By Nikki Tennis
March 2019 will mark one year since the Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH) of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Prevention First Network and Community Access Incorporated launched Help and Hope WV and its companion site, Stigma Free WV.
The Help and Hope WV initiative was created by a collaborative team to prevent prescription misuse and reduce the stigma against people with substance use or mental health disorders.
“The Help and Hope WV initiative is a hub of information, resources and educational links related to substance use disorder, prevention efforts and treatment options,” says Tim White, regional prevention coordinator at Prestera Center. “Through the Prevention First Network, we are able to disseminate local information, social media, state and national resources and data in real time. This new initiative really propels the state of West Virginia ahead in our efforts to curb the tide of substance use disorder.”
Help and Hope WV has grown to be a go-to source on substance use disorder information in West Virginia, connecting people with local prevention initiatives and finding the latest news and guidance on addressing substance use disorders. Since its launch in March 2018, the Help and Hope WV website has had 3,956 new users and 64,904 page views. New users for Stigma Free WV reached 2,055 with 23,213 page views during the same period.
Other DHHR bureaus, including the Bureau for Medical Services and the Office of Drug Control Policy, have shared their information on the website too. People accessing the Help and Hope WV site will also find prominently displayed Help4WV information, the state’s 24/7 hotline to connect people with substance use and mental health treatment.
Primarily funded by a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Help and Hope WV is propelled by the support of the Prevention Lead Organizations and Community Access Incorporated.
“Community Access is honored to partner with the DHHR’s Bureau for Behavioral Health and Terzetto Creative in the development and promotion of the Help and Hope WV initiative,” says Martha Minter, MSW, LICSW, assistant director of Community Access, Inc. “We believe this project can serve as a bridge between educational, health and other systems that are addressing the problem of substance use disorder in West Virginia.”
Educators, parents, community members, professionals and others can find information on preventing and treating substance use disorder and get connected with local initiatives. Stigma Free WV has tips on reducing the different types of stigma, and plans are underway to add suicide prevention information from Prevent Suicide WV and additional features to the website.
“At BBH, we recognize that family-centered care and community involvement are critical to develop and improve services in West Virginia,” says BBH Commissioner Christina Mullins. “Access to information about treatment choices and prevention options on the Help and Hope WV website promises better outcomes for those with or at risk for substance use disorders.”
About the Author
Nikki Tennis, a Clarksburg native, is the director of Children’s Behavioral Health Services at the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources’ Bureau for Behavior Health. She works to ensure West Virginia’s youngest residents and their families have access to the behavioral and mental health programs that will enable them to overcome the effects of substance abuse.
