News and Notes
What's Happening now?
COMING SOON! Play Hard Live Healthy Preston County Intergenerational Appalachian Heritage Project
Something exciting is on the horizon for Preston County!
The Preston County Health Department and community partners are developing a new initiative that will bring youth and older adults together to learn, lead, and grow through the traditions that make Appalachia unique.
Participants will have opportunities to:
🌿 Explore Appalachian heritage and life skills
🤝 Build meaningful intergenerational relationships
🏕️ Participate in outdoor adventures and community service
💙 Develop leadership skills through the Youth Action Team
🧠 Learn about mental wellness, resilience, and substance misuse prevention
🎣 Experience hiking, fishing, kayaking, local history, and much more!
Together, we'll celebrate our heritage, strengthen our communities, and inspire the next generation of leaders while honoring the wisdom of those who came before us.
📢 The project is currently under development and pending funding. Stay tuned for updates, partnership announcements, and opportunities to get involved!
News and Notes
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Preston County ICEC Team to Present at the 2026 West Virginia Rural Health Conference
The Preston County Health Department is proud to announce that our Integrated Community Engagement Collaborative (ICEC) team will join partners from Nicholas and Fayette Counties to present at the 2026 West Virginia Rural Health Conference on November 12, 2026.
The presentation, "Rooted in Rural Health: Successes, Solutions, and Stories — The ICEC Collaborative in Rural West Virginia," will showcase how three rural West Virginia communities have worked together to strengthen youth well-being through prevention, collaboration, and data-driven community action.
Representing Preston County, Daniel Stiles will join Katie Johnson and Glisyn Mason to share how the ICEC Collaborative has successfully implemented the Icelandic Prevention Model by engaging schools, families, health departments, prevention coalitions, researchers, and community partners. The session will highlight how annual youth survey data has informed local decision-making, strengthened community coalitions, enhanced prevention infrastructure, and created sustainable, locally driven strategies to reduce youth substance use and improve overall health outcomes.
Attendees will learn practical approaches to coalition building, community engagement, data dissemination, and sustainable prevention planning that can be adapted to rural communities throughout Appalachia and beyond. This presentation reflects the collaborative commitment of Preston, Nicholas, and Fayette Counties to creating healthier, more resilient communities where young people can thrive.
