Bill O'Dell

May 11, 2010

As the demand for social services and quality-of-life issues claim a growing part of public attention, local agencies are closing ranks to meet the challenges head on.

And leading the charge -- for 14 years now -- is Bill O'Dell, a Community Resource Specialist with the WV Prevention Resource Center.

O'Dell is one of 16 specialists in four state regions representing the workforce for the WV Partnership to Promote Community Well-Being, created by the Governor in 2004 for substance abuse prevention.

In working with most community problems, "teen pregnancy, violence, homelessness -- we're still working with substance abuse," O'Dell told Putnam Rotarians today.

"Years ago, we thought that if we had information, that was enough. We would go into classrooms, put on health fairs -- and we still do those those one-shot deals.

"But that needs to be part of a larger plan, an 'environmental strategy'.

"If a child knows he's going to get into trouble for buying cigarettes or alcohol, he won't do it. And if a store knows they're going to get into trouble, they won't [sell to children]. If nobody is looking, they're going to sell -- and they're going to buy."

Once O'Dell spoke to any group which wanted information. "Now," he says, "I speak to groups about spreading information to other groups."

Bill O'Dell chats with (l to r) tom Moore (State Farm), O'Dell, Wes Crist (BB&T) and Greg Eiler (CIS Internet).

Groups are working together, says O'Dell. The Family Resource Network is growing in Putnam County."We meet monthly at Teays Physical Therapy Center (second Fridays at 10:00). We have subcommittees like Putnam on Wellness.

One Wellness strategy seeks to discourage smoking: "Dog Dare Ya!" -- Check whether store clerks "card" for tobacco purchases. "Double Dog Dare Ya!" -- If you do smoke, smoke outdoors where others are less likely to enhale your secondhand smoke. "Triple Dog Dare Ya!" -- Assistance is offered to breaking the smoking habit.

In addition to O'Dell's group, the Putnam Family Resource Network includes representatives from the Department of Health and Human Resources, Automated Health Systems, My Family Day Care and Preschool, the Wellness Council of West Virginia, WVU Extension Family Nutrition Program, and the Girl Scouts Black Diamond Council.

A "drug summit" in the county last October included representatives of the Sheriff's Office, Parents Against Addiction, Putnam County Schools, the Youth Wellness, the Regional Family Resource Network, Drug Endangered Children and Putnam Up & Moving.

Funding is available in amounts of $150,000 a year for five years to combat substance abuse, O'Dell explained. The application must come from a coalition of at least twelve community groups, who have been working cooperatively for at least six months. The program must have a "youth focus," must include alcohol abuse control, and track tobacco use and marijuana.

"Could Putnam Rotary be included?" someone asked.

"Yes," said O'Dell.