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YSS Joins Agencies Providing Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in Wetzel County
Posted 11/19/20
Providing information to the public during an outreach event at the Wetzel County Center for Children and Family Resource Network in New Martinsville Oct. 30 are, from left, Michelle Rohde of Youth Services System, Dawn Lavoie of Youth Services System and Martha Polinksy of BreakThru at WVU Reynolds Memorial Hospital.
For Immediate Release
Nov. 16, 2020
Contact: Dawn Lavoie, 304-217-3871 or 304-559-5547, dlavoie@ysswv.com
NEW MARTINSVILLE — Youth Services System Inc.’s Wetzel County office staff members recently joined representatives of other local agencies to draw attention to mental health and substance abuse services they provide for Wetzel County youth and families.
On Oct. 30, the agencies gathered and distributed information outside the Wetzel County Center for Children and Family Resource Network, 132 Main St.
YSS representatives, the Family Resource Network coordinator, and a representative of BreakThru, a medical withdrawal management service at WVU Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale, attended the outreach event.
“Working together, these organizations are interested in continuing to grow the resource and support network for prevention and recovery for youth of Wetzel County and link with additional service providers to create a strong resource network for Wetzel County families moving forward,” said Dawn Lavoie of Youth Services System Inc. (YSS)
“My role as the YSS Youth Peer Recovery and Engagement Support Specialist is to provide one-on-one outpatient services to clients aged 12 to 24 years old who may be experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns themselves or have a family member struggling with similar issues,” Lavoie said.
“These services include, but are not limited to, addressing mental health issues, substance abuse and childhood trauma. Through my personal and professional experiences, and my connections with Youth Services System Inc., I have the resources to coach youth through these obstacles. I can assist with life skills, housing, employment services, supportive services and connection to other resources or more intensive treatment if needed,” she said.
Lavoie’s office is located at 425 S. Fourth Ave. in Paden City. The office serves as a satellite office of our Regional Youth Services Center and one of six centers coordinating mental health and substance abuse services and supports for youth ages 12 to 24.
For information, call Lavoie at 304-217-3871 or 304-559-5547.
Michelle Rohde is the new Wetzel County project coordinator for YSS Prevention Services, also located at the YSS Regional Youth Service Center in Paden City. Her focus is on substance use prevention services for children ages 9-20. Rohde is a long-term resident of the area and said she looks forward to working in collaboration with community leadership and members to assist Wetzel County in substance use prevention including vaping, alcohol use and substances. For information, call 304-217-3871.
Elizabeth Steckman is the Wetzel County Family Resource Network (FRN) coordinator. FRNs are located in each county. According to the Wetzel County Center for Children website, the network provides “indirect services for communities with organizing, mobilizing and coordinating programs and initiatives. … These networks also specifically aid organizations and groups helping to provide opportunities for families that wouldn’t otherwise have access.” For information, call 304-455-2468
Martha Polinsky is the care coordinator at BreakThru Medical Withdrawal Management. BreakThru offers a stabilization of withdrawal symptoms from alcohol, opiates, benzodiazepines or combined substances. The staff works to ease discomfort thereby decreasing chances of relapse during acute withdrawal. BreakThru provides an individualized discharge plan and follow-up for one year. As COVID continues to be a concern, BreakThru provides tests and other medical clearances when necessary for patients going to residential treatment. For information, call 304-221-4528.
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