WVFF Partners with Higher Education to Strengthen Data, Research, and Community Impact

WEST VIRGINIA (March 26, 2026) – The West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF), a private nonprofit stewarding opioid settlement resources for the State of West Virginia, is announcing a series of strategic partnerships with higher education institutions that are helping strengthen data systems, accelerate prevention and recovery research, and elevate community-based solutions to substance use disorder across the state.

From the outset, WVFF has placed evidence and accountability at the center of its mission. To reinforce that approach, the Foundation is working with universities and research institutions that bring nationally recognized expertise in data-driven evaluation, public health analytics, workforce capacity building, and applied research to support long-term impact for West Virginians.

Marshall University 

Marshall University serves as a core partner in the Appalachian Continuum of Care for Overdose Reduction Network (ACCORN). In December 2024, WVFF made its first major Direct Funding commitment, dedicating $20 million in contingent support to ACCORN, an outcomes-based initiative aimed at reducing overdose deaths across West Virginia. This commitment strengthened ACCORN’s application to the federal ARPA-H HEROES program, which challenges communities to pair federal investment with local capital to drive measurable health outcomes. Although ARPA-H programming is currently under review, WVFF’s commitment to reducing overdose deaths and helping West Virginia heal remains unchanged. ACCORN represented a promising continuum-of-care model, and WVFF stands ready to identify new pathways to reinvigorate this initiative and others like it.

West Virginia University

WVFF has selected a West Virginia University team, led by the Health Affairs Institute in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research and Public Affairs, and Data Driven WV, to conduct a comprehensive, statewide Needs Assessment that will help guide the strategic and equitable allocation of opioid settlement funds across West Virginia. This $1.5 million investment will support an 18-month initiative designed to provide a clearer understanding of needs, gaps, and opportunities across the state. 

During the initiative’s first steering committee meeting, project partners selected the name West Virginia Wayfinder, reflecting a shared commitment to using data to help chart a clearer path forward for West Virginia.

Johns Hopkins University 

WVFF has looked to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as a trusted academic resource in shaping its work. The Foundation used Johns Hopkins’ Guiding Principles to help inform and strengthen its own framework for responsible stewardship and has continued to build on that relationship through conversations around outcomes based tracking, grantmaking, and long term impact. This partnership was provided at no cost to the Foundation.

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame, through its Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), provided data-driven evaluation for WVFF’s Momentum Initiative Grant (MIG) cycle. LEO delivered objective scoring for submitted applications, ensuring consistent review, transparency, and measurable standards across statewide proposals. Through its broader Poverty Initiative, LEO focuses on identifying and expanding evidence-based strategies that uplift communities experiencing poverty and economic hardship. This partnership was provided at no cost to the Foundation.

Additional Higher Education Partners and Awards 

WVFF has also provided grant support to several higher education institutions across West Virginia through its Initial Opportunity Grant (IOG) and Momentum Initiative Grant (MIG) cycles. These investments support prevention programming, recovery workforce development, capacity building, youth reintegration, and applied research. Awardees include:

• Marshall University Research Corporation: MIG Award for Prevention Through Community Outreach and Youth Empowerment ($125,000.00), and MIG Award for Behavioral Health Workforce and Development Program ($250,000.00)
• West Liberty University: MIG Award for Hilltopper Pathways, an out-of-school reentry and support program ($249,397.00)
• WVU Parkersburg: IOG Award for Farm to School ‘Agrication’ focused on youth engagement and prevention ($39,925.88)
• West Virginia Wesleyan College: MIG Award for WVWC & CASA Capacity Building Initiative ($947,916.00) and MIG Award for Certificate in Addiction Counseling Workforce Development Scholarships ($246,125.00)
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine: IOG Award for Recovery Works – Facilitating Sustainable Recovery Through Workforce ($158,078.43)

Through these partnerships, WVFF is catalyzing multidisciplinary collaboration that emphasizes innovation, public health research, and direct community impact statewide. WVFF Executive Director Jonathan Board emphasized the importance of these collaborations to the Foundation’s approach to stewardship and sustainability.

“West Virginia’s universities and research institutions are critical partners in advancing prevention, treatment, and recovery for our state,” said Board. “Their expertise strengthens our grantmaking, informs smarter investments, and accelerates measurable results for West Virginians. By aligning research, data, and community action, we are building solutions that can endure for generations.”

At the state level, leadership reinforced that the opioid settlement must be paired with evidence, accountability, and community-centered implementation to achieve lasting impact.

“These partnerships show how opioid settlement funds should be used, with accountability, transparency, and a clear focus on results. As Attorney General, I helped secure these resources for the people of West Virginia, and we owe it to them to make sure every dollar is driving real progress in prevention, treatment, and recovery. What makes this effort especially important is that West Virginia’s own institutions, including Marshall University, West Virginia University, West Liberty University, West Virginia Wesleyan College, and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine are leading the way. They understand our communities, see the challenges up close, and are delivering real solutions. By bringing together data, research, and community-based efforts here at home, we are not just spending money, we are building a system that delivers outcomes and restores lives. I commend the West Virginia First Foundation for prioritizing in-state expertise and long-term impact as we work to build a healthier, stronger future for our state,” said Governor Patrick Morrisey.

“As we continue to hold major corporations accountable for their role in creating the opioid crisis, we now are moving into the next phase — ensuring our landmark settlement dollars serve all West Virginians affected by addiction. This is a fantastic collaboration with our universities and research institutions that will result in real outcomes and help to move the state forward,” West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey said.

For more information about WVFF, visit www.wvfirst.org.