In Around West Virginia today: a homeless shelter loses funding, naloxone injectors distributed to Huntington residents, school staff learn mental health first aid, and more.
n A McDowell County shelter for the homeless and victims of abuse will cut staff as a result of a 50 percent reduction in HUD grant funding, according to WVVA. The Stop Abusive Family Environments (SAFE) Domestic Violence/Homeless Shelter will lose the Wyoming County advocate position, as well as jobs at the SAFE shelter near Welch. The news station reported that it's not known exactly how many job losses will occur.
n The Cabell-Huntington Health Department and Kalo Pharma partnered to provide Huntington residents with 2,200 take-home naloxone autoinjectors, according to The Herald-Dispatch. Naloxone is a life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The newspaper reported that the drug will be distributed not only to first responders, but to family and friends of addicts. In 2015, at least 944 overdoses were reported in Cabell County.
n Berkeley County public schools have begun mental health first aid courses in the Martinsburg area, according to The Journal. On Wednesday, school staff learned signs a student might be experiencing a mental health crisis, and how to develop a five-step response. They also learned about depression, anxiety, psychosis and other mental health issues.
n Harrison County volunteers conducted an annual count of the homeless this week. The count affects how much funding the county receives to address homelessness. Volunteers also try to provide the homeless with information on housing resources in the community.
Of more than 100 people identified, about 15 were unsheltered. Those who work with the homeless in the area credit Homes for Harrison County, a Housing First program that involves providing housing for the most vulnerable before demanding they meet certain requirements, such as finding employment or obtaining treatment for addiction or mental illness. Advocates have called the movement "housing without hoops."
n West Virginia reduced the rate of uninsured workers by 30 percent in 2014, thanks to Medicaid expansion. West Virginia Public Broadcasting reported that West Virginia has one of the country's most successful Medicaid expansion programs. Medicaid expansion was a component of Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act.
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.