Hope in Action Alliance (WVHIAA) connects community sectors across West Virginia through collaboration, communication, and facilitation of innovative initiatives in order to address mental health and substance use disorder and their effects in the state. Our coalition is here to support you and the work you do!
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Hope in Action is co-sponsoring the Bridges 2.0: Community Coalition Building Conference with the Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery. This conference is for community coalition members and will be held Monday, August 14, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV. You can still register here! In coordination with the WVU School of Public Health, WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health, and Coplin Health Services, the Alliance is co-sponsoring the Transtheoretical Model of Change presentation with Carlo DiClemente, Ph.D on Monday, August 7 at 7:00 PM in the WVU Health Sciences Center and Zoom. The Alliance is a paid sponsor for multiple statewide events during the National Recovery Month, Appalachian Save a Life Day, Glow Run for Recovery, and Life, Hope & Recovery Block Party. Our sponsorships will support their host organizations and increase visibility of the Alliance's mission. The Alliance's podcast, Best of West, is by professionals, for professionals. Guests share their experiences working in SUD while raising awareness of the difficulties they face and sharing positive outcomes and stories of hope. The goal of Best of West is to ensure SUD professionals are heard and supported. Episodes will be available on all major platforms airing every other Wednesday. Please note, the launch date is postponed to Wednesday, August 23. Next Monthly Members' Meeting: Wednesday, August 16 @ 10:00 AM *You don't want to miss this one. Lots of exciting news! |
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Welcoming the New Members from July! Annelise Leigh, Britt Ludwig, Heather McDaniel, Teresa Mills, Brittany Skeen, Renee Steffen, and Brandon Whitehouse Do you know someone who would benefit from joining WV HIAA? Ask them to complete the Member Contact Form. |
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The Alliance has a new look, and you saw it here first! We are updating our website, working towards a stronger social media presence, and creating marketing materials. Graphic Designer Kelley Wills, Brain Flower Designs Symbolism The Monarch butterfly is WV's official state butterfly representing transformation and change. The sun is a symbol of hope and new beginnings. The mountains and trees represent the state of WV. Purple is the color for recovery, and green is the color for mental health. |
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What is CADCA? Originating in 1992, CADCA provides support to over 5,000 community coalitions and brings community sectors together including schools, law enforcement, youth, community members, health, media, state/local/tribal government, and more. WV Hope in Action Alliance is a proud partner of CADCA and is their state affiliate for WV. Join the CADCA WV State Forum to connect with other professionals, share your events, and find resources in the library! |
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CADCA is the leading institute for training and technical assistance for coalitions of all sizes. Focused on evidence-based practices and the Strategic Prevention Framework, CADCA provides annual and mid-year conferences. They also provide ongoing educational opportunities throughout the year. |
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A special thanks to Alliance Member and CADCA Board Member, Greg Puckett, for providing the opportunity for our Executive Director to attend the 2023 CADCA Mid-Year Conference in Dallas, TX. Happy to report, WV was well-represented! |
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"I was introduced to CADCA in my previous role as a community coalition leader and prevention/intervention specialist in northern-Virginia and quickly recognized their value and significance. When I became the Executive Director of WV Hope in Action Alliance, I was excited to learn we were already partnering with CADCA with Bob Hansen and Amy Snodgrass steering the way. As the WV mental health and substance use disorder coalition, the Alliance has the privilege to provide support and resources to our local coalitions in addition to connecting all 12 community sectors across the state. My biggest takeaway from CADCA's Mid-Year Conference was the national call for a paradigm shift. Change can be uncomfortable, but sometimes challenging the status quo is necessary for growth. I listened to many coalition leaders from around the country say, "Our attendance keeps dropping," "No one seems engaged," and "There is not enough time or bandwidth to attend so many meetings." We are still in an era of burnout. Many experts suggest we should not measure one's level of engagement based on the number of meetings they attend but by their participation in collaborations. Our Steering Committee utilized this information and the feedback from your surveys during our Strategic Planning session on July 25. I want you to know we heard you. We are currently restructuring to better serve our mission and growing membership." - Mary Newlyn, Executive Director |
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Featured Member Greg Puckett A native of Princeton, WV and graduate of Concord University, Greg Puckett's extensive career displays his passion for prevention. He has worked tirelessly to bring special projects and initiatives to southern-WV in the hopes of preventing the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other substances amongst youth. As Executive Director of Community Connections, a community based 501(c)(3) non-profit, he advocates for strong public policy, and leads others to combat the opioid epidemic and community revitalization/stabilization efforts. He currently serves on several state committees including the Governor’s Committee on Crime, Delinquency and Corrections: Juvenile Justice Subcommittee, and serves on the Board of CADCA, where he is a past recipient of CADCA’s National Advocate of the Year award. In 2010, Puckett also assisted CADCA in securing funds to host the first-ever, statewide National Youth Leadership Initiative. In his role as County Commissioner in Mercer County, Puckett has encouraged reinvestment with its local community mental health system, and diversifying funding to combat the Hepatitis B/C and HIV problems due largely to the health emergency left by the substance problems in the area. He served as one of ten county officials on the National Association of Counties (NACO) Opioid Taskforce and is on their policy team with the Juvenile Justice and Arts and Culture Subcommittees. |
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"This has never been a job. It's a passion, and it's about saving lives. Every one of us has an opportunity to do something that makes an impact on others. We should all be so lucky to have other people join with us in that endeavor." - Greg Puckett |
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What's Happening in August? |
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| | Presentation sponsored by Coplin Health Services, WVU School of Public Health, WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health, and WVHIAA in Morgantown 8/7. |
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| | Coplin Health Services, Wise Path Recovery Center, WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health are hosting a
"Regrounding Our Response WV" train-the-trainer event 8/7-9 in Morgantown. |
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| | Bridges 2.0: Building Community Coalitions conference, co-sponsored by MU COE for Recovery and WVHIAA is 8/14 in Roanoke. |
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| | Life or Drugs is having their annual community outreach event 8/19 in Berkeley Springs. |
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| | WVHIAA is hosting "Allies in Advocacy," an interactive webinar 8/22. Register by clicking on the image. |
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| | WVDII is hosting the Life, Hope, and Recovery Block Party 8/26 in Charleston. |
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We promise not to sound like your mother and scream at you to, "Make sure you take your vitamins!" Popping flintstone gummies was super easy, but it is harder as an adult to remember this part of our daily routine. It is VERY important to make sure you are not vitamin deficient, and there are numerous ways to consume vitamins (capsules, shots, IVs). According to the Cleveland Clinic, these are the top 9 vitamin supplements you should consider adding: Vitamin A Vitamin B Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K Calcium Iron Zinc
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Do you want us to promote your upcoming events? We promise to be your greatest hype team. Send your flyers our way! *Email info@wvhiaa.org with "Announcements" as the subject. |
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