West Virginia State Profile
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Single State Agency InformationSteve Mason, Director State RADAR Network SiteKaren Eskew, Director Statewide Resource CenterWayne Coombs, Director |
Single State Agency (SSA) is the organization designated by the State Governor to coordinate substance abuse prevention efforts in that state. State Regional Alcohol and Drug Awareness Resource (RADAR) Network consists of state clearinghouses, prevention resource centers, Department of Education Regional Training Centers, and national, international, and local organization supporting substance abuse prevention activities. The National Prevention Network (NPN), an organization of State alcohol and other drug abuse prevention representatives, provides a national advocacy and communication system for prevention. NPN is administered by NASADAD. |
Brief Overview of Statewide Prevention Plan
The Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, of the Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities, Department of Health and Human Resources, is the lead agency in the State for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. These responsibilities were given to the Division by the legislature when the Division was created. The Division is also designated by the federal government as the Single State Agency (SSA) for the receipt of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) block grant funds, which is the primary source of the state's prevention programming funding.
The prevention system is managed by the West Virginia Prevention Resource Center (WVPRC). Currently, 16 Community Development Specialists (CDS) are regionally based to assist communities in assessing their prevention needs, and in developing prevention programs to meet those needs. Other prevention funding is provided to the Appalachian Council of the AFL-CIO, for the development of union-management employee assistance programming, and to the Library Commission for the operation of a prevention clearinghouse for the distribution of information and educational materials.
The primary approach of the State to prevention programs is through community mobilization. The role of the CDS is to empower communities to develop needs-based comprehensive programs designed to prevent the illegal or inappropriate use or abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs by training and supporting community groups and coalitions in prevention programming, and building their prevention capacity.
Since the state has adopted a risk-/resiliency-focused approach toward program development, the CDS work with community groups, assisting them in assessing their needs and developing programs to meet those needs. The CDS work to empower local community task forces and assist those task forces in developing a continuum of prevention programs designed to fill in the gaps identified by the needs assessment.
The Division promotes and coordinates Training of Trainer/Training of Leader (TOT/TOL) training to the CDS' and others in specific nationally-recognized research-based prevention programs so that program availability reaches throughout the entire state to all populations.
The WVPRC, with the Division's support, provides ongoing statewide training in these state initiatives: Natural Helpers, BABES, Preparing for the Drug-Free Years (PDFY), Teen Institute, and Communities That Care (CTC), as well as other trainings as needed. The Division also supports an annual prevention conference (Share the Vision) for adults and youth with a focus on volunteers.
Members of CREATE (representatives of state agencies involved in providing substance abuse services) meet monthly to share information and plan cooperative efforts in prevention programming.
The Division works extensively with the WV Tobacco Prevention Program on access to tobacco and tobacco products by minors to ensure compliance with Synar.
