Brooke County commissioners heard a new proposal this week on how to use a portion of the county’s $1.1 million share from West Virginia’s opioid lawsuit settlements. WVU Medicine representatives asked that part of the funds support a children’s mental health inpatient and outpatient clinic at its new medical facility in Wheeling.
Jessica Moore, associate vice president of foundation and community relations for WVU Medicine, presented the proposal Tuesday. She said the clinic would become part of the Robert Sonneborn Family Children’s Outpatient Center, a $16 million facility now under construction across from WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital. Groundbreaking took place in August, with an opening planned for 2027.
Moore said the center is designed to provide after-hours care until 8 p.m. and to host specialty medical clinics. The proposed mental health unit would focus on helping children and teenagers struggling with emotional disorders or early signs of substance abuse.
According to Moore, many young people turn to drugs to cope with depression, and having immediate access to mental health services in the same location as their regular healthcare could make early intervention more effective.
She requested $125,000 from Brooke County’s opioid funds to help establish the clinic, which would employ a therapist and case manager five days a week. Over time, operations would be covered through insurance reimbursements and other funding sources. Moore added that funding for pediatric care is often limited compared to adult services, and WVU Medicine is already raising about 45 percent of the money needed for the new center.
Brooke County officials have also received other funding requests related to the opioid settlements, including one from the Sheriff’s Department for new equipment and another from Healthways Inc., which aims to expand awareness of its short-term drug treatment programs.
Commission President A.J. Thomas said the board is still deciding how best to evaluate and allocate the settlement funds. “We don’t know that we even need [a board],” Thomas said. “We need to make a decision on whether to set that up.”
Commissioner Tom Diserio agreed, noting the county must clarify state guidelines on how the funds can be used. Commissioner Stacey Wise added that the next step might be adopting an application form other counties already use for similar funding requests.
Related topics
Bozeman Launches New Mental Health Treatment Center To Support Recovery
Can Vraylar Relieve Anxiety Disorder? Latest Insights
Cayman Faces Growing Strain On Mental Health Facility System
