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Mr Damon Heath the Community Engagement Leader for Monarch Bladen Opportunities Unlimited met with the Elizabethtown Rotary Club during their luncheon meeting on Wednesday.
Heath said that Monarch provides services for adults and children with mental health and substance abuse issues. Monarch is headquartered in Albemarle and receives funding from Medicare and Medicaid payments. He said in Bladen County, the program mainly assists individuals with intellectual disabilities, but does not offer substance abuse services. Heath said that in Bladen County, if an individual is in need of behavioral services, that individual has to be referred to Whiteville. The main goal of the program is to assist those individuals in receiving services to help them to achieve their goals of independence in their homes and communities.
Heath said that Bladen Opportunities Unlimited is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 p.m. He said they help individuals with socialization skills, education, etc. He said that Bladen Opportunities Unlimited is always looking for ways to volunteer in the community. Some of the things they have participated in include helping to clean churches and assisting at Bladen Crisis Assistance.
Heath said there is one staff person for every ten individuals served by Monarch. He said this staff to client ratio is determined by the state.
He said that Monarch also provides residential homes depending on the needs of the individuals. Heath said these residential homes are located in western part of the state. Monarch also provides services such as helping clients with interview skills, how to keep the job, etc.
Heath said at one time Bladen Opportunities Unlimited was focused on packaging items for local businesses but they have since have moved away from that. He said the focus is now on helping clients to find employment.
To learn more, go to Monarchnc.org.
Also, the Bladenboro Rotary Club joined the Elizabethtown Rotary Club as they discussed plans for a special service on May 31 to honor World War II veterans. The two clubs are attempting to locate and contact Bladen County’s World War II veterans.
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