WVMAW Finalizes Renovations at Hezekiah House
Ten work crews of volunteers from five states affiliated with the West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Work Camps ( WVMAW ) have contributed labor , materials and appliances in renovations to a St . Albans home for use as an aftercare facility housing those in recovery .
Pastor Michael Poke with St . Paul Missionary Church says Eugene Hezekiah Washington left his estate to the church several years ago .
“ We have been working diligently to cost-effectively renovate the home for use by those battling addiction ,” Poke says . “ Soon the home he left behind will be a place of hope and healing .”
Hezekiah House will be a six-bed aftercare facility , offering long term support for 11 men for up to three years , if necessary .
Peyton Ballard , executive director of WVMAW , is a partner in the project . Ballard says its work crews have performed repairs , including flooring , electrical , painting , siding , plumbing and installing donated kitchen cabinets .
“ Thus far , we have contributed more than $ 50,000 through in-kind volunteer hours , materials and equipment to the project , which should be completed by the end of this year ,” Ballard says .
Poke is grateful for the local and out-of-state support for this initiative .
“ The West Virginia Ministry of Advocacy and Work Camps has really come through for us and done an outstanding job ,” he says . “ The need for recovery housing is significant so we will be happy to lend a helping hand to those in need . We will also be offering career guidance and job placements for the residents .”
A work crew helping construct the Hezekiah House .
Concord University Launches First Virtual Integrated Career Services Website
Concord University ( CU ) students will now have 24 / 7 access to AI-powered interview , cover letter , LinkedIn and resume assistance through the first virtual integrated career services website in West Virginia .
Resources , articles , blogs and support designed specifically for student interests and career pathways will be available , and the platform will allow students to explore data trends and in-depth analysis on thousands of jobs and industries worldwide .
In addition to Concord ’ s on-campus offerings , students will have access to career events across the country and can connect to employers offering everything from internships to long-term employment . Funding and support were made possible by the CU-Forward Title III Strengthening Institutions Program .
“ We are so excited to launch our new career services webpage ,” says Amanda Banfield , student services specialist . “ The Title III team has worked hard behind the scenes to help create a space where students and alumni alike can thrive academically and professionally . We ’ re thrilled to give our community a more intuitive and user-friendly online experience with exciting new online learning resources designed to support them at any point in their career journey .”
Barbour Community Health Association to Expand Behavioral Health Services
Barbour Community Health Association ( BCHA ) broke ground in April to start construction on a new space for its expanded behavioral health services department in Belington .
Eric Ruf , CEO of BCHA , says the expansion project is in response to the organization ’ s recognition of the importance of supporting and providing convenient access to behavioral healthcare providers .
“ We are excited about this new addition at our Belington Medical Clinic & Wellness Center ,” Ruf says . “ This initiative will provide patients with a more private , comfortable and welcoming space . It will be located on the same level as our medical team — the ground floor — making behavioral health services more accessible and user-friendly for patients .”
Residents in Barbour County and the surrounding communities have increasingly become more aware of their mental health needs and are seeking help and support from skilled therapy professionals .
“ Patients who seek care from BCHA have a variety of therapy needs , from grief to clinical depression to more longterm behavioral health concerns ,” Ruf says . “ Sometimes people need a brief intervention to learn new coping skills for specific life changes and some need help navigating recovery from an addiction . Our behavioral health services team can address our community ’ s needs .”
Through a generous financial gift from the William Kester estate , BCHA was able to match a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration .
" Mr . Kester had a vision that his financial resources would be used to grow medical facilities and health care services for the Belington community , and this project will do just that ," Ruf says . " His generosity will allow us to build a larger facility than initially anticipated and help us provide quality health care to patients of all ages and economic backgrounds ."
The Mills Group of Morgantown designed the new addition , and JC Construction of Belington will complete the project ' s building phase . The new space is anticipated to be finished by the fall of 2024 . •
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