BUCKHANNON – Mountain CAP of WV has a series of events coming up in January, including one focused on recovery resources, an LGBTQ support seminar and tax assistance.
Mountain CAP Family Support Center director Lisa VanNostrand said these events all take place at their Buckhannon office at 30 East Main Street.
“The first event we have coming up is the beginning of our Proud and Empowered group for LGBTQ+ adolescents and families,” VanNostrand said. “That is scheduled to start on Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. It’s actually a structured curriculum called Proud and Empowered, and it was designed to address behavioral health problems typical among the LGBTQ+ adolescent population.”
Community member Dannie Stiles is facilitating the group, and they have worked to make the program focused on families.
“It’s not just for youth; it’s more of a family-focused program versus just targeting the youth themselves,” VanNostrand said. “He has developed some supplemental materials for the parents so we can have a family-focused group.”
On Jan. 22 at 4:30 p.m., Mountain CAP has invited legal aid to do an expungement clinic for the community to review how to get criminal records expunged and the steps involved.
“On Jan. 27, we have Volunteer Income Tax Assistance representatives coming to offer tax assistance and help; they also offer budgeting,” VanNostrand said. “They will be here between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., offering free tax prep assistance to those who qualify.”
On Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon, Mountain CAP is starting a reoccurring collaboration with Our House Recovery Centers to offer a recovery resource workshop.
“We’re going to offer this event the fourth Thursday of every month,” she said. “This was spearheaded by the director of the Our House recovery centers. She will be offering Narcan training and Narcan distribution.”
The program will offer assistance to those already in recovery, as well as those taking the first steps.
“There will be recovery resources on site,” VanNostrand said. “There is transportation if someone walks in and is interested in getting into treatment immediately. Jobs and Hope will be here to offer their resources and explain their program or enroll persons who might be eligible, and then we’ll have information from other community recovery resources. It’s designed to target those needing recovery, but also for those already in recovery.”
Continuous programs at the Main Street location also include parenting classes, 24/7 dads classes, anger management classes, tutoring K-8, and English as a second language classes for the Spanish-speaking population in Upshur County.
“On Jan. 29 and 30, the Point in Time Count will happen, and that’s an annual effort led by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to estimate the number of Americans without housing,” VanNostrand said. “We will be providing hot meals to the homeless population in the community, as well as supplies and various things they need.”
