Marshall head coach Dan D’Antoni directs players during a game on Feb. 22 at the Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, Va.
Marshall head coach Dan D’Antoni directs players during a game on Feb. 22 at the Atlantic Union Bank Center in Harrisonburg, Va.
Ashland v Russell boys
Ashland’s Rheyce Deboard (21) drives through Russell’s Gavin Carter (25) Monday, March 6, 2023, during the boys’ 16th Region Tournament in Morehead, Ky at Johnson Arena. Photo by Taylor McKnight | For The Herald Dispatch
Ashland v Russell boys
Ashland’s Rheyce Deboard (21) drives through Russell’s Gavin Carter (25) Monday, March 6, 2023, during the boys’ 16th Region Tournament in Morehead, Ky at Johnson Arena. Photo by Taylor McKnight | For The Herald Dispatch
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice gives his State of the State address Jan. 11 in Charleston.
CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice has approved a bill reorganizing the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
The governor signed House Bill 2006 on Saturday, according to a letter from his office to House of Delegates Clerk Steve Harrison.
The bill will end the DHHR and create the Department of Health, the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Health Facilities. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
In a statement Monday morning, DHHR interim cabinet secretary Dr. Jeffrey Coben said the department is “ready to implement and uphold the intent of the Legislature.”
“Under the direction of Gov. Justice, we will work to ensure a seamless transition to a new organizational structure over the course of this next year,” Coben said. “DHHR leadership and our dedicated staff look forward to working with all stakeholders to optimize the functions and services we provide to West Virginians.”
This is the second year the Legislature has passed a bill to reorganize the DHHR.
During the 2022 legislative session, Justice vetoed a bill that would have split the department into three agencies. Instead, he called for a $1 million top-to-bottom review of the agency from the Virginia-based McChrystal Group LLC.
That group’s report did not support dividing up the agency. Instead, it called for restructuring the DHHR around an executive leadership team with six leaders serving as state health officer, director of threat preparedness, chief operating officer, deputy secretary for child welfare, deputy secretary for access and eligibility, and deputy secretary for substance use disorder.
The Governor’s Office did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday morning.
Under the legislation, the Department of Human Resources will contain the bureaus of social services, medical services, child support, family assistance and behavioral health.
The Department of Health will include the Bureau of Public Health, the Office of Emergency Medical Services, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the Center for Threat Preparedness, the Health Care Authority, and the Office of the Inspector General and its subsidiary offices.
The Department of Health Facilities will oversee the state’s hospitals.
Lori Kersey covers the City of Charleston and Kanawha County for HD Media. She can be reached at 304-348-1240 or lori.kersey@hdmediallc.com. Follow @LoriKerseyWV on Twitter.
Kara Kisling, of Barboursville, right, and Amy Parsons, of Barboursville, play with one of the cats as EveryBODY Fitness conducts a “Cats on Mats” yoga class on Monday in Huntington.
Andrew Edwards, of Huntington, right, and Savanah Bailey, of Ona, spend time with a cat as EveryBODY Fitness conducts a “Cats on Mats” yoga class on Monday in Huntington.
EveryBODY Fitness conducts a "Cats on Mats" yoga class in observance of International Rescue Cat Day on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Huntington.
People take part in a yoga session as EveryBODY Fitness conducts a "Cats on Mats" yoga class on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Huntington.
People spend time holding cats as EveryBODY Fitness conducts a "Cats on Mats" yoga class in observance of International Rescue Cat Day on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Huntington.
EveryBODY Fitness conducts a “Cats on Mats” yoga class on Monday in Huntington.
EveryBODY Fitness conducts a "Cats on Mats" yoga class in observance of International Rescue Cat Day on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Huntington.
EveryBODY Fitness conducts a "Cats on Mats" yoga class in observance of International Rescue Cat Day on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Huntington.
EveryBODY Fitness conducts a "Cats on Mats" yoga class in observance of International Rescue Cat Day on Monday, March 6, 2023, in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON — A yoga class Monday evening featured a unique cool-down period — one that welcomed cats to the studio.
EveryBODY Fitness partnered with Huntington Cabell Wayne Animal Control Shelter to help raise awareness for International Rescue Cat Day, which is celebrated every year on March 2, during its first “Cats on Mats” yoga class Monday.
The class, led by Marianne Kalinoski, had one half devoted to yoga and the remainder of time allotted for playing with cats. The cost of the session was donation based.
The combination class and adoption event gave participants the opportunity to interact with the cats outside of the shelter, allowing potential pet parents to see how the cats might behave in a home setting.
According to the National Institute for Health, interacting with animals can decrease cortisol, a stress-producing hormone, and lower blood pressure. Studies have also found that spending time with animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost a person’s mood.
Judge Gregory Howard, right, celebrates alongside drug court graduate Craig Baldwin during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Judge Gregory Howard, right, shakes hands with Michael Browning, senior advisor to Sen. Joe Manchin, during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Drug court graduate Ryan Cremeans speaks during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Drug court graduate John Smith reads from a piece of paper detailing his experiences during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Michael Browning, senior advisor to Sen. Joe Manchin, brings a message from Manchin during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Judge Gregory Howard, right, speaks about drug court graduate Craig Baldwin during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Probation officer Matt Meadows speaks during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Drug court graduate John Smith speaks on his experience during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Probation officer Faren Block speaks during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
Michael Browning, senior advisor to Sen. Joe Manchin, from left, drug court graduates John Smith, Ryan Cremeans, and Craig Baldwin stand with Judge Gregory Howard during a Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON — Cabell County Drug Court graduation on Monday ended with a circuit court judge lifting a participant’s hand in the air to celebrate the victory of sobriety.
Three participants graduated Monday and celebrated with friends, family and Mike Browning, a representative of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.
“I’m glad to be here. I am glad you are here,” Browning said to the graduates and over a dozen participants who came to support their peers. Browning, Manchin’s senior advisor, said he lost a close family member to addiction.
The hard work and dedication of the staff and graduates of drug court “represent the monumental step towards solving the substance abuse epidemic,” Machin’s letter wrote. “To the graduates, … you are here for your hard work. No other person could have accomplished this for you.”
Cabell County Circuit Judge Gregory L. Howard said the program is intended to be completed in a year’s time, but the process varies for everyone.
Howard brought a copy of a Charleston Gazette article published 35 years ago that included an article about 56-year-old graduate Craig Baldwin.
The article reported Baldwin, then 19, had lost a boxing match, but Howard said Monday he won his match with addiction.
“By the second round, Baldwin’s face was a mask of red and both fighters tired,” the article read.
In one hand Baldwin held his commemorative Blenko Glass water bottle while Howard lifted his other hand in victory.
“You’re a fighter,” Howard said to Baldwin. “You’ve been bloody in the face with drugs but you never gave up.”
Baldwin, of Elkview, West Virginia, celebrated 15 months of sobriety after 30 years of addiction.
Ryan Cremeans, 30, of Huntington, said he has been waiting a few months for his graduation.
“It’s not every day you get to celebrate your successes. It feels so good to get the support from everyone,” Cremeans said while standing next to his wife Aneke and their child. Cremeans celebrated a year and a half of sobriety.
Cremeans said his wife and two children give him the constant reminder to do the right thing.
“This isn’t a program where you can fake it till you make it. It’s not like that,” Cremeans told his peers. He said drug court is a life commitment.
“Misery is always out there waiting for you. This isn’t just a free get-out-of-jail card.”
Drug court pushed 37-year-old John Smith to have better relationships with his significant other and family — especially his mother Sandi who he had not spoken to for almost a decade. They now talk to each other daily.
“This is not a program you can sail through,” Howard explained, but said Smith was a participant who did.
May will mark two years of sobriety for Smith. He struggled with addiction for 22 years.
Cabell County Drug Court conducts a graduation on Monday, March 6, 2023, at the Cabell County Courthouse in Huntington.
