May 19-21, 2024

Location: White Sulfer Springs, West Virginia

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The Community Education Group’s first annual Syndemic Summit will be held May 19-21 2024 in White Sulphur Springs. The intention of this summit is to identify sustainable solutions to the HIV, hepatitis, and overdose syndemic across Appalachia as a united region as well as discussing other issues that impact rural communities such as workforce development, job readiness, and regional collaboration.

Key areas of focus will include:

• Integrated Approaches to Syndemic Issues:

  • Emphasize breaking down silos in testing, prevention (including PrEP), and treatment by integrating health policy and service responses.

  • Promote a unified front against HIV, hepatitis, and overdose syndemics, fostering collaboration among healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations.

• Opioid Settlement Funding:

  • Mobilize discussions around best practices for utilizing opioid settlement funds in the 13 Appalachian states.

  • Encourage collaboration between states to share successful strategies for utilizing settlement funds effectively.

• Economic Infrastructure and Income Equity:

  • Discuss and develop plans for investing in economic infrastructure to create new job opportunities and training programs

  • Identify pathways for income equity to uplift communities in the region.

• Proactive Health Agenda:

  • Forge a proactive health agenda to combat health disparities related to substance use, including preventive measures like PrEP/PEP and HIV testing.

  • Encourage the adoption of evidence-based practices to reduce overdose deaths and improve health outcomes.