility for its services with greater precision. “This data provides ample evidence for our organization to ensure no one ‘slips through the cracks’ of the safety net,” explains Melendez. “It helps us identify and support those who are struggling, ensuring they receive the dental care they need.”

Robust Partnerships Create Stronger Communities: Connecting Nonprofit Partners like North Charleston Dental Outreach to the Resources, Data and Partnerships that Helps Local Organizations Thrive

Through its partnership with the SafetyNet Assistance Network, North Charleston Dental Outreach not only provides dental care but also addresses a range of broader needs. They also tap into our SC-211 Helpline to find patients in need of care. “Many of our patients are referred to us through the 211 Resource Line or other community partnerships within the SafetyNet Assistance Network,” Melendez said. “When they arrive, we conduct exams take X-rays, and we also ask important follow-up questions to determine if their other basic needs are being met: ‘Do you know where your next meal is coming from?’ ‘Do you have transportation to your appointments?’ ‘Do you have a bed to sleep in tonight?’ These questions help us connect our patients with our community partners to serve the holistic needs of each.” 

“The ALICE Framework, SafetyNet Assistance Network, and 211 have been critical resources for our organization,” 
Melendez said. “We want to be the best charity dental partner for our community. We believe that the best way to serve our patients is to connect them with other amazing partners focusing on serving the whole person. Partnerships are the key to a thriving community, and we’re grateful Trident United Way is leading the conversation.”

North Charleston Dental Outreach’s work is a testament to the power of collaboration and community care, and their partnership with Trident United Way has led to a significant impact in the lives of ALICE households. To date, over 2,200 unique patients have been served and over $2M in value of dental treatment has been provided, helping to improve health outcomes for the community.