Tri-County Grad Michael Smith Encourages his Children
To Choose His Alma Mater When Considering College

CONTACT: LISA GARRETT, EXT. 2315

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2/7/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

SENECA ---- It's not unusual, anytime, day or night, for Michael Smith to get a call from the Oconee County Sheriff's Department, alerting him about an unemployed single mother, who is living in her car with her children, homeless, destitute, and near freezing. As executive director of the Oconee Crisis Ministry, Smith assists persons in crisis -- those experiencing financial, emotional and/or domestic issues, in addition to needing emergency food and shelter. Last year alone, Oconee Crisis Ministry, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) ministry located in the United Way building in Seneca, served 3,000 persons, many of whom had only the clothes on their back.

"We handle anything you can imagine, and there are many needs. Crises are defined by the individual," said Smith, a Seneca native who has served as executive director since July of 2000.

"Every day is different," says Smith, who holds a Criminal Justice degree from Tri-County Technical College and who has been a governor-appointed state constable since 1996. "Oconee Crisis Ministry is mostly concerned with stabilizing the immediate crisis and the next 24 hours. We channel problems and focus on the issues to get our clients to the right agencies and people."

Counseling is part of every case, added Smith, who is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and an ordained minister. "You read into their conversation that they have other needs, not just food or some financial help. We provide for those needs as well," he said.

"To get to me, they generally must have exhausted all other avenues of assistance. Basically, they are at their wit's end," said Smith. Each client coming to my office is carefully screened to ensure they meet all Crisis Ministry criteria before he or she can receive services."

Crisis Ministry clients range in age from teens to the elderly. A large segment of the referrals come from law enforcement, he said. "Yes, there are repeat clients over the months, but hopefully they will need less help next time. I always try to measure success against the client's standards, not mine. What may look like a small gain to you or me, may be a huge gain for my clients," he said.

"You do take it home sometimes," he admitted. "You worry about the homeless. There are no homeless or domestic abuse shelters in Oconee County," he said. If someone needs shelter, he or she has to be transported to one in Anderson or Greenville, he said, and a vision of his is to one day have a multi-bed shelter in Oconee County.

Despite what many might call a depressing job, Smith says it's rewarding because he gets to help people. "It's satisfying to help someone and to see them find success. You know you've made a difference. It's fulfilling and overwhelming."

"It is by far the most challenging job I've had," added Smith, who left the corporate world six years ago to work for the S.C. Department of Juvenile Justice in Anderson and Pickens counties as a probation/parole officer. He later joined the Department of Social Services in Pickens County where he was a child protective services investigator. When he saw an ad for the Crisis Ministry director's job, he saw this as a chance to serve his home county. Smith now resides in Liberty with his wife, Melissa, and their two children.

He grew up all over the world while his father was in the Air Force. While stationed overseas, he graduated from Lakenheath American High School located on a Royal Air Force military base in England. Smith took college courses in criminal justice on the base and came back to the U.S. a year after graduating from high school.

While driving to Anderson one day in 1976, he noticed Tri-County on the hill. Registration just happened to be that day, and he pulled in, saw a counselor and signed up for classes. "Tri-County really prepared me. Courses I never thought would matter I can now still glean information from, especially the criminal justice, effective communication and report writing courses. I had a wonderful experience at Tri-County, and I encourage my children, Daniel and Christy, to come here. It's a great place to start."

Christy took her father's advice and looked into Tri-County while a senior at Liberty High. "Dad always said Tri-County is a great school, and I should consider it when applying to colleges," she said. Christy visited Tri-County and talked with the Early Childhood Development department head. "I sat in on a class, and I really liked what I saw. The people are nice, and the campus is great. Now I see what Dad has been raving about," she said.

She is currently enrolled in the curriculum and is pursing an associate degree. "I love kids, and I want to teach pre-school," said Christy, who works part-time at All About Kids in Liberty. "I made the right decision."

Dad feels the same way and keeps in close contact with his alma mater. He recently taught a Basic Security Training class for Tri-County's Continuing Education Division and serves as the president of the Alumni Association.

"I want to continue to be a part of my school. I have strong feelings about Tri-County," he said. As president of the Alumni Association, he wants to increase participation in alumni-sponsored events. "I say 'Tech" like it's a best friend. I want to instill that same pride in other graduates." Smith also holds a B. S. in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Management from La Salle University and an associate in Arts degree from Western Oklahoma State College.
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