West Virginia State University Program Helps
Recovering Addicts Improve Their Health
A program led by the West Virginia State University (WVSU)
Extension Service is helping West Virginians struggling with
substance abuse make smarter, healthier choices on their road
to recovery.
An initiative of the USDA, the Expanded Food and Nu-
trition Education Program (EFNEP) provides instruction
on health, nutrition and physical activity but does not tradi-
tionally target recovering addicts. With West Virginia being
labeled by some as ground zero for the opioid epidemic, WVSU
is taking a unique approach to help people in need.
“EFNEP wasn’t actually designed to reach this population,
but we have such a need in West Virginia that it only seemed
fitting to bring this information to the people we serve,” says
Tammy Hauldren, a WVSU EFNEP extension associate.
While the program traditionally targets low-income families,
Hauldren began offering the EFNEP classes at sites such as Re-
covery Point in Charleston and Huntington to help people in
recovery learn the basics of good health and nutrition. Through
weekly classes, participants are learning to be more physically
active, drink more water and spend wisely at the supermarket.
“Often, our participants know little about grocery shopping
and how to spend their money on healthy items in the store, so
we cover everything from how to make a list to buying lean pro-
tein and making three healthy meals from it,” says Hauldren.
Hauldren maintains a growing waiting list of organizations
wanting EFNEP. In addition to Recovery Point Charleston
and Huntington, she has brought EFNEP to sites like Putnam
County’s drug court and the Pregnancy Connections program
at Thomas Memorial Hospital. She will soon begin offering
courses at a site in Wayne County.
Tammy Hauldren.
Highland-Clarksburg Hospital Announces
$17.5 Million Expansion
Highland-Clarksburg Hospital Inc. (HCHI) has announced
a $17.4 million expansion project to be completed in 2018.
The expansion will include an 8,000-square-foot gymnasium,
a 200-foot-by-110-foot outdoor green space for patients and
a daycare center for employees. It will also include a 50 per-
cent increase in beds, from 115 to 173, and a projected boost
in full-time employees that will reach 350 by the end of 2019.
Of the 58 beds being added, 38 will be reserved for patients
who are seeking substance abuse treatment.
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
“We are looking at substantial growth at Highland-Clarks-
burg, pri marily on the clinical side and also with support staff,”
says Mike Casdorph, Highland-Clarksburg’s CEO. “It’s an
exciting time at HCHI.”
Community Care Unveils New School-Based
Behavioral Health Program in Braxton County
Community Care of West Virginia has partnered with Brax-
ton County Schools to introduce a new program that will help
combat the impact of the state’s opioid epidemic and other be-
havioral and mental health issues students may face. The pro-
gram—Community Care Connections—will give students in
Braxton County access to mental health professionals, according
to Richard Simon, CEO of Community Care of West Virginia.
“With the growing opioid crisis, increasing cases of bully-
ing and general changes in the world, we saw a gap in the care
of our students,” he says. “With this program, we can assist
students who may need someone to help talk through issues
they are facing.”
The services will initially be rolled out in the four school-
based clinics Community Care already has established in the
county: Davis Elementary, Frametown Elementary, Braxton
County Middle and Braxton County High.
“Community Care Connections is a way for us to help heal
the community,” says Simon. “Many of our youngest and
brightest minds are impacted by factors outside of their con-
trol. We want to give them every tool available to overcome
these obstacles.”
3-D Printing Takes Training to the Next Level
at Marshall University’s School of Medicine
A recent $10,000 grant from the Huntington Clinical
Foundation is taking hands-on training to the next level at
the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.
The grant allowed for the purchase of a 3-D printer and
printing materials that are now used for student training,
preoperative planning and patient education. Using photo-
sensitive resin and polylactic plastic, the school’s senior
graphic designer, Matthew Crutchfield, is able to create a
variety of training devices for medical students to practice
techniques like suturing and draining abscesses. Clinical
faculty in the department of obstetrics and gynecology are
guiding students through hysterectomy simulations using 3-D-
printed anatomy inside a mannequin.
Beyond its use in the classroom, Marshall physicians
have been quick to integrate this advanced digital imaging
technology into their practices as they prepare for compli-
cated surgical cases and as a demonstration tool for patient
education.
“The physician can essentially hold the patient’s specific
anatomy in his or her hand and see more in the model than he
or she can from just the scan,” says Crutchfield.
Kranz Named Director of Medicaid Operations
for West Virginia Family Health
Jean Kranz has joined West Virginia Family Health as
director of Medicaid operations. In this role, she is responsible
for the direction and management of West Virginia Medicaid
programs, providing oversight of the state’s managed care