— by Susan Rose and John C. Rose
Collaboration, Partnership and Funding Increases Community Partners of Hope Ability to Share The Dream
Community Partners of Hope, operator of the local men’s homeless shelter, met Thursday night at First Presbyterian Church, and the meeting was described by organizers as a “Celebration of Partnership.”
A generous grant has been awarded from Triangle North Healthcare Foundation. Brenda Gant, a former instructor at Vance Granville Community College, was introduced as the grant writer to begin the community partnership health initiative.
Joel Rice, CPOH board member and housing specialist with Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, said there will be a team of four employees who will rotate to be at the homeless shelter full time. Rice has provided invaluable guidance over the years, and he said volunteers and meals will still be needed.
More community partners were announced in this health initiative, as this is about more than giving someone a place to sleep for a night.
Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Brian Short, the director of Henderson-Vance Emergency Services, will be helping shelter residents get necessary identification so the men can seek treatment. Actual ID cards are needed so the men can get help.
Dr. James Kenney, of Beckford Medical Center, will be helping with primary care including things like screening for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes.
George Daye, Raemac Transportation, is going to provide transportation to/from health services.
Kaine Riggan, Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission director, has plans to help the shelter find a permanent home.
Mrs. Jeanne Harrison and Ann Grant, with Alliance Rehabilitative Care, will be helping with substance abuse screening and treatment.
Lisa Harrison and Shauna Guthrie with the Granville-Vance Health Department with be helping with patient support and education among other things.
Krystal Harris with the Vance County Department of Social Services will be helping the men to connect to other healthcare services or alternatives.
Lori Giang, CEO/Executive Director, and Nicole Banahene, Director of Partner Relations, with NC MedAssist are going to help with prescription and over the counter medications needed for treatment.
Dr. Ron Cava is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Community Partners of Hope. Cava is the Senior Minister at The First Baptist Church. He conducted the meeting and emphasized there would be no homeless shelter without the First Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterian Church has provided the space needed for the homeless men’s shelter each year it has operated.
The Triangle North Healthcare Foundation mission is to encourage, support and invest in quality efforts that measurably improve health in the Triangle North region. Val Short is the Foundation Executive Director. Carolyn Powell is Program Specialist. Dr. Roddy Drake is Chairman of the Board.
The CPOH health initiative project is to provide basic health screening, treatment and support for homeless men, with a focus on reducing morbidity due to substance abuse, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes or prostate disease.
CPOH Foundation Partners include:
Triangle North Healthcare Foundation (tnhfoundation.org)
United Way of Vance County (unitedwayvance.org)
NC Community Foundation (nccommunityfoundation.org)
The Frances Abbot Burton Powers Fund
CPOH can be found online at https://sites.google.com/site/cpohope1/home
CPOH is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hopepartners
