Updates from the Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (BCCSP), Stop the Hurt Child Advocacy Center, Coalfields Tobacco Prevention Network, McDowell Mission and the Concord Upward Bound Program created a full agenda during the monthly HOPE Coalition meeting at the Welch Library Monday morning, March 23.
The Health Opportunities for Positive Education, or HOPE Coalition,
addresses several categories important to the well being of McDowell County citizens: Health, Youth, At-Risk Youth, Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs
During the meeting, BCCSP Coordinator Thelma Workman solicited input for the annual Celebration of Women in October. Though the annual Celebration is months away, Workman related that it takes that interval to plan fun raising activities for the Breast and Cervical Screening Program.
The BCCSP, Workman explained, provides free clinical breast examinations, mammograms, and Pap tests for uninsured women, as well as diagnostic testing for women whose screening outcome is abnormal. One hundred percent of all monies collected by the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program through various fundraisers remains in West Virginia and is spent on in-state women with in-state doctors at in-state hospitals and medical facilities, Workman said.
Though the WVBCCSP is specifically targeted for patient eligibility for uninsured or under-insured women between the ages of 25 to 64 with income at or below 200% of the current Federal Poverty Level, the program was recently able to assist a male and a 19-year-old woman.
“There was a little bit of extra money in the fund and in those special instances we were able to help a young woman and a man with suspicious lumps,” Workman said.
The “Quilt of Hope” will be finished in a few months and will be used to raise funds for BCCSP,” Workman said. An organization, which would like to help sell raffle tickets on the quilt, should contact Workman or any member of the HOPE Coalition.
A discussion on possible BCCSP fundraisers ensued, with Southern Coalfields Tobacco Prevention Coalition Coordinator Donald Reed, Jr. suggesting that the HOPE Coalition host a pancake breakfast. Reed was advised to check with the Sterling Drive-in to see about the possibility of holding the pancake breakfast there.
Carmella Fredrick, Prosecutor’s Office, advised the Coalition that Assistant Prosecutor Ed Kornish will speak at the Children’s Flag Day Ceremony on April 24 at the Courthouse. Prior to the 1 p.m. ceremony, Fredrick said that an open house is slated for 9 a.m. to noon at the new Children’s Advocacy Center at Maitland. The center is located across the bridge, approximately one-quarter mile from the Shoe Show. The Children’s Advocacy Center is a special outpatient treatment facility for abused and sexually abused children. Since opening few months ago, the center has conducted 13 forensic interviews with abused children.
Community partners are still needed to make the center more appealing and child friendly, she said. Any club or church group which would like to help decorate the center is encouraged to contact Fredrick at 304-436-8553 or center director Latosha Dotson at 304-436-1600.
In offering other good news about the Child Advocacy Center, Fredrick said that Gov. Manchin put $1 million in the state budget to fund Child Advocacy Centers throughout West Virginia. The $35,000 the Maitland center is expected to receive from that allocation, she said, will help the center with expenses for the next year. Meanwhile, she said the center is working on national accreditation.
On another note, she said The McDowell Chamber of Commerce will host Business After Hours this Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Maitland facility.

In discussing another matter, Southern Coalfields Tobacco Prevention Coalition Coordinator Donald Reed, Jr. noted that the Tobacco Coalition will be giving out a total of $ 1,000 in gift certificates on April 1 at Wal-Mart, Kimball. To register for the give aways, smokers need only to visit Reed and Spit Tobacco coordinator Kathy Bailey between 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on that day at Wal-Mart.
Reed added that he and Bailey will be at a community baby shower for pregnant women who smoke on May 4 at Mama Jessie’s Restaurant, War, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
He said a smoking cessation workshop is also slated for April 7 in Kimball. For additional information on any of the above named tobacco cessation activities or to help stop using tobacco in any form, contact Reed at 304-320-9990.
In touching on an unrelated matter, Reed said that a meeting to plan this summer’s 4-H Camp is scheduled for April 17, 2 p.m. at the WVU Extension Office. The Extension Office is located in Welch on the second-floor of the County Commission Office. For additional information, call 304-436-9002.
FACES Director Kathie Whitt noted that Project Life Saver is in full operation and recently rescued one of adult participants in the program. To register an impaired adult or child in Project Life Saver, contact Deputy Lyle Noe at the Sheriff’s Office (304-436-8541), Whitt said.
In the way of making other announcements, Mike Craighead, Concord University, announced that the Upward Bound Program for students in grades 9 through 12 is in full swing in McDowell County. Mt. View has 15 Upward Bound participants. Big Creek High has 18 and Iaeger High has 16, he said. For additional information on the Upward Bound Program, contact Craighead at 304-384-5104.
Norma McKinney, McDowell Mission, Welch, announced that a prom workshop is scheduled for April 20. For additional information, call McKinney at 304-436-8300.
The public is invited to the next meeting of the HOPE Coalition on April 27, 10:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Welch Library.

HOPE COALITION MEETING - Pictured are those who attended the HOPE Coalition Meeting Monday morning at the Welch Library. Shown bottom row, l-r) are Carmella Fredrick, Prosecutor’s Office; Norma McKinney, McDowell Mission; Latosha Dotson, Children’s Advocacy Center; Goldie Meadows, Division of Juvenile Services; (middle row) Kathy Bailey, Tobacco Coalition; Donald Reed, Jr., Tobacco Coalition; Kathie Whitt, FACES; Linda Beach, DHHR; Thelma Workman,BCCSP; Lyvonne Dyer, Council of the Southern Mountains; (back row) David Bailey, Prevention Resource Center; Todd Burnette, Southern Highlands; Mike Craighead, Concord University and Al Wade, Children’s Home Society. (Photo by Cathy Patton)