Welcome to Foothills CAN

Foothills CAN is a collaborative action network for Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties in South Carolina.

Mission Statement

Foothills CAN’s mission is to make our communities a better place to live, work, and play for individuals with all levels of disabilities.

Model/Philosophy

  1. Foothills CAN is a coalition. It is not an organization, program, or entity.
    1. Foothills CAN serves as the table where organizations come together to take collective action.
    2. We were created by the communities for the communities. The organizations and individuals that comprise Foothills CAN feel a shared sense of ownership and investment because they co-created Foothills CAN together as a mechanism to work collaboratively on a collective desire to make our communities a better place to live, work, and play for people with disabilities.
  2. Foothills CAN fulfills our mission by:
    1. promoting systemic change
    2. advocating for integration and inclusion
    3. providing a catalyst for change
    4. aiding in building capacity of existing organizations

Foothills CAN Strategic Priorities

Employment / Jobs

Goal Statement:

Increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Priority Objectives:

  1. Identify employers who currently employ individuals with disabilities. Ask for help from these employers with our Lunch and Learn activities to help educate other potential employers for our cause.
  2. Make it easier for employers and job seekers to navigate and access the vast array of employment services available.
  3. Promote a business culture which understands and values the importance of individuals with disabilities in the workplace.

Transportation

Goal Statement:

Create a system wherein individuals with disabilities may have easy access to the destination of their choice.

Priority Objectives:

  1. Work with All transportation entities (including churches) within our counties to be sure they understand our objectives and see how they may help us.
  2. Work with members of our legislative system to be sure they understand our problems and see how they may be able to assist us.

Awareness

Goal Statement:

Lead collective advocacy efforts to influence policy and resource allocation at the local, regional, and state levels to cultivate communities of empowerment and inclusion for individuals with disabilities and their families/support teams.

Priority Objectives:

  1. Identify advocacy or education issues to address all areas of our concerns with specific emphasis on employment, transportation, and awareness.
  2. Work with educational systems within our counties to help educate not only individuals with disabilities but also the general public.
  3. Target a planned delivery of timely and accurate information to present to educational personnel, students, parents, and community partners.
  4. Ensure the implementation of quality transition services through cooperative planning, the commitment of resources, information sharing, service coordination, training, and advocacy.
  5. Increase awareness of services and resources available by improving communication among providers throughout our communities and beyond.
  6. Identify and implement strategies to ensure individuals with disabilities have access to mentoring relationships. Mentors may be individuals with or without disabilities.
  7. Increase peer-to-peer support for parents, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities.
  8. Identify and implement strategies to support parents and caregivers of a child with a new diagnosis or an individual with a newly acquired disability.
  9. Hold monthly/quarterly Lunch and Learn programs.
  10. Create a means for provider representatives to easily seek and share resources in a timely manner.
  11. Provide networking opportunities.
  12. Establish a system for information and referral organizations to share knowledge of existing resources with each other.
  13. Identifying gaps and deficiencies in services.

Having Fun / Entertainment

Goal Statement:

Help individuals of all ages and abilities to have access to and be engaged in a comprehensive (and quality-consistent) array of recreational, arts, and enrichment activities.

Priority Objectives:

  1. Increase afterschool and summer enrichment activities available and accessible to children with disabilities
  2. Increase recreational and arts activities for individuals with disabilities of all ages.
  3. Increase access to events throughout the year, including Special Olympics and Night to Shine.
  4. Work with local schools and churches to see what facilities are available for individuals with disabilities.
  5. Work with local equestrian centers to see what programs are available.
  6. Net/net–have an open mind when it comes to ANY RESOURCES available.

Housing

Goal Statement:

Help individuals with disabilities have safe, affordable, and accessible housing suited to their needs and level of independence.

Primary Objectives:

We plan to grow into this area and will work in this area in the future.


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