For many Clarendon County residents, getting behavioral health services isn't about willingness — it's about getting there.
Whether it's a lack of transportation, long travel distances or simply not knowing where to turn, those access challenges often prevent people from receiving help. Clarendon Behavioral Health Services hopes to change that by bringing behavioral health care directly into communities across the county.
"We want people to know there's no barrier to getting services," said Natalie Scott, CEO of Clarendon Behavioral Health Services. "People need hope. If we can bring awareness to our community — even the little nooks and crannies — and let people know there are people who care about them, then we're doing what we're supposed to do."
The mobile unit, purchased and renovated through an approximately $87,000 grant from the South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund (SCORF), is expected to begin serving residents by mid-August. The SCORF program provides funding for approved strategies to address the opioid epidemic, with nonprofit organizations eligible to apply through the fund's Discretionary Subfund. Scott said the grant covered the purchase of the vehicle, renovations, insurance, fuel and maintenance, and the agency plans to seek additional SCORF funding to sustain the program.
The unit functions as a fully equipped mobile office rather than simply a means of transportation.
The interior has been redesigned to include two private client areas, allowing staff to work with two individuals at the same time. One space will primarily be used for assessments, while the second will accommodate intake appointments and counseling sessions. Sound machines, private rooms and a functioning restroom were incorporated into the design to help protect client confidentiality while providing services outside the agency's Manning office.
Scott said the renovations took about three months to complete, with careful attention paid to balancing functionality, privacy and weight distribution inside the vehicle.
Initially, the mobile unit will operate two to three half-days each week while the agency builds its client base. Appointments will be scheduled through the Clarendon Behavioral Health Services office, and the agency plans to publish the vehicle's monthly schedule so residents know when it will be in their communities.
Scott said the agency expects to focus first on rural communities where transportation can be a challenge, including Summerton, Turbeville and Alcolu. The unit will park at community centers, town halls and other central gathering places where residents can easily access services.
The unit will be staffed by a clinician and a peer support specialist, with Starlink internet allowing staff to securely access electronic health records while in the field.
While psychiatrists and medication-assisted treatment physicians will continue seeing patients at the Manning office, the mobile unit will provide assessments, individual counseling, peer support and behavioral health education. It will also attend community festivals and public events, where staff can distribute Narcan, medication disposal bags and educational materials.
"We're not just an alcohol and drug place," Scott said. "We have a lot more capabilities."
Clarendon Behavioral Health Services offers treatment for substance use disorders, counseling for anxiety, depression and grief, parenting support, trauma groups, anger management and adolescent services. The agency also partners with the Department of Social Services, the court system, the Clarendon County Detention Center and other organizations throughout the county.
Scott said demand has steadily rebounded since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the agency's client numbers nearly returning to pre-pandemic levels after several years of decline.
"We're seeing so much more anxiety in students and young people," Scott said, noting that social isolation during the pandemic disrupted normal social and emotional development for many children and teenagers.
Ultimately, Scott said the mobile unit represents more than expanded access to care — it's a reminder that help is available close to home.
"If they need a higher level of care, we'll help bridge that gap," Scott said. "Whatever we can do to help, we're going to help. But we're also going to help people change the behaviors they need to change so they can move forward."
