COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 17, 2025) – The South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health (IMPH), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization working to collectively inform policy to improve health and health care in South Carolina, will hold four sessions as a part of its Regional Health Policy Fellows Program. This initiative is designed to educate policymakers and other decision makers about regionally relevant public health issues.

The first of four sessions, Strengthening Local Care: Improving Home and Community Based Services through Policy and Partnerships, took place on June 16 and focused on home and community-based services (HCBS) in the Midlands. Policymakers and other attendees heard from experts on the availability of HCBS in their communities, financing of these services and the consequences of a lack of access for individuals and the state.

Attendees also heard from a panel of experts on services and supports needed to help people with disabilities and older adults stay in the community. The panel included:

  • Jason Tavenner of the South Carolina Human Services Association
  • Rachell Johnson of the Assistive Technology Program at the University of South Carolina
  • Dr. Shaun Owens, Professor of Social Work at USC and director of the Healthy Aging Research and Technology Lab

“Most people want to be able to age in place and stay in their homes for as long as possible. With a growing aging population, it is important that our state be prepared to provide a wide variety of services that can help people maintain independence by providing high quality and cost-effective care in home and community-based settings,” says Maya Pack, MS, MPA, Executive Director at IMPH. “Yesterday we were happy to welcome policymakers from across the Midlands who came together to discuss approaches to strengthening home and community-based services for our aging population and those with disabilities.”

The remaining sessions include:

  • The Lowcountry: Where policymakers will discuss public health and disaster preparedness.
  • The PeeDee: Where policymakers will learn about the health care workforce issues affecting the state.
  • The Upstate: Where policymakers will hear from experts about the opioid crisis and response.

The Health Policy Fellows Program is a signature program of IMPH and advances the mission of the Institute, to collectively inform policy to improve health and health care in South Carolina. IMPH has developed a new version of the program for 2025, the Regional Health Policy Fellows Program, in partnership with the Commonwealth Fund, which is a national, private foundation based in New York City that supports independent research on health care issues and makes grants to improve health care practice and policy.

About IMPH

The South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health (IMPH) is an independent, nonprofit organization working to collectively inform policy to improve health and health care in South Carolina. IMPH provides nonpartisan, evidence-based information to guide policymakers in making impactful health policy decisions. Learn more at imph.org.

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