Media notes: Coalition study gets press attention

The results of the Community Needs Assessment commissioned in 2020 by Southside Wellness Coalition are getting noticed.

Recently, Lynchburg-based ABC affiliate WSET, featured Southside Wellness Coalition Chair Ann Bishop, who spoke about the rising rates of substance use in Southside. The story also mentioned issues surrounding kinship care.

See the whole report on WSET’s website: Southside experiencing rise in substance abuse amid pandemic

Research for the study was conducted by Dr. Sophie Wenzel, Associate Director of Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Health Practice and Research. Dr. Wenzel conducts community-engaged research throughout Southwest and Southside Virginia and beyond, with a focus on rural and health-disparate populations.

The goal of this effort is to help the coalition prioritize needs in the community as well as existing and needed resources that can be leveraged to reduce and prevent substance misuse in the counties of Brunswick, Halifax and Mecklenburg.

Fill out the form below to download the full study: