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West Virginia State Profile

Single State Agency Information

Steve Mason, Director
Lisa Bruer, NPN Representative
Bureau of Behavioral Health and Health Facilities
Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
350 Capitol St, Room 350
Charleston, WV 25301-3702

304-558-2276 (General)
304-558-3903 (Lisa)
304-558-0992 (Steve)
304-558-1008 (Fax - Steve)
stevemason@wvdhhr.org (Steve)
lisabruer@wvdhhr.org (Lisa)

State RADAR Network Site

Karen Eskew, Director
West Virginia Library Commission
Cultural Center
State Capitol Complex
Charleston, WV 25305-0620
304-558-3976 (General)
304-558-2044 (Fax)

Statewide Resource Center

Wayne Coombs, Director
West Virginia Prevention Resource Center
Marshall University Graduate College
100 Angus E. Peyton Drive
South Charleston, WV 25303-1600
304-746-2077 ext. 24 (Wayne)
304-746-6246 (Fax)
www.prevnet.org
wcoombs@marshall.edu

Brief Overview of Statewide Prevention Plan

The Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, of the Office of Behavioral Health Services, 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 source of the state's prevention programming (the federal government mandates that at least 20% of the Block Grant must be spent for primary prevention).

In the past, the Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse provided funds to the 14 behavioral health centers for one or more prevention specialists in each behavioral health region. The system is currently in transition, as the management of the system is being transferred to the PRC, and service areas are realigned. (Currently, 20 such positions are funded.) These Community Development Specialists for Substance Abuse Prevention (CDSSAPs) 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 CDSSAP 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 CDSSAPs work with community groups, assisting them in assessing needs, and developing programs to meet those needs based on the Communities That Care approach developed by Hawkins and Catalano. The CDSSAP works 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 provides Training of Trainer/Training of Leader (TOT/TOL) training to the CDSSAPs and others in specific nationally-recognized research-based prevention programs so that program availability reaches throughout the entire state to all populations.

The Division 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 sponsors an annual conference 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.

The Division works extensively with the WV Tobacco Prevention Program on access to tobacco and tobacco products by minors to ensure compliance with Synar.

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.