SHARING BEST PRACTICES:

A Partner Approach to Addressing 

Substance Abuse in Appalachia

Conference Report 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Health Resources and Services Administration 

Office of Rural Health Policy 

December 2010
This document was prepared for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)

under HRSA Contract #HHSH250200866012C. 

The views expressed in written conference materials and by speakers and moderators do not 

necessarily reflect the official policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

(HHS) nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organization, imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Government.

This publication lists non-Federal resources in order to provide additional information to 

consumers. The views and content in these resources have not been formally approved by 

HHS. Listing these resources is not an endorsement by HHS or its components.
Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 4

Emerging Themes............................................................................................................................ 6

Region-Wide Agency Themes......................................................................................................... 8

Grantee Best Practice Themes...................................................................................................... 10

Conference Participant Evaluations.............................................................................................. 12

Recommendations........................................................................................................................ 13

Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 14

Attachments.................................................................................................................................. 14
4 

CONFERENCE SUMMARY

Sharing Best Practices: 

A Partner Approach to Addressing Substance Abuse in Appalachia

Introduction

Grantees from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) 2008 substance abuse 

competition highlighted their best practice projects to address substance abuse in the region at 

a day-long conference sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 

Office of Rural Health Policy on July 27, 2009 at the Carnegie Hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee. 

Representatives from nearly every State in the Appalachian region and three Federal agencies 

heard reports of 10 grantees from the ARC’s 2008 round of substance abuse grants. This 

confluence of three agencies with the ability to make an impact on substance abuse issues in 

the region created pledges to continue future collaboration for joint collaboration and

attention to substance abuse in the Appalachian region. 

In April of 2008 representatives of HRSA’s Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) and the 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) came together to 

identify and describe funding mechanisms available to help communities address issues of 

substance abuse in Appalachia. Each 

agency promised an avenue of support: 

The ARC would award competitive grants 

for substance abuse projects; the ORHP 

would host a conference of best practices 

involving those grantees; and SAMHSA 

offered to bring together the Single State 

Authorities for each State containing designated Appalachian counties to discuss issues of 

mutual concern on the topic. 

The first round of nine ARC substance abuse grants was awarded in the fall of 2008. A 

subsequent series of grants was awarded in the fall of 2009. SAMHSA convened the Single 

State Authorities in August of 2008 prior to the annual State Systems Development Conference. 

Representatives from each State met for half a day to hear from ARC, ORHP and other regional 

organizations like the Coalition on Appalachian Substance Abuse Policy. The July 2009

conference funded by the ORHP was the third leg of the partnership agreement - highlighting

the best practices exemplified by the ARC 2008 competitive awards for substance abuse. 

The objectives of the conference were to: 

“Substance abuse in Appalachia is distinct in 

nature; its culture sets it apart.” 

Nicholas Reuter, Senior Public Health Analyst, 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration
5 

• Collect comparable data on participating communities’ strategies in response to 

substance abuse, including themes and strengths 

• Engage participating community organizations in the exchange of information for 

mutual benefit and potential shared resources

• Foster communication among participating Federal agencies by demonstrating 

cooperative approaches to substance abuse in Appalachia

• Determine the strength of altering perceptions of approaches to substance abuse in 

Appalachia

This conference had high expectations for useable outcomes voiced by an outstanding caliber 

of grantee presenters. Organized into a series of three panels moderated by members of the 

ARC’s Appalachian Health Policy Advisory Council and 

“What’s changing Appalachia are interwoven with presentations from the three Federal 

communities getting ready to agencies, the proceedings provided opportunities for change its problems.” cross pollination of ideas and information. In his Henry King, Ph.D. Director of welcoming remarks, Tom Morris, Associate Program Operations, Appalachian Administrator with the Health Resources and Services Regional Commission Administration’s Office of Rural Health Policy, said that 

social context is important to rural communities in 

different ways. Henry King, Director of Program Operations for the ARC, greeted attendees 

with background on the origins of the conference.

Lisa Davis, Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, Susan Isaac, Senior Health 

Research Associate at Ohio University, and Dr. John Dreyzehner, Director of the Cumberland 

Plateau Health District in southwestern Virginia moderated panels on Prevention Strategies 

with At-Risk Populations, Community Education, and Training and Assessment, respectively. 

Eric Stockton of the Appalachian Regional Commission piloted the speakers and panelists 

through the agenda. Dr. J. Edward Hill, Chair of the World Medical Association and Appalachian 

Health Policy Advisory Council member provided summary remarks. The Nakamoto Group, Inc.

ensured conference planning and logistical support for the day.

Michael Meit, Co-Director of the Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis, presented regionspecific data from the 2007 National Opinion Research Center’s Analysis of the Substance 

Abuse and Mental Health Disparities in the Appalachian Region. The intensity of the 

prescription pain killer problem in coal-producing counties became especially evident with 

additional information from Meit that included map overlays and graphs of the severity of use 

and numbers of deaths. Nicholas Reuter, Senior Public Health Analyst at SAMHSA responded 

with an update of data from SAMHSA’s 2008 Report on the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use 

and Health. 

As each of the grantees presented overviews of their projects, similar themes emerged which 

pointed to place-based problems and solutions, the necessity for networks of committed 

partners, and an enthusiasm for community-centered solutions. They also underscored the 

regional nature of the substance use and abuse problems throughout the mountains and across 

State lines. Grantee projects will be summarized in a Best Practices document that was the 
6 

final product compiled by the meeting. The following paragraphs will detail an analysis of 

themes, the presentations and connectivity among the grantees and agencies.

Emerging Themes

Patterns that emerged from the panel and agencies presentations were 

based in the shared vision of partners joining together across disciplines to 

break cycles of addiction and abuse and to create new standards of care, 

service, expectation, and hope. The primary groupings that formed the basis 

for the panels were taken from apparent similarities in strategies for target 

populations. Prevention Strategies with At-Risk Populations addressed how 

the four grantees use innovative ways to reduce drug use and increase 

protective assets for pregnant addicted females, children, at-risk and 

addicted youth, and adolescent girls. Community Education strategies were 

methods by which Kentucky and regional coalitions provide increased 

opportunities and awareness of drug use prevention in the form of mini-grants, prevention 

programs and clearinghouse functions, including a research journal on Appalachian health. 

Training and Assessment was a strategy that connected courts and addiction counselors, 

healthcare providers with new information on treatment and diversion, and incarcerated 

individuals with community resources. 

Below are the expanded stated and implied themes gathered from the panel and agency 

presentations discovered in post-conference analysis. Key themes addressed in every 

presentation were the necessity for partnerships, use of multiple strategies, recognizing the 

cultural base within the national context, the importance of persistence and using programs 

that work. 

Conference Sub-Themes 

Partnerships Partnerships with like-minded organizations and community 

stakeholders are essential to creating the strength and depth 

necessary to deliver valid programs and sustain community 

acceptance.

Multiple strategies Groups address substance abuse issues with more than one strategy, 

i.e. workforce training, service delivery, education, community 

participation, etc.

Culture/place Place-based issues affect community perceptions of use and abuse of 

drugs as well as perceptions of effective measures to prevent 

substance use and abuse, deliver treatment and contribute to 

recovery. Generational drug use patterns and faith/religious issues 

are two examples. 

“Each community has a little different challenge and a little different 

empowerment method.” Susan Isaac
7 

Conference Sub-Themes 

Appalachia within the 

national context 

Most substance abuse data are collected and reported at State or 

national levels. These data determine funding allocations and is used 

by the media when reporting national substance use trends. Data 

from Appalachian counties compared to national data puts local and 

regional problems in a national context. 

Programs that work Programs with a history of success incorporate innovative communitybased methods and have evidence-based origins.

Persistence Grantees have strong, long term partners with whom they work to 

accomplish goals and the endurance to stay the course.

Cross border 

connections

Grantees report substance abuse issues that cross county and State 

borders. 

“This is not a problem that recognizes borders.” John Dreyzehner.

Data Grantees use national and State data but also find local data sources. 

Centralized data and consistency across data sets increases usability 

and reliability. Grantees seek out and use available data to establish 

clearly defined problems and solutions but would like to see more 

research on Appalachian issues. Better data is needed for assessment 

for planning (grant writing) and implementation (targeting populations 

and problems). 

Increased resources The pool of resources and support for prevention activities is enlarging 

through the efforts of the Federal agencies and grantees’ awareness 

of evidenced-based programs, data and research. However, more can 

be done.

Reduced stigma/fear Grantees reported that fear of seeking treatment, social stigma, and 

apprehensions about self revelation were evident among users, 

treatment providers, and communities.

Primary care 

prevention

Grantees illustrated a need for more knowledge about substance 

abuse diagnosis and treatment by primary health care providers and 

the need for drug use prevention at early ages.

Social and other 

infrastructure 

Grantees pointed to the importance of community and family support 

in prevention and the need for identifying and implementing 

mechanisms to increase involvement by law enforcement, courts, 

parents, and churches.
8 

Region-Wide Agency Themes

ORHP and SAMHSA are Federal entities with nationwide programming. ARC is a Federal-State 

partnership that encompasses the entire Appalachian region. The complementary approaches 

and strengths of the three entities formed another thematic overlay of broad environmental 

strategies that work effectively to address substance abuse and encourage prevention and 

treatment partnerships. Each of the three agencies, HRSA/ORHP, SAMHSA, and ARC, has 

clearly identifiable strengths and experience. Grantees recognized themes that were 

exemplified by the agencies’ methods of connecting with people in meaningful ways: 

regionalism, network development and service collaboration, and community coalition 

building with additional emphases on community education or workforce training.
9 

Appalachian Regional Commission

Advocate for and partner with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for selfsustaining economic development and improved quality of life

Regionalism - The ARC was formed in the 1960s because national recognition clearly identified 

regional social, economic and infrastructure deficiencies. The ARC, working with 13 state 

governments, has been a national model in focusing attention and resources on regional multistate problems and solutions. The image of the new interstate highways that opened the 

region for economic development and tourism is a metaphor for regional connectivity: roads 

crossed state lines, connecting people within the region to help goods, services and people 

connect outside the region. A regional focus is required to address substance abuse, the 

influences and results of which are not bounded by State lines. 

Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Rural Health Policy 

Promoting Better Health Care Service in Rural America

Network development and service collaboration - Since the mid-1980s, ORHP has funded 

hundreds of Rural Health Outreach and Rural Network Development grants that require 

different agencies and organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, to collaborate 

in addressing health service gaps in rural areas. Collaboration is cultivated through a clear 

understanding of the assets and expertise of multiple organizations needed to address 

substance abuse. ORHP has led the Nation in defining those rural values that promote 

collaboration, has helped rural regions identify the methods and steps needed to plan, 

implement and evaluate joint efforts, and has encouraged innovation in service delivery within 

a framework of limited resources. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Building Resilience... Facilitating Recovery... A Life in the Community for Everyone

Community coalition development - SAMHSA has consistently promoted community-based 

approaches to substance abuse prevention and treatment. Coalition development strategies 

through multiple SAMHSA grant initiatives have tested, revised and perfected the agency’s 

Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF): community assessment, capacity development, 

planning, implementation and evaluation of prevention and treatment systems, within an 

understanding of the important cultural context of substance use. Community engagement is 

seen as pivotal in defining values and successful strategies. SAMHSA provides block grant 

funding to States for treatment and prevention and to regional service entities for technical 

support as well as funding for research, training, planning and targeted populations. 
10

The schematic below illustrate the potential complementarities of the Federal agencies’ 

strategic strengths to help Appalachian communities with substance abuse issues. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Services Administration

Health Resources and Services 

Administration, Office of Rural 

Health Policy

Appalachian Regional Commission

Grantee Best Practice Themes 

Because the 10 featured grantees were chosen from a competitive field of 52 applicants, they 

are models of quality project ideas in the Appalachian region. The grantees displayed 

awareness of the regional perspective and addressed broad national problems within the 

Appalachian perspective. They demonstrated proven, systematic planning methods built on 

community-based risk and protective factors and the five SAMHSA-recommended strategic 

prevention framework principles: local needs assessments, building organizational and 

community capacity, focused plan development, effective implementation of community-based

programs, policies and practices, and outcome evaluation.

Repeating the success of the ARC small challenge

grant idea, April Stone and Sharon Hensley of the

Kentucky River Foothills Development Council said 

their organization is dispersing mini-grants to

other local community groups and providing

evidenced-based training in schools. They feel the 

project has high probability of success because

their communities have shown that they have 

been “good stewards” in the past. 

Reinforcing local beliefs, national data reports indicate that the teen years 

are windows of high risk teens susceptible to drug use. Morgan (OH)

Behavioral Health Choices, the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi, 

People Encouraging People of Eastern Kentucky (PEP), and the Rowan 

County (Kentucky) UNITE Coalition mentioned youth as a target population. 

Donna Loden of HealthWorks! in Tupelo, Mississippi introduced their regional program to give

girls, ages 5-14, the tools to resist drugs with proven prevention techniques like comprehensive 

health education in a nurturing atmosphere. Elaine Shuster of Morgan Behavioral Health 

Choices presented the Life Skills program they are sponsoring for students in the county. 

“We are searching for the keys that 

can turn the lock on the problems, 

assumptions, and attitudes in our 

communities, and in ourselves.”

Susan Isaac, Senior Health Research 

Associate at the Voinovich School, 

Ohio University
11

Brenda Campbell of PEP showed some of the mountain arts at-risk youth will learn through 

local instructors in inclusive settings.

Dana Quesinberry of Rowan County, which is providing community training for law 

enforcement and parents, mentioned the stigma attached to seeking treatment in a rural area 

where everyone knows each other and addiction is seen as moral weakness. Drug use that may 

be the result of low self esteem was contrasted with use by persons who have legitimate 

prescriptions. The showcased programs promote hope and reduce fear of change by sharing 

what works across county and State borders and introducing multiple strategies for the same 

problems– workforce training, service delivery and education. 

Workforce education is an important component of Kentucky River Community Care’s (KRCC) 

Regional Prevention Center. Donna Hardin introduced Judy Martin as KRCC’s academic detailer 

and prevention specialist. Judy delivers information among area physicians, dentists and 

pharmacists to strengthen collaboration and reduce prescription drug diversion by patients. 

Likewise Connie Payne of the Kentucky Administration Office of Courts spoke of the need to 

increase the number of treatment providers in the region by providing supervised certified 

alcohol and drug counselor training. Steuben County Community Services’ Christina Pellegrino

said their project will employ a full time re-entry case manager to assess, identify and 

coordinate services for released prisoners, linking addicts to appropriate community-based 

services.

Culture and place influences drug use and prevalence in the community. In the same way lack 

of community resources and inattention by primary care providers may stimulate drug use and

increase its acceptance as a community norm. The Charleston Area Medical Center Health 

Education and Research Institute is educating clinic staff to provide early intervention and 

referrals for addicted pregnant women and working to collaborate with women in recovery 

through a multidiscipline task force said Denise Burgess. Fear of seeking treatment, access 

barriers to existing treatment options, and stigmatization of individuals or families echoed data 

presented by Michael Meit. 

Dr. Randy Jessee of the Coalition on Appalachian Substance Abuse Policy (CASAP) reiterated 

the need for consistent local and regional data and analysis. CASAP 

will provide a clearinghouse website for Appalachian substance 

abuse topics and begin a peer-reviewed health journal. 

Another presentation that illustrated the progress in selected

counties funded by the ARC community-initiated response to 

substance abuse was made by the East Tennessee State University’s (ETSU) Office of Rural and 

Community Health and Community Partnerships. ETSU assisted ARC in engaging communities 

to redefine rural Appalachia’s substance abuse issues. From 2005 through 2008 concern over 

the dramatic rise in methamphetamine production and use led to the multi-stakeholder 

identification of regional issues at a 2005 workshop, which in turn became a conference on the 

topic. 
12

Using a three-step process, 26 community multi-stakeholder teams from six Appalachian States 

explored the scope of regional drug problems, learned new skills and formulated community 

plans for addressing their problems in the community. Goals from plans developed by 

economically distressed communities were evaluated at 1 and 2 year intervals. A work-group 

spawned from the conference analyzed progress of the communities and identified research 

questions. The group also synthesized a new community-driven definition of Appalachian 

substance abuse based on workshop and conference documents and data. Bruce Behringer 

and Kris Bowers of ETSU reviewed the progress of this process. Eleven of these grantees were 

present at the conference. This office is also developing community capacity building activities 

for substance abuse coalitions in eight Tennessee counties identified as economically 

distressed.

Conference Participant Evaluations

“Every community knows the 

challenges it faces.”

Michael Meit, Co-Director, Walsh 

Center for Rural Health Analysis, 

National Opinion Research Center 

at the University of Chicago

During the conference day, attendees were asked to 

complete an evaluation form. While results and 

opinions from the evaluation form cannot be 

scientifically substantiated, they did reveal some 

common concerns that echoed those heard from the 

grantees and added to assumptions about substance 

abuse in the Appalachian region. Not surprisingly over 

90 percent reported some Federal funding, many from 

multiple sources; more than 70 percent reported State funding. 

Some evaluation questions were taken from remarks made by Appalachian governors in the 

past two years at ARC annual meetings. Attendees overwhelmingly agreed that “substance 

abuse is a barrier to economic development” and that “substance abuse affects the quality of 

the workforce.” Most were concerned that “trafficking across county or State lines is a 

problem.” They concurred that “abuse of prescription drugs is a huge problem in the region,”

and that “we must share approaches to fight the problem.” Nearly all respondents believe

that “substance abuse is a threat to the health of the public,” that it “affects the community 

as much as the individual,” and that it needs to be addressed ‘in place.’ Only half agreed that 

“we have made tremendous progress.” Almost a third were either neutral or disagreed that 

“methamphetamine continues to be a significant issue.” Over 70 percent felt that “substance 

use and abuse is different in Appalachia.”

Key partners were identified as 

“connectors” who share information, 

coordinate plans and sponsor joint activities

around substance abuse issues in 

communities. These are mental health 

providers, law enforcement, schools, social 

“The key is passionate individuals who are 

committed to the work they are doing to put 

those programs into place.”

Lisa Davis, Director, Pennsylvania Office of 

Rural Health
13

services, other non-profits, and public health professionals. Medical providers, faith 

organizations, youth, and the courts are a second tier of support. Stakeholder groups or sectors 

not sharing as much information, resources, activities and plans were parents, recreation and 

environmental services, local businesses, and industries and the media. 

Respondents described the nature of substance abuse perceived in their communities. The 

most common indicators of problems at the local level were data from legal system reports 

(probation, arrests, conviction, etc.), overdose deaths, data from youth behavior surveys, and

increases in children referred to foster care or children and family services. While alcohol 

ranked as the most commonly abused substance, prescription drugs were the most pressing 

problem. Methamphetamine and marijuana were also mentioned. Forming community 

partnerships and coalitions within their local communities were the primary ways respondents 

said that they were addressing the issues among partners with similar or common goals. A 

good relationship with schools was cited as a primary facilitating partnership. Limited 

resources and money, limited information, negative community perceptions and denial were 

identified as barriers to partnership formation or effective working relationships. Respondents 

said they wanted better relationships with the faith community and local government. The 

enthusiasm and persistence with which the grantees identified problems with place-based 

causes, focused on clear goals, and dedicated local resources inspired other attendees to take 

home ideas for dealing with regional and local issues of substance abuse.

Recommendations

Based on themes and comments from the evaluation form and presenters, opportunities for 

increasing more sophisticated regional data and cross border collaboration, enlarging available 

resources, and sharing ideas for “programs that work” would enhance Appalachian 

communities’ ability to effect long lasting change. One participant remarked that exploring 

ways to build the “social capital and political will to join hands” would help to make that change 

a reality. 

Specific conference participant recommendations:

• Primary care should become more integrated with substance abuse and mental health 

treatment, including encouragement of wider use of screening, brief intervention, and 

referral to treatment (SBIRT) techniques, incorporating it into physician and residency 

training, use of prescription monitoring systems, and repeal of laws that perpetuate fear 

of seeking prenatal care. 

• Community level needs must be met at the community level. Social context is an 

important factor in designing appropriate prevention approaches, as is partnership 

among all community stakeholders. Rural communities are diverse, as are their 

available resources and their ability and willingness to address substance use as a 

community issue.
14

• Regional, State and county level data, including prescribing and criminal justice data, are 

important to collect and use. 

• Substance abuse treatment should consider continuity with recovery services and cooccurring mental health issues. 

• A “set aside” for Appalachian research and community capacity expansion should be a 

priority.

• Increased sensitivity to regional cultural issues that influence use of health and 

substance abuse care could help to better recognize and address the stigma and fear of 

seeking treatment. 

• Finally Appalachian States should share information about what works and coordinate 

policies and strategies, especially for border counties.

Conclusion

Dr. J. Edward Hill wrapped up by encouraging participants to think of the impact of their work 

on jobs, infrastructure and education. This conference was an example of how Federal agencies

can come together to address substance abuse prevention, to define a regional approach and 

to increase knowledge about reliable programs and strategies used by community

organizations to prevent or mitigate substance abuse in Appalachia particularly in rural areas. 

The conference brought together local grantees with Federal agencies and interested 

individuals to share strategies, discuss common issues, set precedence for continued interagency cooperation and disseminate useful and useable ways to address common problems 

with uncommon solutions. 

Attachments

Conference Agenda

Resources

This publication lists non-Federal resources in order to provide additional information to 

consumers. The views and content in these resources have not been formally approved by 

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Listing these resources is not an 

endorsement by HHS or its components.
15

Agenda

SHARING BEST PRACTICES: PARTNER APPROACH TO ADDRESSING SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Monday, July 27, 2009

Carnegie Hotel

Johnson City, TN

Conference Moderator: Eric Stockton, ARC

9:00-9:15 Overview of conference and Welcome

• Tom Morris, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 

• Henry King , Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

9:15-10:00 Report of Findings of Appalachian Substance Abuse Study- An Analysis of 

Disparities in Mental Health Status and Substance Abuse Prevalence, and Access 

to Treatment Services in the Appalachian Region 

• Michael Meit, Co-Director, Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis

(NORC)

10:10-10:15 Report of 2007 NSDUH National Survey Trends

• Nicholas Reuter, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA)

10:30-11:30 1st PANEL Prevention Strategies with At-Risk Populations 

Moderator: Lisa Davis, Director, Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health

• The Charleston Area Medical Center Health Education and Research 

Institute (West Virginia): reducing drug use and addiction during 

pregnancy and at time of delivery. 

o Denise Burgess, Director of Obstetrical Services, Charleston Area 

Medical Center, Women and Children’s Hospital

• Morgan Behavioral Health Choices (Ohio): preventing early use of 

alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by children and adolescents 
16

o Elaine Shuster, Executive Director, Morgan Behavioral Health 

Choices 

• The People Encouraging People Coalition (Kentucky): providing skills and 

crafts training for at-risk and addicted youth 

o Brenda Campbell, Executive Director, PEP

• The Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi: specialized substance 

abuse programming for adolescent girls

o Donna Loden, Imaginator, Awesome Experiences at HealthWorks!

11:30-12:00 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - 

Why Coalitions Work: How SAMHSA supports community coalitions and 

treatment centers

• Nick Reuter, Senior Public Health Analyst, SAMHSA

Lunch Best Practices and Lessons Learned from 2006 Challenge Grants 

• Bruce Behringer , Vice President for Rural Health, East Tennessee 

State University’s Office of Rural and Community Health and 

Community Partnerships 

• Kris Bowers, ETSU’s Office of Rural and Community Health and 

Community Partnerships

1:00-2:00 2nd PANEL Community Education

Moderator: Susan Isaac, Senior Health Researcher, Voinovich Center, Ohio 

University

• The Kentucky River Foothills Development Council: reducing substance 

abuse through coordination of community education and mini-grants 

o April Stone, Director of Community Services, Kentucky River 

Foothills Development Council

• The Coalition on Appalachian Substance Abuse Policy

(Tennessee):creation of a regional clearinghouse of information on 

substance use health issues in Appalachia

o Randy Jessee, Senior Vice President, Frontier Health, and 

President of the Coalition on Appalachian Substance Abuse Policy

• The Rowan County UNITE Coalition (Kentucky): implementing three 

community substance prevention and education programs

o Dana Quesinberry, Chair, Rowan County UNITE Coalition 

2:00-2:30 Appalachian Regional Commissions (ARC) 

Why the Regional Approach Works: How ARC supports a regional approach to 

health and substance abuse issues 

• Henry King, Program Director, ARC

 

2:45-3:45 3rd PANEL Training and Assessment
17

Moderator: John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, FACOEM, Director, Cumberland 

Plateau Health District, Virginia Department of Health

• The Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts: training new drug and 

alcohol addiction counselors

o Connie M. Payne, Drug Court Department Executive Officer

• Kentucky River Community Care: educating health-care providers on 

prescription drug diversion and abuse 

o Donna Hardin, Regional Prevention Center Director, Kentucky 

River Community Care 

o Judy Martin, Prevention Specialist, Kentucky River Community 

Regional Prevention Center

• The Steuben County Department of Community Services (New York): 

overcoming service gaps in addiction assessment and treatment for 

incarcerated individuals 

o Christine Pellegrino, BILT Coordinator, Steuben County 

Community Services

3:45-4:15 Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)

Why Service Networks Are Effective: How ORHP supports rural health

• George Brown, Public Health Analyst, Office of Rural Health Policy

4:15-4:30 Conclusions and Lessons Learned from the Conference

• J. Edward Hill, MD, Member ARC Appalachian Health Policy Advisory 

Council and Chair of the World Medical Association Council
18

Resources

The Appalachian Regional Commission http://www.arc.gov/

The Health Resources and Services 

Administration (HRSA)

http://www.hrsa.gov

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy 

(ORHP)

http://www.ruralhealth.hrsa.gov

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 

Administration (SAMHSA)

http://www.samhsa.gov

SAMHSA’s 2007 National Survey on Drug Use 

and Health

http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nhsda.htm

National Opinion Research Center’s Analysis of 

the Substance Abuse and Mental Health 

Disparities

http://www.norc.org/projects/Analysis+of+S

ubstance+Abuse+and+Mental+Health+Dispari

ties+in+the+Appalachian+Region+and+Access

+to+Tr.htm

Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis (NORC) http://www.norc.org/Aboutus/divisions/Publi

c+Health+Research/Walsh+Center+for+Rural

+Health+Analysis/

Morgan (Ohio) Behavioral Health Choices http://morganbhc.org/index.html

The Health Care Foundation of North 

Mississippi

http://www.nmhs.net/default.asp

Charleston Area Medical Center Health 

Education and Research Institute

http://www.camcinstitute.org/

 

Coalition on Appalachian Substance Abuse 

Policy

http://cdar.uky.edu/casap/ 

Office of Rural and Community Health and 

Community Partnerships 

http://www.etsu.edu/kellogg/Substance%20

Abuse.asp

Report of Findings of Appalachian Substance 

Abuse Study- An Analysis of Disparities in 

Mental Health Status and Substance Abuse 

Prevalence, and Access to Treatment Services 

in the Appalachian Region 

http://www.arc.gov/assets/research_reports

/AnalysisofMentalHealthandSubstanceAbuse

Disparities.pdf

Charleston Area Medical Center Health 

Education and Research Institute

http://www.camcinstitute.org/

Morgan Behavioral Health Choices http://morganbhc.org/index.html

The People Encouraging People Coalition 

(Kentucky): 

http://operationunite.org/coalitions/lee/

The Health Care Foundation of North 

Mississippi

http://www.nmhs.net/hcf/
19

East Tennessee State University’s Office of 

Rural and Community Health and Community 

Partnerships 

http://www.etsu.edu/kellogg/Substance%20

Abuse.asp

Kentucky River Foothills Development Council http://www.foothillscap.org/

The Coalition on Appalachian Substance Abuse 

Policy (Tennessee)

http://cdar.uky.edu/casap/

The Rowan County UNITE Coalition (Kentucky) http://operationunite.org/coalitions/rowen/

The Kentucky Administrative Office of the 

Courts

http://courts.ky.gov/

Kentucky River Community Care http://www.krccnet.com/

The Steuben County Department of Community 

Services (New York)

http://www.steubencony.org/dss.html