SWANSEA -- The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has opened a new teen health center in Swansea.

The facility, the Lexington County Teen Health Center, is located at 500 Charlie Rast Road and is open from 2 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with extended hours during the school year from 9 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Wednesdays and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

The purpose of the center is to provide a teen-friendly environment that gives teenagers an opportunity to seek assistance, learn how to address and avoid risky activities and health issues, experience positive activities and atmosphere, learn new living, coping and management skills, discover new problems solving skills and receive confidential services on an as-needed basis.

All services are free to teens.

"We intend to provide necessary and beneficial services to area teens," said program coordinator Mary Ann Dardy. "We have already formed both a Teen and a Parent Advisory Board, and they are both offering programming ideas."

She said some of the teens from Corpus Cristie Catholic Church helped paint the inside of the building, and many businesses and individuals donated materials and other supplies.

"We are very fortunate," Dardy said.

An open house for the new center was held April 21, attracting a good crowd, she said.

"The teens and their parents seem very interested, and I feel this center will be successful in offering positive alternative activities as well as helping those teens who may be addicted to drugs (or) alcohol or experiencing health problems due to HIV/AIDS or other STD infections or who may require rape crisis intervention," Dardy said.

"Currently, we are still looking for qualified individuals to fill some positions," she added. "For instance, we need an RN to help with the health issues."

Dardy said the plan for the Lexington County Teen Health Center is to serve the "whole teen."

"We are not here just for drug rehab but neither are we here just as a place to go hang out," she said. "We plan to make a positive impact, and we are looking forward to working with the people in this area."

The Lexington County Teen Health Center is partnered with Lexington County Community Mental Health, all five Lexington County school districts, Lexington Medical Center, United Way of the Midlands, Lexington County Public Health Department, Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, Lexington Interfaith Community Services, Lexington County Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, Palmetto Baptist Hospital, Lexington County First Steps, Lexington County Department of Social Services, Sexual Trauma Services, Midlands Partnership, Lexington County churches and Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center.

For more information, e-mail Dardy at dardyma@dhec.sc.gov or call 803-794-3095.

T&D Correspondent Sherryl Peters can be reached by e-mail at Boykinbaby@surrealestate.com or by phone at 803-263-4058. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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