The Division of Community Health leverages its expertise to bring community-oriented health care to local communities, enhancing public health opportunities and improving the overall well-being of populations.

The Division leads and supports initiatives in all 55 West Virginia counties as well as throughout eight states in the Appalachian region.

Division Initiatives

Chronic Disease
Our team of experts coordinates the Appalachian Diabetes Network, which includes coalition building for diabetes and chronic disease, as well as technical assistance and ongoing education to more than 50 community-based coalitions and health care organizations across eight states in Appalachia. 

Marshall Community Health Worker Program
This model program embeds community health workers (CHW) in chronic care management teams throughout West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio to strengthen community-clinical linkages, address social determinants of health and improve health outcomes.

Expanded School Mental Health
The Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance Center provides consultation and training for school-based mental health as well as substance use prevention and early intervention throughout the state of West Virginia. 

Substance Use Disorder
The Division of Community Health coordinates West Virginia’s State Substance Use Response Plan; conducts evaluation of several programs overseen by the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy including Quick Response Teams, Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEADs) and the statewide Angel Initiatives; and coordinates the Southern West Virginia Opioid Consortium. In addition, we collaborate with the Division of Addiction Sciences on additional initiatives such as the Maternal Opioid Misuse Model. 

Data Analytics & Evaluation
The Division of Community Health serves as an academic partner on multiple initiatives that require data collection and evaluation, including Every Child West Virginia and annually publishes state and county-level data on the health of West Virginia’s children.