Next Steps database training requires no prior computer knowledge.

The Department of Social Ministries of the Diocese of South Carolina invites you to help break the cycle of poverty in the inner cities and rural areas of South Carolina. We offer free access to the Next Steps database and free training throughout the year.

Today hundreds of South Carolina innercity and rural churches and social ministries try to help their communities’ poor, yet the cycle of poverty continues to rage unchecked. Churches and social ministries with limited resources become overwhelmed when they single-handedly and repeatedly try to meet the emergency needs of the poor. Next Steps can provide the tools to help churches and social ministries to work together to break the cycle of poverty in their communities. We train their volunteers and employees to use the Next Steps database to (a) share resources and information online and enhance ministries’ efficiency and effectiveness and (b) empower the poor to build bridges out of poverty.

The Department of Social Ministries acquired use of the Next Steps Database from Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington and its software developer Community Information Technology Innovators of Washington, DC. To view a six-minute video about the Next Step Program, please visit www.samaritanministry.com and click on “Next Step Participant Video.”

Using a user ID and password, the Next Steps training database is accessible online at www.southcarolinaministries.org and is free. Once volunteers complete one 3-hour training session, they receive a certificate and a user ID and password to access the Next Steps training database (to practice using the database on their own computer) and access to the database for their county (see county list below).

The Department has set up Next Steps databases in all 46 counties in South Carolina, accessible online via www.southcarolinaministries.org covering the state in clusters of counties, including:

• Beaufort Cluster (Allendale, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties)
• Charleston Cluster (Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties)
• Florence Cluster (Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, and Sumter Counties)
• Georgetown Cluster (Georgetown and Horry Counties)
• Orangeburg Cluster (Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Williamsburg Counties)
• Catawba Cluster (Chester, Lancaster, and York Counties)
• Gravatt Cluster (Abbeville, Aiken, Edgefield, Greenwood, McCormick, and Saluda Counties)
• Midlands Cluster (Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, and Richland Counties)
• Piedmont Cluster (Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union Counties)
• Reedy River Cluster (Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, and Pickens Counties)

Next Steps Workshops Beginning in October 2010, we plan to offer Next Steps Workshops to inspire and equip church volunteers to be Next Steps mentors to people in poverty who want to make positive changes in their lives through the Next Step Program. Mentors will learn how to (a) help Next Steps participants establish life-improving goals, (b) connect participants with employment and social services in their community, and (c) help them take their next steps out of poverty. Materials for the workshops and for organizing a Next Step program at your church or Christ-centered social ministry will be available at www.NextStepsSC.org. During the Next Steps workshops, we plan to use the book “What Every Church Member Should Know about Poverty” (AKA “The Church Book”) by the Rev. Bill Ehlig and Dr. Ruby K. Payne (2006 edition) published by Aha! Process, Inc., Highlands, TX (www.ahaprocess.com).

A Next Steps information sheet is available by clicking here.

If you have questions about Next Steps, please contact Ed Dyckman, Chair, Department of Social Ministries or telephone Ed at 843-367-5647.