Neighborhood Outreach Connection

NOC'S MISSION IS TO FIGHT POVERTY BY EMPOWERING PEOPLE THROUGH EDUCATION, HEALTH SCREENING, WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

THE NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH CONNECTION (NOC), ESTABLISHED IN 2008, IS A 501(C)(3) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. NOCS MISSION IS TO FIGHT POVERTY BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY, THUS EMPOWERING THEM TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM. NOCS DEVELOPMENT MANTRA IS TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO FISH THROUGH ITS THREE CORE PROGRAMS: AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING, HEALTH SCREENINGS, AND WORKFORCE/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. THROUGH THESE THREE PROGRAMS AND ITS SIX LEARNING CENTERS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY SC, NOC BRINGS RESOURCES, SERVICES, AND TECHNOLOGY INTO POOR NEIGHBORHOODS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY, MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF MANY PEOPLE. THE LEARNING CENTERS PROVIDE A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND ARE EQUIPPED WITH COMPUTERS AND INTERNET ACCESS. NOCS FLAGSHIP EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM INCLUDES AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS. EACH LEARNING CENTER IS SUPPORTED BY A FIELD TEAM CONSISTING OF A PROGRAM MANAGER, A NEIGHBORHOOD LIAISON, TEACHERS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, AND VOLUNTEERS. NOCS GOALS RELATE TO ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, ATTENDANCE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. DURING THE PERIOD AUGUST 1, 2021, TO JULY 31, 2022, NOC SERVED 519 HIGH RISK CHILDREN IN ITS FALL, WINTER/SPRING, AND SUMMER SESSIONS. MORE THAN 90% OF THE CHILDREN IN NOCS PROGRAM SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN LEARNING SKILLS RELATING TO MATH AND READING. . NOC PROVIDES THESE IMPORTANT SERVICES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BEAUFORT COUNTY LIBRARY AND PARTNER AGENCIES AT A COST OF LESS THAN $1200 PER CHILD PER YEAR. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, NOC HAS OFFERED ADULT CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS INCLUDING BASIC ENGLISH (FOCUSING ON WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION), PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. NOC ALSO PROMOTES BETTER HEALTH BY FACILITATING ANNUAL SCREENINGS IN CONJUNCTION WITH BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL. IN THE 2021/2022 PERIOD, MORE THAN 160 PEOPLE, WHO HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE AND LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THESE HEALTH SCREENINGS. SINCE MARCH 2020, AT THE HEIGHT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC, NOC HAS HELPED MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES ASSOCIATED WITH ITS PROGRAMS WITH GRANT FUNDING TO COVER FOOD COSTS, AS WELL AS RENTAL AND UTILITY PAYMENTS TO AVOID EVICTIONS. NOC HAS ALSO SPONSORED COMMUNITY EVENTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHURCHES AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. MORE THAN 715 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THESE EVENTS. IN MOVING FORWARD, NOC WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AND SUSTAIN ITS EXISTING PROGRAMS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY. IN KEEPING WITH ITS VISION AND MISSION, NOC WILL TACKLE THESE CHALLENGES WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF URGENCY AND COMMITMENT IN KEEPING WITH ITS MISSION TO HELP THOSE IN NEED AND THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE

NOCX#39;S WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES AND PLATFORMS IN LOW- INCOME NEIGHBORHOOD FOR BUILDING COMMUNITIES THROUGH SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AND NETWORKING. NOC INVOLVES CHURCHES AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS TO FOSTER BETTER RELATIONSHIPS AMONG COMMUNITIES. IN 2020-2021, NOC THROUGH GRANT FUNDING HELPED MORE THAN 100 LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WITH GRANTS TO COVER RENTAL AND UTILITY EXPENSES, WHICH KEPT THEM FROM BEING EVICTED. NOC HAS ALSO HELPED MORE THAN 160 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH TIMELY INFORMATION RELATING TO FOOD SUPPLY, COVID 19 VACCINATIONS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES FROM OTHER AGENCIES.

IN 2021-2022, THROUGH ITS HEALTH SCREENINGS IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, NOC IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, AND DEHEC, VACCINATED 75 INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING CHILDREN 12 YEARS AND OLDER FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND. IN ADDITION, DURING THIS PERIOD, MORE THAN 160 PEOPLE, WHO HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE AND LIMITED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, HAVE BENEFITTED FROM HEALTH SCREENINGS RELATING TO HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, CANCER, VISON, AND DENTAL HYGIENE. THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA NOC PROVIDED TIMELY INFORMATION TO PEOPLE IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS IN BEAUFORT COUNTY ABOUT COVID 19 TESTING AND VACCINATIONS.