Dental Help for needy here

September 03, 2009

Written by Kim Gardner, The Enterprise Mountaineer

Sunday, 30 August 2009 16:26

Adults with emergency dental needs, but without the insurance or money to pay for such services, now have a way to get help. A collaboration of Haywood Christian Ministry, Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Haywood County Health Department and dentist Dr. Eric Morrison has brought this service to the community. Jana Jones, case manager at HVO, said she approached Lisa James, executive director of Haywood Christian Ministry, at the beginning of the year after a two-year grant for dental care ended. The grant of $50,000 operated from 2004 to 2006, serving 191 Haywood County residents. “After the money ended, the grant wasn’t renewed. It was so very helpful so Lisa and I talked and said, ‘let’s try to pursue doing this again,’” Jones said. The two women brought in Carmine Rocco, director of the health department, and Morrison, who has previously helped people in need with dental problems. From there, letters were sent out to county dentists in search of support and the collaboration received it. They got $21,000 in monetary and in-kind donations from dentists, and received a $9,000 grant from the N.C. Free Clinic Association. Starting tomorrow, Sept. 1, adults with no to little income without insurance or Medicaid can get help for dental problems. “There’s a huge need (for dental help),” Morrison said. “Every day I see people who have dental emergencies and they just can’t find someone to see them.” There are 11 dentists participating, including the Haywood County Health Department’s dental clinic. But right now, the program, Haywood County Dental Project, can only help those with emergency dental problems. James said that the previous grant was not continued because it did not demonstrate sustainability. “We will possibly apply again once we demonstrate it’s sustainable, and we want to do restorative care as our next step,” she said. Adults who have a dental emergency need to contact Haywood Christian Ministry, which will handle the finances and provide the referrals. Because Haywood Christian Ministry is a nonprofit organization, donations made for the program are tax-deductible. Rocco said that through the health department’s dental clinic, a real need in the community has been seen. “We recognize the dental needs in the community are great, and that’s why I’m glad to see this program,” Rocco said. “I think it will fill a gap for those without dental insurance who may have a minor problem that, without treatment, could escalate into something more serious and probably drive that person to the emergency room.” While the group has worked for the last eight months to get this project off the ground, both Jones and James said Dr. Tish Ballance has helped several clients of Haywood Christian Ministry and HVO with dental emergencies. Now that the project kicks off tomorrow, Morrison and his fellow dentists are ready. “Bring them on,” he said. “We’re ready to take care of them. I like helping people.” Those adults who lack dental insurance or the means to pay for emergent treatment can contact Haywood Christian Ministry at 456-4838. From there, the person will be referred to a participating dentist. For more information about the Haywood County Dental Project, call Jana Jones at HVO at 456-4455 or Lisa James at Haywood Christian Ministry at 456-4838.

 

Alcon/HVO Partnership provides Jobs - and Meaning - for Special Needs Workers

September 02, 2009

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HVO Announces Golden LEAF Grant

July 22, 2009

Hazelwood, NC -- Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Inc. (HVO) is pleased to announce a $300,000 Economic Catalyst grant award from the Golden LEAF Foundation.  This award was made to support HVO’s efforts to expand its operations that will create 75 new jobs manufacturing custom medical products. 

“On behalf of the organization, our board of directors and most importantly, the individuals with disabilities that we serve, we are grateful for this crucial funding,” said George Marshall, President of HVO. “We are competing every day in a global market in the very dynamic environment of healthcare. The funding support from Golden LEAF and others is critical for us to reduce the risk of taking on such a venture.  There’s a saying: ‘in the worst of times, do the best of things’ and for us, Golden LEAF has done the best of things for us and for our important stakeholders.”

The jobs created by the Golden LEAF grant will pay an above-average wage for the region and will offer health care and other benefits.  In addition to manufacturing, the facilities will be used to provide vocational training and rehabilitation to people with severe developmental disabilities and other barriers to employment.  HVO is planning for the expansion to take over the facility that Wellco Enterprises recently announced that it would be vacating.  HVO has entered negotiations to purchase the property and building with its own funds.  Funds from Golden LEAF and others will be used to renovate and upgrade manufacturing space to exacting FDA standards and to offset other startup costs.  The project is expected to produce a $4 million annual economic impact for the region.

“Golden LEAF is very pleased to award HVO a grant to help shore up a manufacturing base in Haywood County.” said Dan Gerlach, Golden LEAF President. “For us, the project was attractive because it creates good jobs with good pay and benefits in a county and region that have suffered significantly from the economic downturn.  Without Golden LEAF support, HVO would not be able to take on this risk at this time.”

 

About HVO

HVO is a private, not-for-profit corporation located in Waynesville, NC  which operates as a social enterprise business offering employment and employment training opportunities to persons with disabilities and disadvantages.  HVO currently employs 321 on a full-time basis and serves over 250 individuals in its employment and training programs annually.

Through the support of Golden LEAF and other economic development and private foundations HVO will acquire the plant that Wellco will abandon in September 2009; the Wellco plant is located near HVO’s plant in Waynesville, N.C.  A growing demand for custom medical products, the need for HVO to continuously expand means to achieve its mission, and efforts to diversify its product base are the reasons HVO seeks to grow and expand manufacturing operations.

Over the past three years HVO has increased the number of full-time employees by 101.  Of these increased employment numbers 33 % were persons who were served and then hired from our employment and training programs.   HVO’s total workforce represents approximately an equal number of persons with and without a disability.  It is hoped that occupancy will occur in early winter of 2010 once funding is secured and renovations to the building and property are completed. 

 

About Golden LEAF

The Golden LEAF Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in 1999 to help transform North Carolina’s economy. The foundation receives one-half of North Carolina’s funds from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with cigarette manufacturers and places special emphasis on assisting tobacco-dependent, economically-distressed and/or rural communities across the state. The Golden LEAF Foundation works in partnership with governmental entities, educational institutions, economic development organizations and nonprofits to achieve its mission. The foundation has awarded 803 grants totaling more than $383 million since its inception. 

For more information, or to learn more about applying for a grant, visit or call (888) 684-8404.

For more information about HVO you may call (828) 456-4455.

 

HVO to Expand

July 20, 2009

Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Inc. (HVO) is pleased to announce that it is expanding its operations and intends to create new jobs over the next two years. HVO will acquire the property and facilities of Wellco located in Waynesville, N.C. following their relocation by this fall. Due to a growing demand for custom medical products and HVO’s efforts to diversify its product base the need has grown to expand its operations.

HVO currently employs 321 on a full-time basis and serves over 250 individuals in its employment and training programs annually. HVO is a private, not-for-profit corporation which operates as a social enterprise business offering employment and employment training opportunities to persons with disabilities and disadvantages.

Over the past three years HVO has increased the number of full-time employees by 101. Of these increased employment numbers 33 % were persons who were served and then hired from our employment and training programs.   HVO’s total workforce represents approximately an equal number of persons with and without a disability. HVO projects to create 75 new jobs within two years of moving into the Wellco plant facility.  It is hoped that occupancy will occur in early winter of 2010 once renovations and upgrades to the building and property are completed.   

HVO moved to its current location in the Hazelwood community of Waynesville, N.C. in 1990. Since that time HVO has expanded to a campus occupying 11 acres with over 148,000 square feet of manufacturing and employment and training space. The additional space will add approximately 117,000 square feet, in close proximity, of like space that will compliment HVO’s growing demands to serve our manufacturing customers as well as those individuals in Haywood County who seek our long accredited and highly recognized community rehabilitation services. HVO is FDA registered and ISO 13485 registered for medical manufacturing and CARF (Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited for its vocational rehabilitation services.

For more information you may call 828-456-4455.