new river/mount rogers workforce development …

NEW RIVER/MOUNT ROGERS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA CONSORTIUM BOARD

MEETING AGENDA

September 15, 2021

I. Call to Order – Mary Biggs

II. Moment of Reflection - Chair

III. Roll Call

IV. Consent Agenda *

A. Approval of Executive Committee Action 7/21/21

B. Operational Summary and Financials

C. Approval of WDB Nominations

1. Adult Education - Shannon Mutter

V. Public Comment Period

VI. Review/Approval of Final PY21 Budget *

VII. Review/Approve PY21 Contract Modifications *

VIII. Workforce Development Board Update – Mike Miller, Chair

IX. Executive Summary – Marty Holliday

A. WDB Certification

B. Strategic Plan Update

C. Center Certification Update

D. Locality Support Update

X. Informational Items

A. Workforce System Updates

1. One-Stop Operator – Beth Carico

2. Program Operator Updates – Beth Carico and Jon Cash

3. Business Services Update - Kimber Simmons

4. Grants Update – Jenny Bolte

XI. Consortium Board Members Time

XII. Miscellaneous (Travel Reimbursement, 2019 (remaining) and 2019 Consortium Board Meeting

Schedule)

XIII. Next Meeting Date– December 1, 2021, Tentative: Wytheville Meeting Center TBD 10AM – Joint

with the Workforce Board

XIV. Adjournment

*Needs action by the board

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New River/Mount Rogers Workforce

Development Area Consortium Board MEETING MINUTES

July 21, 2021

CALL TO ORDER Acting Chair Workman called to order the regular meeting of the NRMR Workforce Development Area

Consortium Board at 10:07 am on July 21, 2021 in person and online via Zoom. MOMENT OF REFLECTION Acting Chair Workman lead the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of reflection. ROLL CALL

Ms. Suthers conducted a roll call. The following persons were present and a quorum was present:

Board Members In Person Board Members Online Staff

* Rex Hill – Carroll County * Dr. Eric Workman, Acting Chair – Bland County Marty Holliday

Jon Turman – Floyd County Perry Martin – Giles County Beverly Suthers * Laura Walker – Pulaski County * Mary Biggs– Montgomery County Della Wheeler Charlie Hargis – Washington County Jenny Bolte Kimber Simmons Guests Beth Carico, People Inc.

* DENOTES Executive Committee Members Jon Cash, Goodwill Industries

Ms. Biggs requested the meeting be moved into the Executive Committee made a motion to move into Executive Committee since a quorum was not met in person with a second from Ms. Walker. Motion was passed with a called vote.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE STARTS 10:15 am (Mary Biggs, Rex Hill, Dr. Eric Workman, Laura Walters) APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

A motion was made to approve the consent agenda as presented by Ms. Biggs with a second from Ms. Walker. Motion was passed with a called vote of the above referenced Executive Committee.

WDB NOMINATIONS FOR NRV COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION REP Ms. Holiday stated that two nominations came in for the NRV Community Based Organization. This has never happened. She stated that both candidates equally brought experience and knowledge to the table. She then stated that two things could happen, 1) The Board could choose to pick either Phil Hull from Community Housing or Mary Anne Holbrook from United Way of SWVA, or 2) appoint one to the Community Based Organization and appoint the other to the Board in the “Other” category. Ms. Biggs made a motion to appoint Mr. Hull from Community Housing and add Ms. Holbrook from United Way of SWVA in to the “Other” category with a second from Mr. Hill. Motion was passed with a called vote: Ms. Biggs – yes, Ms. Walters – yes, Mr. Hill – yes, Mr. Workman – yes

APPROVAL OF PY21 WDB REAPPOINTMENTS AND WDB CERTIFICATIONS Ms. Holliday stated that the WDB was now in compliance with the approval of reappointments and the Community Based Organization Rep. Board Certification from the State is ready to be filed on Friday, July 23,

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2021. Ms. Biggs made a motion to send in all Board Certification Documents to the State for approval with a second from Mr. Hill. Motion was passed with a called vote: Ms. Biggs – yes, Ms. Walters – yes, Mr. Hill – yes, Mr. Workman – yes

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD UPDATE

Mr. Miller, WD Board Chair, was not in attendance to give his report. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SUMMARY

Ms. Holliday reviewed the executive summary highlighting Funding Updates and Center Certifications

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS Ms. Carico provided the One-Stop Operator report, program updates and shared a video from their Youth Summer

Career Camp. Mr. Cash provided program information. Ms. Holliday and Ms. Bolte provided Grants updates. Ms.

Simmons provided the Business Services update.

CONSORTIUM BOARD MEMBERS TIME

Ms. Biggs thanked Board Staff for their diligence in providing updates and the time that was spent keeping

everyone in the loop.

NEXT MEETING

Ms. Holliday stated the next meeting would be in person at the Wytheville Meeting Center on September 15, 2021

at 10 am. She is hoping the Sunshine Laws will be revisited for meetings to allow online attendance and that

“hybrid meetings” would be allowed in the very near future. She is also looking to get rid of the Consortium Board

January and July meetings. Ms. Holliday then reminded the Board members in attendance to complete their

Travel Documents for processing.

ADJOURNMENT With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 11:21 am.

Respectfully Submitted,

Beverly Suthers,

Workforce Operations Coordinator

Operational Summary July 31, 2021

FINANCIALS PY19 Funds was closed effective May 31, 2021 with the following results:

Measure Requirement % % Achieved

Adult/DLW Training Expenditure rate 40% 43.6% Youth Work Experience Expenditure 20% 20.8%

Out-of-School Youth Served 75% 87.7% Effective May 31, 2021, all PY19 funds have been expended with the following PY20 Funds expended:

PY20 Funds Adult DLW Youth

Total Funds Expended 27% 59% 29%

SERVICE LEVELS Thru July 31, 2021, our Program Operators have met the following service levels of planned PY21 enrollments for the 1st quarter of the program year:

Funding – Program Operator Plan Actual % of Plan

In Training

DLW – People Incorporated Co-enrolled with TAA - 7

95

79

83%

17

Adult People Incorporated Goodwill Industries

Total Adult

92 51

143

113 41

150

123% 80%

43 18 56

Youth People Incorporated Goodwill Industries

Total Youth

51 32 83

42 14 54

82% 44%

PERFORMANCE

Thru May 31, 2021, Program Operators have achieved the following performance levels: Exclusions:

1. Institutionalized

2. Health/Medical or Family Care

3. Deceased

4. Reserve Forces Called to Active Duty

5. Relocated to a Mandated Program

6. Invalid or Missing Social Security Number

Operator performance is in line with planned contract performance goals as well as negotiated Performance Measures. Technical assistance will be provided to Program Operators in all areas where program spending requirements are not being met in order to insure that all WIOA and State program spending requirements will be met or exceeded.

Funding Placement

Rate Avg Wage at Placement

Total Terminations

Attained Standard

Exclusion *

Attain Degree or Certificate

DLW 75% $17.65 8 6 6

ADULT People Incorporated Goodwill Industries

100%

0%

$15.00

$0

9 0

9 0

0

8

0%

YOUTH People Incorporated Goodwill Industries

100% 100%

$13.50 $ 9.50

1 9

1 2

1

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WIOA Administration FundsAvailable Funds

PY20 158,266 PY21 94,186

252,452$

ExpendituresPY20 Board/Fiscal Agent 110,347 PY21 Board/Fiscal Agent -

110,347$

142,105$

WIOA Adult Program FundsAvailable Funds

PY20 443,847 PY21 95,877

539,724$

ExpendituresPY20 321,530 PY21 -

321,530$

218,194$

WIOA DLW Program FundsAvailable Funds

PY20 438,815 PY21 90,938

529,753$

ExpendituresPY20 171,820 PY21

171,820$

Total Expenditures

Total Expenditures

New River/Mt Rogers Worforce Development BoardFinancial Report

Report Period: 07/01/21-07/30/21

Total Administrative Funds

Remaining Balance

Total Adult Funds

Remaining Balance

Total Expenditures

Total DLW Funds

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Report Period: 07/01/21-07/30/21357,933$

WIOA Youth Program FundsAvailable Funds

PY20 541,735 PY21 660,855

1,202,590$

ExpendituresPY20 174,481 PY21

174,481$

1,028,109$

Security Support - One StopAvailable Funds

Obligated 56,448$

ExpendituresBoard 31,696

31,696$

24,752$

COVID Recovery Mount Rogers/New River ValleyAvailable Funds

New River Valley 10,000 Mount Rogers 5,000

15,000$

ExpendituresBoard -

-$

15,000$

Remaining Balance

Total Expenditures

Remaining Balance

Total Expenditures

Remaining Balance

Total Expenditures

Remaining Balance

Total COVID Recovery Funds

Total Youth Funds

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Report Period: 07/01/21-07/30/21COVID19 - One-Stop Operator Funds

Available FundsObligated 52,926$

ExpendituresBoard 12,699

12,699$

40,227$ Remaining Balance

Total Expenditures

Executive Summary – September 15, 2021 Staff Activities

System Building/Backbone Organization Support o Accountable Care Community (SWVA and NE TN) https://www.strongacc.org/

ACC Leadership Committee Team ACC Data Dashboard Working Group Chair

o Go Virginia

Member of Region 1 Advanced Manufacturing Committee Member of Region 2 Workforce Committee

o Ongoing:

POWER Recovery Ready Eco-system lead Work Ready Community Steering Team and regional lead Continued support of all four, and leadership of one, Business Solution Units Montgomery Chamber of Commerce Education and Talent Committee Member NRV Regional Commission and MR Planning District CEDS committee Career & Technical Education Advisory Board member: Bland, Carroll, Giles, Montgomery,

Pulaski and Washington Counties and Cities of Bristol and Radford and Blue Ridge Job Corp

Community Outreach o Senator Kaine’s visit to Floyd VA & Habitat Ground Breaking 8/26/21 o Podcast on Recovery Ready Eco-system o Various Facebook Postings o National Night Out Marion (Liz and Angi) 8/3/21 o National Night Out Chilhowie (Kathy and Renee) 8/3/21 o Virginia Highlands Orientation (Liz and Kathy) 8/24/21 o Virginia Highlands Orientation (Kathy and Angi) 8/26/21 o Woodrow Wilson Rehab with Martin Kurylowski (Liz and Kathy) 9/1/21 o Career Connection Workshop at Virginia Highlands Community College (Kathy) 9/8/21

Business Engagement/Outreach o Business Roundtable with Senator Kaine 9/1/21 o Manufacturer’s Expo – 9/2/21 o Layoff assistance as needed o Recruitment Activities for those that request

COVID-19 o Separate page on Website o Weekly calls with Governor’s Office o State Workforce System Reopening/Recovery Planning o SWVA COVID-19 Advisory Council

And Case Management Committee

VBWD One-Stop Report

New River/Mt. Rogers Workforce Development Board

Wytheville One-Stop Campus and Affiliate Sites

Reporting Period: August 1, 2021 – August 31, 2021 (YTD)

In alignment with the balanced scorecard approach, each Local Workforce Development Board

will forward a quarterly report to the Virginia Board of Workforce Development to include:

Customer Service

Job seeker customer satisfaction survey results (% of respondents)

Very Satisfied – Satisfied – No customer satisfaction surveys for August 2021

Business customer satisfaction survey results (% of respondents)

Very Satisfied – Satisfied –

No business satisfaction surveys for August 2021

Operations

Number of new “participants” (job seeker customers) for the one-stop

Wytheville – 38 Radford – 81 Galax – 20 Bristol – 60

Number of hires attributed to the One-Stop Center Wytheville – 0 Radford – 0 Galax – 0 Bristol – 0

Number of training activities completed 18

Number of workforce credentials attained 15 - 83% of individuals trained attained a credential

Number of new employers registered in Virginia Workforce Connection (VWC)

Wytheville – 5

Radford – 5

Galax – 2

Bristol – 5

Number of new job orders entered into VWC Wytheville – 364

Radford – 863 Galax – 136 Bristol – 165

Number of services to employers in VWC Wytheville – 1564 Radford – 1157 Galax – 527 Bristol – 269

Number of job seekers registered in VWC Wytheville – 8,090 Radford – 11,753 Galax – 7,694 Bristol – 17,522

Number of employers served by One Stop (An employer “served” is one who had a defined workforce need and received a solution developed by one or more One-Stop Partners.)

Wytheville – 143

Radford – 101

Galax – 83

Bristol – 64

Resource Management

Narrative which describes adherence to the Resource Management Plan arrangement

Memorandum of Understanding and partner resource sharing meetings are being held. Partner meetings are held regularly to exchange information:

- 08/05/2021 Partner Meeting Galax – Remote work update between partners – 8 in attendance

- 07/13/2021 – Regional partner update

Business Services Units in Abingdon, Wytheville, Galax, and Radford continue to be active and participate in sponsored activities across the region.

- Regional Business Service Teams are meeting virtually - Regional Business Service activities include:

o Incumbent worker training projects o On-site job fairs by individual company

request o Workforce Exchange Virtual Meetings o Job Fair Planning – Wytheville

Professional Development

List of professional development and other activities completed

Professional and other activities completed by staff include:

** Indicates due to COVID-19

*** TAA Certified

Note this is not a comprehensive list, Rapid Response staff is responding as we are notified and providing services remotely when possible.

Company Event Affected

Employees

***Bristol Herald

Courier, Bristol

Layoff 2

***SWVA Today,

Wytheville

Layoff 1

Counts Drug Store(s)

Bland, Fort Chiswell,

Wytheville

Closure 10+

Staff Development: Professional Development Completed by Center staff

include: o Workforce Services Training o Employer Legal Compliance Update o Trauma Informed Care Training

The WDB continues to provide professional development opportunities for staff and partners.

o Career Lattices – August, 2021 o Regional IRT discussion o Streamlining paperwork work-group

Centers are open by appointment only. Customers are being served virtually via phone, email, text, other messaging, and via virtual meeting spaces.

Number of frontline staff trained and certified in compliance with State policy

20 total – Staff are renewing certifications as required

WIOA Area 2 Success Story-Tanya Martin

Tanya Martin was referred to the WIOA Adult program by Charlie

Mullins with the Giles County Drug Recovery Program. Tanya,

who is an offender, needed assistance with job skills to be

successful and marketable in the workplace. Additionally, she had

lost her license, and transportation to work was a barrier for her.

Our case manager in Giles County, Sue Johnson, determined that

Tanya was eligible and a suitable candidate for enrollment into

WIOA Adult program. Career and educational assessments were

given, and the results discussed with Ms. Martin. Another barrier

to employment was discussed when her TABE assessment

revealed that she is basic skills deficient in her math skills.

Together with the WIOA case manager, an Individualized

Employment Plan was written to address ways WIOA would help

her to become employed.

She was referred to our Adult Education partners to address her

academic needs, which she declined since she felt it was

necessary to put her efforts into finding and keeping a full-time

job. Her transportation barrier limited her employment opportunities to employers within walking

distance to her home. Fortunately, Sue, her WIOA case manager, learned that Giles County

Administration needed Covid Screeners for the County, and she contacted Giles County and arranged for

a 240-hour Work Experience for Tanya at the county offices in Pearisburg.

Her attendance, performance and attitude was exceptional as reported by her worksite supervisor.

Additional custodial responsibilities were added to her job duties during her Work Experience, and

Tanya maintained excellent communication with the WIOA office throughout the program. After

completing 240 hours of her Work Experience, she was well-trained and ready. She was hired, and

remains happily employed there currently, although she does have a dream of opening her own beauty

salon one day.

This opportunity came about because community partners recognized her value, even as an offender,

and she seized on the chance at redemption. She is a great example of how WIOA can partner with local

law enforcement to produce positive solutions for communities. She is appreciative of all involved in

her transformation, and says, “Over a year ago I was strung out on dope, homeless, unemployable, and

hopeless. I had nothing to offer to anyone, not even myself. Now, I am well over one year clean. I have

a job, my own apartment, hope, self-respect, a heart full of gratitude, and I am rebuilding relationships

with my family and my children.” She goes on to thank the law enforcement officers, the court system,

the recovery court panel, the WIOA program, and her family and friends that all believed in her and

helped her to be where she is today. She offers encouragement to others that face addiction to seek

out recovery. She says, “There is hope. You can have a better life and you deserve it. Find recovery and

save yourself because you are worth it.”

1Tanya Martin, Covid-19 Screener

August 2021 WIOA Adults/Youth Program Updates

Total WIOA Participants

14 Youth and 39 Adults were carryovers from last year. One new Adult enrollment was

added in August, bringing our current yearly numbers to 13 Youth and 41 Adults enrolled.

In Training

21 Adults and four Out of School youth are currently in training.

Work Experiences/Internships

Two Youth are currently in work experiences.

Placements

We had no placements in August. For the current year, we have exited one Youth as working.

Credentials/Measurable Skills Gain

Currently, we have recorded Measurable Skills Gains for One Adult participant.

Placed in Employment: 16

Average Wage: $15.38

July 1, 2021—August 31, 2021

WIOA Outcomes

Total Participants: 234 New Enrollments: 30

Credentials Attained: 15Currently in Training: 60

Enrolled in Work Experience: 12

Virginia Career Works New River|Mount Rogers Region

Business Engagement – August 2021

Recruitment Assistance Job Fairs and Recruiting Events

Volvo Trucks – Assisted company with an in-person interview events on 8/4 (65 applicants), 8/17 (84 applicants), 8/21 (53 applicants) and 8/27 (73 applicants). Assisted with planning, outreach and day-of coordination.

Grayson Natural Farms – Assisted company with an in-person interview event on 8/3. Assisted with planning, outreach and day-of coordination.

Community Housing Partners – Assisted company with an in-person interview event on 8/21. Assisted with planning, outreach and day-of coordination.

Tenneco – Assisted company with an in-person interview event on 8/26. Assisted with planning, outreach and day-of coordination.

Assisted Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce with the planning and implementation of the jo fair portion of their Business Expo on 8/12.

Worked with SVAM to help regional manufacturers plan and execute on-site job fairs: Scholle IPN.

Assisted Pulaski on Main and the Radford VEC office with outreach for the Pulaski Job Fair on 9/9.

Worked with Workforce Partners on planning and outreach for the “Moving SWVA Forward Job Fair” in Wytheville on 9/16.

Assisted multiple companies with outreach for their current open positions and on-site recruiting events.

Worked with multiple companies on outreach about their recruiting efforts including our new “Workforce Wednesday” FaceBook campaign: Building Bridges Child Development Center, Coperion, Highland Community Services and Insteel Wire Products.

Assisted Pyrotechiques by Grucci with locating space to hold job interviews.

Workforce Information/Consulting Workforce Services Conversations

Thomas Industrial Fabricators: Referred to NRCC for information about customized training.

MicroXact: Shared information and answered questions about the Return to Earn Grant program

Working with NRCC and Pulaski County Schools to develop a custom training for Finish Painters (also working with Volvo Trucks and Fontaine Modification)

Assisted Joint IDA of Wythe County with outreach for the Employer Legal Update. Over 20 companies and organizations participated.

Training Incumbent Worker Training

Hansen Turbine Assemblies: training for 1 employee on use and maintenance of Haas Machinery

Tentative Projects with: o Crenshaw Lighting o Wolf Hills Fabricators o Ozmo o Modea

o Somic America o Spectrum Brands

Other

Participated in the Wythe/Bland BSU meeting

Participated in the NRV BSU meeting

Participated in multiple virtual meetings with TransfrVR about use of our VR headsets

Participated in multiple meetings about using LinkedIn Learning with our WIOA participants (including incumbents)

Participated in a Workforce Partners meeting

Attended an Economic Development Announcement in Smyth County – Expansion of Woodgrain Millwork

Participated in the training on Using Career Lattices

Sep

tem

ber

20

21

Pathways to the American Dream (U.S. DOL)

Year 5 - Enrollment: 1,386

Completed Training: 1,318

Credentials Earned: 1,317

Employment: 1,175

Median wage: $23.80

D I S C R E T I O N A R YG R A N T S

Pathways to a Strong and Healthy Region (ARC POWER)Enrolled-48

Peer Recovery-30

Job Seekers-2

Practitioners-8

Individuals in Recovery/Training-10

Completed Training-9

Earned Credentials-9

Employed-8

YouthBuild Construction Plus (US DOL)Program will begin October 11.

RSVP 2021-2022 (VCCS/VDSS)Due to funding issues, the project is still on hold.

I wasn’t raised by abusive parents or addicts. My biologicalfather was an alcoholic, but I wasn't around him to be influencedenough for my issues in life. I smoked my first joint when I wasprobably 14, and soon thereafter I also experienced getting highon cocaine. At the time I was already smoking cigarettes. Soyou can say I wasn’t making the best choices right off the jump.I graduated high school with decent grades in 1999 and plannedto start college at VHCC, but by this time, I startedexperimenting with meth. I was loving life with this new foundgo-fast that I thought was way better than cocaine or pot. I couldget so much done. Or so I thought. I was missing too muchschool, so I decided to take a small break that lasted longerthan planned. Back then I didn’t know that I was on my way tofinding out what living off the streets meant. Going on drug runs,I never realized I would be that one driving across state lineshigh on the drugs I was picking up, thinking I was ten feet talland bulletproof. I hit several bottoms in the 20 years of myactive addiction, but I thank God every day that I had a familythat would pull me out every time. With the incredible supportsystem I had, my family never did give up on me even when

Our Numbers Tell a Story

Candace

there were times I felt they should have. I’ve dated losers along the way, guys that would do nothing but sitaround using drugs all day. I dated one of those losers for ten years. That's when I got introduced to pain pills,Xanax, and law enforcement. I was indicted for possession of cocaine. I couldn’t find any meth, so, notsatisfied with not having anything, I bought the only thing that I could get my hands on that night. That's how Iwas. I would use anything to catch a buzz. Once I found pain pills and benzos this became my drug of choice. It was a revolving door when it came to the system in and out of jail burning all bridges I could burn down atthe time, hurting the ones in my way. Xanax should have a picture of me in handcuffs as one of the sideeffects. When I was facing some jail time again, I decided to try to get help, so I went to Mt. Rogers and theyTDO (temporary detention order) me to the Galax treatment center. They released me in 72 hours, but while Iwas there, they gave me methadone. When I was released, I was out looking again. I like to think that therewas something inside of me that wanted help and I just didn't know how to get it or who to actually talk to thatwouldn’t turn me into the police. The guy I was seeing finally got locked up, and my parents talked me intocoming home. By this time I was about 34. I continued with my drug use at their house, finding a meth dealer,living it up. I then began supporting my habit like a real gangster. I could get as much as I wanted. This iswhen I feel I picked up the addiction of the lifestyle of selling.

In May of 2015, I found out I was pregnant, but that didn’t stop me—even though it should have. The addictionhad taken over me. I got in trouble while pregnant and was arrested for possession with intent. I was releasedon bond to her father who also was another support system who came into my life as a blessing. Now I waslooking at jail time and for help about my drug use. I didn’t want to lose my baby, but I just didn’t know how tostop. My doctor prescribed subutex, and my baby girl was born healthy in January of 2016. Right after givingbirth to her, though, I got into trouble again. This time I picked up another possession with intent, and I didn’tget a bond this time. Thank God for my support system because my baby was well taken care of. They neverdid try to take her from me. That was a blessing.

I spent two years and two months in prison. God was saving my life because I could have pulled way moretime then I got. God will set you down to get your attention if he has to. While locked up, I read a lot of self-help books that got me through the rough times. The guy I was with waited for me to get out, and I becamepregnant a month later with my son. In March 2019 after giving birth through a cesarean, I got a prescriptionof percocets, and it was a downhill battle from there. Thinking I had control of my drug addiction, I found out Iwas totally wrong. A few months from that point, I lost my job and went back to doing what I knew all toowell. To support my $200 a day pain pill habit, I thought I had to start that lifestyle back up with meth, but Ialso started using it again. This party wouldn’t last that long. It soon came to a halt in January 2020 with aknock at the door. I answered my door to the Smyth County search and seize team. Someone dropped myname that I was selling. I was a felon with no fourth amendment right, and they had all rights to come in.Feeling pretty blessed that I came out with just a possession charge of meth, I got off lucky. Now the law hasbecome a big motivator when it comes to my recovery. I was on pretrial and this is where I decided to goback to the Galax Treatment Center. I completed the 45 day program and came home where I got into theoutpatient treatment program at Mt. Roger’s Crisis Building. My Goal was to get into the recovery courtprogram because I knew this was going to be hard to do for someone with my record. But I am living proofthat if the right person sees you are doing right and trying to make a change for the good, the word can getaround. My life was on the right track and then the Coordinator of Smyth County Recovery Court gave meJason Pritchard’s information. She thought it would be a great idea for me to go through the Peer SupportTraining.

I wanted to be a Peer Recovery Specialist because in my journey, I noticed that everyone didn’t have thesupport system that I had. This saddened me. I feel that everyone in addiction needs support, and I wantedto help those lacking in that area. I like to think God worked a miracle but maybe I did. I’ve changed so muchand have been nothing but blessed in my recovery. I had to be doing something right.

Working on peer training also was working on my recovery—holding others accountable for their recoverywhile they are holding me accountable for mine. Would I go back to that life? Not with what I know now. Iwouldn’t sacrifice my kids for one day in jail, but in active addiction who knows what I might have done. I lovethem with all my heart, but that world can take over your whole mind and body. But there are passagewaysout, and I am living proof. With a strong mind and my higher power at work, I am here on the outside tospread the message of recovery to the still suffering addict. Now, I am going back to school after 20 years ofactive addiction under my belt, and I know what my higher power put me here to do. But I wouldn’trecommend getting here the way I did.

2021 Consortium Board Meeting Schedule

January 20, 2021

March 17, 2021

May 19, 2021

July 21, 2021

September 15, 2021

December 1, 2021 (Joint with WDB)

All meetings will be held on the third Wednesday* of alternating months at the Wytheville Meeting Center beginning at 10:00 a.m.

*No meeting in November due to the Joint Meeting with the WDB in December