MOUNT VERNON — New Hope Industries set out a half a century ago to open doors for people with developmental disabilities — doors to work, friendship, community and lives full of purpose.
Fifty years later, that vision remains the heartbeat of the agency.
On Oct. 8, NHI and the community celebrated those open doors with an open house at its Upper Fredericktown Road facility.
CEO Angie Wise said the services NHI provides help people live fulfilling lives.
“Everyone has something valuable to contribute, regardless of their ability,” she said. “NHI’s services help remove barriers and create opportunities so people can participate in a life that is meaningful to them.”
NHI provides adult day care, homemaker and personal care services, employment opportunities, a summer youth program and vocational habilitation services to help prepare individuals for employment in the community. NHI staff help clients find jobs with community partners that match their goals and skills.
Community services over the years include chair caning, shredding and rubber mats. Garden club members hope to offer produce to the community in 2027.
Wise said demand for individualized services has grown over the years. That demand strains staff, funding and reimbursement, and it requires more training, skill development and planning.
“NHI works hard to ensure that we deliver these services as effectively and sustainably as possible,” the CEO said.
Wise said public perception has changed as much as NHI has over the years. The biggest change is the shift from simply providing care to providing person-centered services.
“We focus on each person’s abilities, interest, and choices, and empower people to live meaningful lives as independently as possible,” she said.
“Additionally, we have experienced a shift in community involvement. Fifty years ago individuals spent the majority of their days in facilities with very little interaction outside those facilities. NHI now assists individuals with not just accessing the community but being involved, valued and contributing members of our communities.”
‘More than a number’
NHI began in the Knox DD building on Upper Gilchrist Road in 1976 and moved to Newark Road in 1981.
In 2020, the agency moved to its current location at 12200 Upper Fredericktown Road after the Knox County Board of Commissioners sold the Newark Road building.
Wise joined NHI in 2005 as a secretary, became business manager in 2007 and assistant CEO in 2018. She became CEO in 2020 when Dennis Eggerton retired.
In addition to location and leadership changes, NHI navigated changes in service models, funding and reimbursement models, increases in regulatory and compliance models, community inclusion barriers, staff recruitment and retention and a global pandemic.
“Our 50-year journey isn’t about a number; it’s about people,” she said. “These past 50 years would not have been possible without the dedication of the individuals we serve, their families, our amazing staff, volunteers, community partners, donors, and supporters.”
Wise is optimistic as she looks toward the next 50 years.
“NHI will continue to be shaped by the people we support,” she said. “We will continue to seek new opportunities, strengthen our community connections, promote independence and ensure that every person served has an opportunity to contribute to our communities.”
(Photos by Cheryl Splain.)
