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Dental clinic will be named in Belden's memory
(New Haven Register (New Haven, CT) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 16--DERBY -- Training, Education and Manpower Inc. will name its new dental clinic in memory of state Rep. Richard O. Belden, who died last year.
TEAM President and CEO Richard Knoll said Belden was dedicated to expanding dental services to the Valley's neediest residents and instrumental in getting the clinic project launched.
Knoll called the clinic "an affordable option" for those who have not been able to get dental care.
"More than 200 children will have a dental home now," Knoll said.
In addition, he expects that thousands of adults will be served. "We have a goal of serving 2,500 people a year," he said.
Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele will speak at a dedication ceremony at 10 a.m. June 10 at the site, 30 Elizabeth St., said Diane Stroman, TEAM's vice president of development.
Belden's widow, Bertha Belden of Shelton, will attend the event. She said she is proud of her late husband's work and happy about the honor.
"He worked very hard for that (clinic)," Bertha Belden said. "He was one person who always worked hard for the people."
The facility will be named the Richard O. Belden Dental Clinic and will become part of the Hill Health Corp. system of regional health services.
In March 2006, TEAM found it was unable to obtain dental care for many of the preschool children in its Head Start program.
A meeting of Valley Service Providers was convened. Organizations that attended included Birmingham Group Health Services, Naugatuck Valley Health Department, Hill Health Corp., Griffin Hospital, VARCA, Valley Legal Services and Women's Health Access.
In addition, Head Start parents and staff members, Ronald Linden, a dentist with White Hills Family Dentistry, and Belden were there. The group discussed the lack of access to dental service faced by low-income families.
Linden said he was "ecstatic" about the opening of the clinic, which he said will benefit "hundreds of people." He said the Valley has had "a dysfunctional clinic attached to Griffin (Hospital)" and believes the new clinic will be "fabulous."
According to TEAM officials, in 2006 in the Valley, only two dentists accepted Medicaid, by which many low-income people cover a dental visit.
The Hill Health Dental Clinic at Griffin Hospital operated part time, had a long waiting list and could serve only two patients at a time.
In September 2006, with Belden's help, TEAM applied to the state for bond funds to renovate a vacant second floor into a dental clinic. A state grant was approved in March 2007 for the project.
Funding followed from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven; a grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation; the donation of six new chairs from United Healthcare; and a grant from the Ronald McDonald House.
A donation of $10,000 was received from Reuben Mark, chairman of the Colgate Palmolive Co., along with a $10,000 donation from Colgate Palmolive.
In addition, the American Honda Motor Corp. and Annie Casey Family Services donated furniture.
The clinic will be open full time with affordable treatment for children and adults, including those who are uninsured and without access to dental care.
The clinic will accept all forms of insurance, including Medicaid and SAGA, and have a sliding fee schedule for those without dental insurance.
To schedule an appointment, call Hill Health Corp. at 736-5460.
To see more of New Haven Register, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nhregister.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, New Haven Register, Conn.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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