WVE : What challenges have you run into and what major successes have you seen so far ?
JB : There are always challenges when standing up a new foundation , especially one that serves the needs of an entire state . Although we are still in our infancy , we look no further than the successful election of a diverse and talented board to demonstrate the desire of all West Virginians for this foundation to succeed .
WV First Foundation Board at the WV State Capitol with Senate leaders . Photo by Randy McKinney .
WVE : Can you tell us about your background and why your experience makes you the right person to run the WVFF ?
JB : I had the privilege of working for over two decades in state and federal health policy . I served as executive director of Morgantown Community Resources , leading North Central West Virginia ’ s social services hub . I have also served as a director of public policy for Mon Health System and vice president of external affairs for Vandalia Health and was elected to serve as the Region 4 representative of the WVFF . Above all else , I am a West Virginian , and like all residents of this great state , we are , de facto , part of the solution to this public health crisis . We no longer have the luxury of maintaining the status quo . We must succeed .
WVE : Can you give some background on the foundation — how it started and what its mission is ? Why was it important to establish a foundation specifically for handling settlement money ?
JB : The foundation was created publicly by the West Virginia Legislature to exist privately as a nonprofit . I applaud the Legislature , the attorney general , the governor ’ s office and all our county commissions and municipalities that had the foresight to understand that positioning this foundation privately supports doers throughout the state while embracing transparency and ensuring accountability .
WVE : How does the foundation plan to seek out new causes to fund ? How will the organization adapt its spending to the evolving needs of the opioid epidemic ?
WVE : How do you involve the local community in the decision-making process ? Does public input or feedback play a role ?
JB : The founding documents of the WVFF contemplate the establishment of an expert panel , both regionally and statewide . These individuals will be selected because of their experience throughout the care continuum and knowledge of their specific communities . They will serve as points of wisdom that the foundation board can rely on in making decisions .
WVE : Settlement money is being disbursed over the next 10 to 15 years . What long-term goals does the foundation hope to accomplish as that money rolls in ? What are the foundation ’ s plans for sustaining its efforts in combating the opioid epidemic ?
JB : We must protect and grow the corpus of the fund so this foundation can support generational change . It is well established that West Virginia leads the nation in overdose deaths per capita . Our first task is to substantially reduce that number and begin saving lives . However , we understand that substance use disorder goes well beyond individual challenges . It affects families and communities broadly , from foster care and behavioral health to shelter and food insecurity . Our tasks are broad , and our solutions must be equally broad .
We hold our fiduciary duty paramount in every decision we make , understanding that every dollar the foundation holds is due to the suffering or loss of our friends , families and neighbors throughout the state . As such , we will look for gaps in service throughout the state , identifying sustainable points of care . We understand the moment of awarding support is just the beginning , as we must come alongside caregivers as they promote healing and recovery . •
JB : Establishing guiding principles based on best practices and data-driven results will guide our decisions as we disperse funds and assess needs . We look forward to initiating specific criteria and scoring to ensure that all West Virginians have a voice and access to this support .
WVE : How do you collaborate with other organizations in the state to maximize the impact of the funds ?
JB : Leveraging partnerships is the cornerstone of foundational and nonprofit work . The WVFF will always look for opportunities to strengthen the positioning of the people ’ s money to ensure the best results .
Board at the Marion County Chamber of Commerce with members of the executive , technology , governmental affairs and health policy committees . Photo by Tina Shaw .
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