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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WVHIAA's Executive Director collaborated with Alliance Members Amy Saunders, Managing Director of the Center of Excellence for Recovery at Marshall University, and Lata Menon, CEO of First Choice Services, and others to develop a statewide CIT initiative. There were 31 Communication Specialists who successfully completed the Crisis Intervention Training. |
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The Alliance's 2023 Annual Report was emailed to the membership. Check it out! |
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Alliance Member Melanie Pagliaro, Executive Director of the County Commissioners' Association of WV, invited the Alliance to present at their legislative conference. Chair Angie Gray, Executive Director Mary Newlyn, and Steering Committee Members Bob Hansen and Dr. Cathy Slemp highlighted best practices, evidence-based community programs, and local resources to consider when spending opioid settlement funds. |
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The Tri-State Youth Summit, co-sponsored by The Martinsburg Initiative and WV Hope in Action Alliance, will educate and empower students to become positive change agents in the reduction of substance use, raise awareness of adolescent mental health issues, and create a more positive school and community climate through effective strategies. All youth coalition leaders and advisors in WV, MD, and VA are invited. Register here! |
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Save the Date! The Alliance is partnering with Marshall University's Center of Excellence for Recovery for the third annual Bridges conference. If you are interested in being a planning partner, please contact Austin Persinger at persingera@marshall.edu. |
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Next Membership Meeting: Tuesday, February 20, 10:00 - 11:30 AM |
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Note from the ED Mary Newlyn, Executive Director |
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The drive home from Charleston offers many hours to reflect. Presenting to a room of County Commissioners was a wonderful opportunity but engaging in small groups at the reception resulted in conversations I hoped to have. For those of us with years of experience in direct services, focused on mental health and trauma, it is easy to forget others do not know what we know. They do not have a book's worth of vulnerable stories, a film of faces stuck on repeat, or many sleepless nights trying to save lives. We have to meet people where they are and be ready to educate. You are the expert in your community! Your local leaders may need guidance as they prepare to spend opioid settlement funds. Be comfortable having difficult conversations and advocating for proven community strategies. If you need guidance or support, please reach out to the Alliance! (view the presentation here) |
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Welcoming Our New Members! Katherine Blunt, Paula Calvert, Sarah Casseday, Lesley Cottrell, Jill Eddy, Mark Games, Julie Gomez, Janna Gordon, Amna Haque, Jassica Legg, Susan Marino, and John Moses. Do you know someone who would benefit from joining WVHIAA? Ask them to complete the Member Contact Form. |
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Come On, Let's Celebrate! |
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Join your fellow hope agents for a fun evening on Thursday, April 11 at the WV Botanic Garden in Morgantown. There will be fellowship, music, and an awards ceremony. Get your tickets now! |
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Featured Member Caroline Wilson |
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Caroline Wilson is a Berkeley County, WV native although she currently resides just over the river in Maryland. Wilson graduated from Shepherd University with her Bachelor of Social Work in 2019 and currently holds a WV social work license. She knew she wanted to work in SUD and completed her field placement at the Berkeley Day Report Center. She then spent a brief time as the case manager at Paloma CSU & Detox Center in Martinsburg, WV.
When Wilson heard about an opportunity for mobile community outreach, she jumped on it and was hired by WVU Medicine as a Case Manager for the Community Outreach for Resources and Education (C.O.R.E.) Team, which serves Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. In this position, she connects with community members living with SUD and/or experiencing homelessness and helps connect them with resources and provides case management where they are. She also pioneered the team’s “Loving Our Community” events, which are collaborative mutual aid events aimed to help community members meet their basic needs and access services on-site. Wilson has been with WVU Medicine for four years and loves every minute of helping these populations. Additionally, Wilson was the Program Administrator of the Berkeley-Morgan Harm Reduction program in 2021 and helped to ensure the program’s continuation after SB 334 was passed. Wilson has a passion for harm reduction and tries to implement its principles in all aspects of her work. One of her favorite things to do is distribute Narcan and provide overdose education. She co-organizes "Save a Life Day" annually in the tri-county area. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Jefferson-Berkeley Alliance on substance use prevention. Currently, Wilson is pursuing her Master of Social Work degree online through West Virginia University and will graduate in 2025. |
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“One thing I love about my work is the freedom to meet people where they are and support their choices, knowing this unconditional support empowers them to make positive changes on their own!" - Caroline Wilson |
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A Look at Overdose Prevention Centers |
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Click above to learn more about the statewide anti-stigma campaign! |
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Join the CADCA forum to connect with professionals across the state. You can share your events, job postings, resources, and more! |
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February 5 Recovery Advocacy Day March 4 Prevention Day |
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Wheeling Saw Sharp Rise in Drug-Related Deaths in 2023WHEELING - While there was an overall decrease in several crime categories in Wheeling in 2023, drug overdoses increased and overdose deaths in Wheeling rose steeply, according to statistics released Monday by the Wheeling Police Department. After a three-year downward trend, drug overdoses increased by 11% and overdose deaths increased by 136%. |
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What's Happening in February? |
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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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