The mission of OMCFH is to provide leadership to support state and local efforts to design and build systems of care that assure the health and well-being of all West Virginians. Most OMCFH resources are allocated to develop systems of care for population-based and target-specific prevention services, as well as build infrastructure for support of maternal, child and family health populations. OMCFH maintains 145 staff in professional, technical and administrative support positions AND 22 temporary positions. In addition, the Office maintains five paid parent positions. Experiences gained from administrative oversight of varied grant requirements, program models, funding streams and data driven decision making, place OMCFH in a unique position to effectively design and deliver evidence-based MCH services.  Its leadership has over 32 years of combined experience in Title V specific roles.  The OMCFH uses a leadership team management approach with the Office Director, Division Directors and Quality Assurance Monitoring Director actively participating in decision-making and strategic planning. Below are brief biographical sketches of the Office Director, Senior Management, and key staff:

James Jeffries, MS-Title V  Office Director

Education:

Master of Science, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV, 2006

Bachelor’s Degree, Physical Education, WV Institute of Technology, Montgomery, WV, 1991

Professional:

Director, Division of Infant, Child and Adolescent Health Division Director,  Title V CSHCN Director, OMCFH/BPH (2013-2018)

Director, HealthCheck Program, OMCFH/BPH (2009-9/2013)

Director, Quality Assurance Monitoring, OMCFH/BPH (2008-2009)

Quality Assurance Monitor, OMCFH/BPH (1998-2008)

Kathryn G. Cummons, MSW, LICSW, ACSW-Director, Division of Research, Evaluation and Planning,

Education:

Master of Social Work, West Virginia University, 1988

Bachelor of Social Work, West Virginia University, 1974

Minors in Psychology and Speech

Professional:

Director, Division of Research, Evaluation and Planning, OMCFH/BPH (2000-Present)

Clinical Social Worker, Comprehensive Psychological Services (1999-2000)

Clinical Social Worker, Charleston Area Medical Center (1989-1990) and (1998-1999)

Director of Social Work Services and Discharge Planning, CAMC (1990-1998)

Administrator, Northern Tier Youth Services , Foster Care (1984-1989)

Supervisor, Lutheran Youth and Family Services, Residential Treatment (1981-1984)

Teresa Marks, BA – Title V CSHCN Director; Division of Infant, Child and Adolescent Health, Division Director (Interim)

Education:

Secondary Education, BA, Marshall University, 2001

Professional:

Director (Interim), Division of Infant, Child and Adolescent Health (2019-Present)

Director, Division of Perinatal and Women’s Health, Bureau for Public Health (2018-2019)

Program Director, West Virginia Oral Health Program, Bureau for Public Health (2014-2018)

Workforce Coordinator, West Virginia Oral Health Program, Bureau for Public Health (2013-2014)

Program Coordinator, West Virginia Asthma Education and Prevention Program, Bureau for Public Health (2012-2013)

Program Assistant, West Virginia Cardiovascular Health Program, Bureau for Public Health (2010-2012)

Director of Education, Sylvan Learning Center (2007-2008)

Service Coordinator, Autism Services Center (2006-2007)

Director of Education, Sylvan Learning Center (2003-2006)

Teacher, Chesapeake (Ohio) Union Exempted Village School District (2001-2003)

Cathy Capps-Amburgey, MA, LSW - Division of Perinatal and Women’s Health Director (Interim)

Education:

Master of Arts, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, 1984

Bachelor of Social Work, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY, May 1981

Professional:

Division of Perinatal and Women’s Health Director (Interim), OMCFH/BPH (2/2019-Present)

Director, Family Planning Program, OMCFH/BPH (6/2015-2/2019)

Healthy Living Director, YMCA of Kanawha Valley, (5/ 2013-June 2015)

Assistant Chief Privacy Officer, West Virginia Health Care Authority, (3/2010-4/2013)

Director, Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, OMCFH/BPH (6/2005-

3/2010)

Director of Social Services, Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, OMCFH/BPH (8/2003-6/2005)

Social Service Worker II, Children with Special Health Care Needs Program, OMCFH/BPH (7/2000-8/2003)

Alta Denise Smith, MS, MCHES-Director, Perinatal Projects

Education:

Master Degree in Community Health Education, West Virginia University, 1998

Bachelor Degree/Board of Regents, West Virginia State College, 1996

Associates of Science/Radiologic Technology, Morris Harvey College, Charleston, WV 1977

Professional:

Director, Perinatal Projects, OMCFH/BPH (2016 – Present)

Director, Division of Perinatal and Women’s Health, OMCFH/BPH (2011-2016)

Director, Family Planning Program, OMCFH/BPH (2006-2011)

Coordinator, Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, OMCFH/BPH (1999-2006)

Resources Specialist, Family Planning Program, OMCFH/BPH (1998-1999)

Radiologic Technologist, St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, WV (1997-1998)

Radiologic Technologist, CAMC Charleston, WV (1991-1997)

Radiologic Technologist, C-Radiation Therapy Consultants (1985-1991)

Melissa Baker, MA – MCH Epidemiologist, PI/Director PRAMS

Education:

Public Health Distance Education, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 1997/98

Master of Arts, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, 1989

Bachelor of Arts, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, 1987

Professional:

MCH Epidemiologist, PI/Director PRAMS, OMCFH/BPH (2002-Present)

PRAMS Coordinator, OMCFH/BPH (1996-2002)

Legislative Analyst, WV Legislature (1991-1996)

The Office participates in West Virginia’s civil service employment system that is governed by its Division of Personnel (DOP).  DOP works with agencies to establish, criteria for personnel classifications, develop registers of qualified applicants and assures that agencies follow established policies and procedures.  Recently, DOP has also been working with the Office to develop plans for the recruitment and retention of certain employment classifications including nurses and epidemiologists.  While the Office recruits its workforce from throughout the United States, it is difficult to retain employees that are not from West Virginia because of lower than average salaries.  As a result, retention efforts often focus on facilitating career goals, maintaining connections to family, and State benefits (including health insurance, generous leave policies, and an employer sponsored pension plan).     

In order to improve workforce capacity, OMCFH leadership actively participates in activities sponsored by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) including the annual conference, webinars and regional discussions. In addition, the Office Director has provided regular and ongoing updates regarding the Title V Block Grant during all staff meetings.

Staff also have the opportunity to participate in various Department of Health and Human Resources workgroups through the Secretary’s Health Innovation Collaborative, Leadership Institute, new manager Boot Camp, and the Bureau for Public Health’s Quality Improvement Initiative. In addition, the Bureau for Public Health’s Commissioner and State Health Officer, Catherine Slemp, requires participation by the Office Director in monthly Bureau level leadership team meetings.

The Office provides ongoing support for staff to attend professional development opportunities both in-state and out-of- state to assure the understanding and knowledge of evidence-based practice. These events support professional staff in maintaining necessary credentials related to their field. Opportunities include the Women’s Health Conference, Public Health Conference, KidStrong Conference, Celebrating Connections, Rural Health Conference, the State social worker conference, various National Program meetings and other local training programs.

Challenges have included state level hiring freezes and position sweeps.  This has made it more difficult to maintain an adequate workforce to implement the activities outlined in the State Action Plan and respond to the opioid crisis and other emerging issues.  Generally, federally funded positions have been exempt from these restrictions, so the Block Grant along with other federal funds enable WV to maintain its workforce and continue moving forward. 

In addition, to utilizing federal funds to maintain adequate staffing, the Office also embeds personnel employed by its partners. For example, personnel from West Virginia University, the Board of Pharmacy and other local community agencies are  located within the OMCFH main office.  In some instances, this has even allowed former OMCFH personnel to be promoted to other positions in those agencies while they continue to function as OMCFH staff.