West Virginia’s Response
to the Opioid Crisis
Jobs & Hope West Virginia is the state’s
comprehensive response to the substance use
disorder crisis. Established by Governor Jim
Justice and the West Virginia Legislature,
this program offers support through a
statewide collaboration of agencies that
provides linked services to participants.
State leaders recognized that turning the
tide at this critical time requires the entire
state working together to positively impact
these issues and drive real change in the
Mountain State.
West Virginia is ground zero for a
convergence of many of today’s social-
emotional and socio-economic challenges.
With a population of 1.79 million, it has
the highest overdose rate in the country at
49.6 deaths per 100,000 compared to 14.9
nationally. The workforce participation
rate stands at 54.9 percent, and the poverty
rate is the fourth highest in the country
at approximately 19 percent. All of these
factors weigh heavily on the state’s social
support infrastructure.
VISION
At the heart of Jobs & Hope is a vision
of providing West Virginians in recovery
the opportunity to overcome obstacles
that prevent them from establishing career
success and strong family and community
ties. This will allow participants to live up
to their aspirations while accomplishing the
primary goal of putting West Virginians
back to work.
PROGRAM SUPPORT
AND INCENTIVES
Jobs & Hope has placed 11 transition
agents throughout the state. These individ-
uals have a broad range of expertise and
knowledge of peer recovery and services
offered by the West Virginia Department
of Health and Human Resources, as well