Latest news with #Riffee
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Morgantown to implement alternative sentencing program for camping ban
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Morgantown's camping ban has been a hot topic among the community over the past few months, as concerned citizens feared the policy would hinder its homeless population rather than help it. However, the city has announced that it will be taking a different approach to those who violate the ban. In a press release earlier this week, the City of Morgantown announced that it would implement an alternative sentencing for those who violate its camping ban. This comes after the vote to repeal Morgantown's camping ban failed in this year's municipal election. The sentencing comes to fruition through a partnership with Valley HeathCare Systems, which has seen its LEAD Program reach a 60% success rate in its first year. The press release outlined the specifics of the sentencing under the ordinance: A first violation results in a written warning and information about available shelter and services, both locally and regionally. A second violation may result in a fine of up to $200 and information about available shelter and services. A third violation within 12 months may result in a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in jail, along with information about available shelter and services and alternative sentencing options. Clarksburg labor union to pay nearly $270k to settle federal PPP claims 12 News spoke with Morgantown's Director of Public Relations and Communications, Brad Riffee, on why the city chose to create this sort of sentencing. 'There's a balance between compliance and compassion, right? We want to make sure that we're offering the best solutions to meet the needs for our citizens, and we believe that at the end of the day, that's a very important part of how we engage and operate in the community,' Riffee said. 12 News also spoke with Steve Bennett, Director of LEAD and Crisis Services within Valley HealthCare, about what the program offers those who volunteer for it. 'Anyone who is seeking diversion voluntarily that might want treatment for substance use, mental health, or any other case management services can ask for services through us, we can help them, hook them up with the right program, and get them the help that they need,' Bennett said. The alternative sentencing partnership will begin on June 4, 2025. You can read more about the sentencing in Morgantown's press release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Dominion Post
5 days ago
- Health
- Dominion Post
City brings in Valley HealthCare for camping ban sentencing program
Morgantown City Hall MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown is finalizing the implementation of Ordinance No. 2024–29, which establishes Article 1157 of the City Code, titled 'Camping on Public Property.' The ordinance makes camping on public property unlawful and outlines citable offenses while prioritizing service-oriented responses for citizens in violation of the ordinance. Beginning June 4, the city will launch an alternative sentencing program in partnership with Valley HealthCare Systems, a local provider specializing in mental health, substance use treatment, housing services, and case management. For decades, the organization has served West Virginia, and it is now a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in accordance with federal law. Serving as a third-party provider contracted by the city, Valley HealthCare Systems will conduct assessments and guide individuals toward support systems that address housing instability and offer recovery options. Their expertise and already established working relationships with community and regional service providers will enable the identification of additional service opportunities as well. Through this partnership, the city will be advised on best practices in connecting citizens in need of help with substance abuse, mental health, or case management to return to stable housing. The organization will also help define the requirements for successfully completing alternative sentencing under the ordinance. The initiative aims to address one of the most complex social crises facing Morgantown by offering accountability and opportunity through evidence-based programing. Brad Riffee, Public Relations and Communications Director for the City of Morgantown, emphasized the city's dedication to upholding local laws and regulations. 'City staff and administration are committed to enforcing all local provisions, laws, and ordinances with fairness and objectivity,' Riffee said. 'Our responsibility is to apply these regulations as written, ensuring accountability while always acting in the best interest of the entire community. We will always strive to balance compliance with compassion and any strategy we follow will reflect a model that offers consideration to all citizens.' The program will adopt a model similar to the West Virginia Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (WV LEAD) Program. LEAD is a pre-booking diversion program that allows law enforcement to redirect individuals engaged in low-level offenses, often related to substance use or mental health challenges, away from the criminal justice system and into treatment and recovery services. The city hopes to incorporate elements of this model to offer the best alternative sentencing options to its citizens. Steve Bennett, Director of the LEAD Program and Crisis Services and the primary point of contact for Valley HealthCare Systems, reported that the program had a 60% success rate in the region in its first year. 'We're proud to partner with the city of Morgantown to help develop meaningful alternatives for individuals cited under the new ordinance or anyone for that matter,' Bennett said. 'By connecting people to housing, treatment, and long-term support, especially those struggling with substance use disorders, we can reduce repeated offenses, improve public safety, and offer individuals a real path toward stability and recovery.' The goals of the LEAD program include: – Saving lives by returning citizens to a more stable lifestyle – Decreasing recidivism – Providing better access to mental health services and housing options – Improving community and police relations – Reducing opioid overdose deaths by connecting citizens to treatment facilities Individuals cited for violating Article 1157 are eligible for alternative sentencing if they seek assistance with substance use, mental health, or housing-related case management. Valley HealthCare Systems will assist in developing and managing the alternative sentencing program. Under the ordinance: – A first violation results in a written warning and information about available shelter and services, both locally and regionally. – A second violation may result in a fine of up to $200 and information about available shelter and services. – A third violation within 12 months may result in a fine of up to $500 and/or up to 30 days in jail, along with information about available shelter and services and alternative sentencing options. Each day a violation continues is considered a separate offense. No citation or penalty will be issued unless the individual has been offered alternative shelter and has refused it. In a statement, Morgantown Chief of Police Eric Powell noted that this ordinance does not alter how city departments or officials interact with the public or individuals who are currently unsheltered. 'Morgantown remains committed to compassionate engagement, connecting individuals with treatment programs, housing services, and healthcare resources,' Powell said. 'For over two years, the city has employed a full-time social worker who supports our law enforcement officers in providing direct assistance to individuals in need. In partnership with the Morgantown Police Department (MPD), the city plans to hire two additional peer recovery specialists or case managers to expand intervention and follow-up services.' Powell continued to share additional thoughts about what he calls a service-driven approach to public safety. 'By prioritizing appropriate responses and resource accessibility through real collaborative partnerships like the one we are implementing, we can create lasting positive change while maintaining public safety,' Powell added. 'At the end of the day this is our goal. We care about everyone.' MPD's Police Social Worker, Kelly Rice, LICSW, was hired in 2023 to provide direct service and outreach to individuals who are facing crisis. Rice is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with citizens who need mental health treatment, housing coordination, domestic violence support services, substance use disorder treatment, and trauma informed care. She also has significant experience with victim impact and crisis intervention. Since the beginning of the year, Rice has responded to more than 180 service calls with MPD. In 2025 alone, she has made 17 shelter referrals, coordinated more than 36 responses to mental health and treatment calls, completed seven disability assessments for the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (WVCEH), assisted in six mental hygiene hearings, and reported to Child Protective Services (CPS). 'When people wake up in the morning, they don't say, 'Hey, I think it's a good idea to be unsheltered or develop substance use disorders,'' Rice said. 'Street outreach has taught me that hundreds of factors can contribute to why an individual might be living outside. These added resources to the department and other meaningful partnerships will only strengthen our mission to get people to a safer and healthier place.' The city is in the process of posting signage in prominent locations that will help direct citizens to the appropriate contacts if they are actively living outside. Using the city's Pathways to Help platform, the municipality hopes to guide citizens to resources they can utilize to obtain help. The goal of Pathways to Help is to provide assistance to those in hardship by connecting individuals with essential resources that will meet their needs or the needs of others. By utilizing services like West Virginia 211 (WV 211) to link members of the community with local providers that offer lifesaving and life-changing services in Morgantown and across the state, citizens are more likely to receive help that meets their specific needs promptly, reduces barriers to access, and improves their overall well-being and stability. Other local agencies providing assistance to those in hardship include Catholic Charities, Lauren's Wish, Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC), Project Rainbow, The Salvation Army, Christian Help, and many others. Community members can inquire about shelter services by contacting Grace Shelter at 681-867-1002. In the event of an emergency, always remember to call 911. For non-emergency related issues, call 304-599-6382.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
City brings in Valley HealthCare for camping ban sentencing program
May 27—MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown is finalizing the implementation of Ordinance No. 2024 — 29, which establishes Article 1157 of the City Code, titled "Camping on Public Property." The ordinance makes camping on public property unlawful and outlines citable offenses while prioritizing service-oriented responses for citizens in violation of the ordinance. Beginning June 4, the city will launch an alternative sentencing program in partnership with Valley HealthCare Systems, a local provider specializing in mental health, substance use treatment, housing services, and case management. For decades, the organization has served West Virginia, and it is now a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in accordance with federal law. Serving as a third-party provider contracted by the city, Valley HealthCare Systems will conduct assessments and guide individuals toward support systems that address housing instability and offer recovery options. Their expertise and already established working relationships with community and regional service providers will enable the identification of additional service opportunities as well. Through this partnership, the city will be advised on best practices in connecting citizens in need of help with substance abuse, mental health, or case management to return to stable housing. The organization will also help define the requirements for successfully completing alternative sentencing under the ordinance. The initiative aims to address one of the most complex social crises facing Morgantown by offering accountability and opportunity through evidence-based programing. Brad Riffee, Public Relations and Communications Director for the City of Morgantown, emphasized the city's dedication to upholding local laws and regulations. "City staff and administration are committed to enforcing all local provisions, laws, and ordinances with fairness and objectivity, " Riffee said. "Our responsibility is to apply these regulations as written, ensuring accountability while always acting in the best interest of the entire community. We will always strive to balance compliance with compassion and any strategy we follow will reflect a model that offers consideration to all citizens." The program will adopt a model similar to the West Virginia Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (WV LEAD) Program. LEAD is a pre-booking diversion program that allows law enforcement to redirect individuals engaged in low-level offenses, often related to substance use or mental health challenges, away from the criminal justice system and into treatment and recovery services. The city hopes to incorporate elements of this model to offer the best alternative sentencing options to its citizens. Steve Bennett, Director of the LEAD Program and Crisis Services and the primary point of contact for Valley HealthCare Systems, reported that the program had a 60 % success rate in the region in its first year. "We're proud to partner with the city of Morgantown to help develop meaningful alternatives for individuals cited under the new ordinance or anyone for that matter, " Bennett said. "By connecting people to housing, treatment, and long-term support, especially those struggling with substance use disorders, we can reduce repeated offenses, improve public safety, and offer individuals a real path toward stability and recovery." The goals of the LEAD program include: — Saving lives by returning citizens to a more stable lifestyle — Decreasing recidivism — Providing better access to mental health services and housing options — Improving community and police relations — Reducing opioid overdose deaths by connecting citizens to treatment facilities Individuals cited for violating Article 1157 are eligible for alternative sentencing if they seek assistance with substance use, mental health, or housing-related case management. Valley HealthCare Systems will assist in developing and managing the alternative sentencing program. Under the ordinance: — A first violation results in a written warning and information about available shelter and services, both locally and regionally. — A second violation may result in a fine of up to $200 and information about available shelter and services. — A third violation within 12 months may result in a fine of up to $500 and /or up to 30 days in jail, along with information about available shelter and services and alternative sentencing options. Each day a violation continues is considered a separate offense. No citation or penalty will be issued unless the individual has been offered alternative shelter and has refused it. In a statement, Morgantown Chief of Police Eric Powell noted that this ordinance does not alter how city departments or officials interact with the public or individuals who are currently unsheltered. "Morgantown remains committed to compassionate engagement, connecting individuals with treatment programs, housing services, and healthcare resources, " Powell said. "For over two years, the city has employed a full-time social worker who supports our law enforcement officers in providing direct assistance to individuals in need. In partnership with the Morgantown Police Department (MPD), the city plans to hire two additional peer recovery specialists or case managers to expand intervention and follow-up services." Powell continued to share additional thoughts about what he calls a service-driven approach to public safety. "By prioritizing appropriate responses and resource accessibility through real collaborative partnerships like the one we are implementing, we can create lasting positive change while maintaining public safety, " Powell added. "At the end of the day this is our goal. We care about everyone." MPD's Police Social Worker, Kelly Rice, LICSW, was hired in 2023 to provide direct service and outreach to individuals who are facing crisis. Rice is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in working with citizens who need mental health treatment, housing coordination, domestic violence support services, substance use disorder treatment, and trauma informed care. She also has significant experience with victim impact and crisis intervention. Since the beginning of the year, Rice has responded to more than 180 service calls with MPD. In 2025 alone, she has made 17 shelter referrals, coordinated more than 36 responses to mental health and treatment calls, completed seven disability assessments for the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (WVCEH), assisted in six mental hygiene hearings, and reported to Child Protective Services (CPS). "When people wake up in the morning, they don't say, 'Hey, I think it's a good idea to be unsheltered or develop substance use disorders, '" Rice said. "Street outreach has taught me that hundreds of factors can contribute to why an individual might be living outside. These added resources to the department and other meaningful partnerships will only strengthen our mission to get people to a safer and healthier place." The city is in the process of posting signage in prominent locations that will help direct citizens to the appropriate contacts if they are actively living outside. Using the city's Pathways to Help platform, the municipality hopes to guide citizens to resources they can utilize to obtain help. The goal of Pathways to Help is to provide assistance to those in hardship by connecting individuals with essential resources that will meet their needs or the needs of others. By utilizing services like West Virginia 211 (WV 211) to link members of the community with local providers that offer lifesaving and life-changing services in Morgantown and across the state, citizens are more likely to receive help that meets their specific needs promptly, reduces barriers to access, and improves their overall well-being and stability. Other local agencies providing assistance to those in hardship include Catholic Charities, Lauren's Wish, Rape & Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC), Project Rainbow, The Salvation Army, Christian Help, and many others. Community members can inquire about shelter services by contacting Grace Shelter at 681-867-1002. In the event of an emergency, always remember to call 911. For non-emergency related issues, call 304-599-6382.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Morgantown to consider municipal identification program
Mar. 26—MORGANTOWN — Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffee stood before Morgantown City Council Tuesday evening and laid out the concept behind what he believes would be the first municipal identification program in the state of West Virginia. Based on the initial reaction, it appears council is interested in taking a closer look. While no details have been finalized, potential perks of the ID could include easier access and interactions with city services and personnel, access to bus and library services, discounts at participating city businesses, and even access to checking and savings accounts. Initial thoughts are the cards could be offered to residents starting at 14 years of age and include information like veteran status, donor status and allergies. Riffee said receiving an ID card would require a fee as well as multiple points of proof establishing both the individual's identification and residency in the city. However, the city could set up a mechanism through which the fee could be waived. Further, the list of identification accepted would be expanded beyond state and federal requirements to include things like registry in the Homeless Management Information System, or HMIS. "We've made it to where ; while we acknowledge that we need a process and we need to make sure we're collecting the right documents, we also don't want to create any more barriers, " Riffee said. "So, we've included pieces of information that we could use and verify as a municipality to help individuals who are in an unhoused situation." "Barrier " is a word that came up more than once during the discussion. While Riffee reiterated his belief that the program would ultimately be beneficial to all city residents, it was noted that its origin dates back to a program pitched by Councilor Brian Butcher to help unhoused individuals get established. Butcher said this program won't be a magic bullet in those instances, but it would be a step in the right direction. "There's still going to be difficulty with certain people in terms of proving residency and stuff like that, but it's to try to lower the barriers a little bit, " Butcher said. "Some municipalities have used these sorts of systems as a low-level bank as well. That's something that obviously would require a lot more infrastructure, maybe many years down the road, but up to $200 in a bank card that somebody could have, and that could be really useful for people. I think even just having it as a bus pass or library card to get into any number of our municipal facilities would be great as well." Obviously, the cards could not be used as a driver's license or any other form of federal identification. Riffee said he pulled aspects of the proposal from various municipalities across the country and spoke to representatives from cities ranging in size from Madison, New Jersey, with a population of 17, 000 to Detroit, Michigan, with a residency north of 630, 000. He said the program could likely be launched for approximately $2, 000. Each photo identification card would cost the city approximately 33 cents to produce and could include watermarks and a holographic component similar to state IDs. Among the major questions to be answered is who on the city's end would be responsible for vetting identification sources and running the program. "I'd like to emphasize that the Morgantown Municipal ID benefits all residents, regardless of age. Whether someone is a longstanding citizen or a newcomer, this program is designed to enhance accessibility, " Riffee concluded.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Funding in place, work begins on Morgantown Public Works garage
Feb. 20—MORGANTOWN — In 2022, Morgantown City Council voted unanimously to convey ownership of city hall, the public works garage and Norwood fire station to the Morgantown Building Commission in exchange for the issuance of up to $7 million in lease revenue bonds. As was their stated purpose, those bonds have been used to finance a number of improvements to aging, and just plain old, city facilities. Most notably, the city cut ribbons in 2024 celebrating a $3.5 million overhaul of the 100-year-old city hall building as well as a $1.7 million expansion and renovation of the 76-year-old Morgantown Fire Department Station 2, in Norwood. Now the last of those dollars are ready to move. During its most recent regular meeting, council approved a budget amendment moving the remaining $1, 287, 733 from the building commission into the city's capital escrow account to be utilized for a long-overdue project addressing the city garage, located near the intersection of Green Bag Road and Mississippi Street That project will include the addition of a 774 square-foot office space as well as a new roof and siding. The upgrades will also address stormwater management systems, a new HVAC system and numerous electrical, mechanical and plumbing enhancements. "We've started the interior demo of the bathroom and office space. Also, they poured the foundation for the addition and started electrical upgrades, " Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffee said. Back in February 2022, internal estimates put the cost of the work at about $1.6 million. Both that number and the scope of the project have grown over time. When the project was initially bid, the city was looking to spend between $2 million and $2.5 million, but after three separate rounds of bidding, $3, 249, 277 was the best offer. Last November, the city entered into a contract with Veritas Contracting for that amount. In addition to the $1, 287, 733 in remaining bond revenue, the project will be funded utilizing $1 million from the city's capital escrow fund, $554, 868 in American Rescue Plan Act dollars, $310, 675 from the city's contingency fund and $96, 000 coming through a reimbursement for stormwater work from the Morgantown Utility Board. Riffee said substantial completion of the construction project is expected in nine months. The forthcoming West Virginia Division of Highways project to construct roundabouts on Green Bag Road — including at the intersection with Mississippi Street — is not expected to impact the project.
