LINC is a five-year project that partners youth with older adults in community service teams. The teams learn and serve together to enhance and improve the quality of life in their communities. From promoting safety and organizing health projects to developing business enterprises, young and old citizens team up to create relationships and friendships through the LINC project.

Current research attributes many of the problems of youth to a lack of significant relationships. Many young people are growing up in single-parent families where time to commit to the parent/child relationship is curtailed as the parent works to meet the family's material needs without another adult's assistance. As mentors, older adults can provide guidance not available to young people from a family member. Several national model programs involve older adults who provide assistance to youth. LINC has a unique focus in that older adults and youth work together in service projects for personal and community growth.

LINC is managed by a partnership between Clemson University, the DHHS Bureau of Senior Services, the South Carolina Department of Education, and the United Way of South Carolina. Leaders from each agency are:

• Dr. Sam Drew, S.C. Department of Education
  
• Dr. Francis McGuire and Mr. Jeffrey Allen, Clemson University
  
• Mrs. Betti Sands, United Way of South Carolina
  
• Dr. Sue Scally, DHHS Bureau of Senior Services
  

And LINC's external evaluator is Generations Together at the University of Pittsburgh.

LINC's Purpose and Goals

LINC Information Sheets

LINC Communities

LINC Newsletter

LINC's Web Links

LINC's Photo Gallery

Comments and Suggestions for LINC

For information on the LINC Project, contact:
		Beverly Brandes LINC Coordinator Education Associate S.C. Department of Education 1429 Senate Street, Room 906 Phone: (803) 734-8152 Fax:     (803) 734-5685 e-mail: brandes@sde.state.sc.us
Rebecca Green United Way of South Carolina 1429 Senate Street, Room 919 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 734-5361 Fax:     (803) 734-5685 e-mail: rgreen@sde.state.sc.us			Fran McGuire Clemson LINC Director Strom Thurmond Institute Clemson University Perimeter Road Clemson, SC 29634-0125 Phone: (864) 656-0211 Fax:     (864) 656-4780 e-mail: lefty@clemson.edu
	Linda O'Leary DHHS Bureau of Senior Services 1801 Main St., 10th Floor P.O. Box 8206 Columbia, SC 29202-8206 Phone: (803) 253-6177 Fax:     (803) 253-4173 e-mail: o'leary@gw.dhhs.state.sc.us

Return to the Retirement & Intergenerational Studies Lab.