By Sarah Richardson
The West Virginia Healing Home is a nonprofit organization that provides family-centered recovery support services for individuals affected by substance use disorder, with a focus on pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. Located in Fairlea on the hill beside Rodebaugh Family Dentistry, WV Healing Home itself also acts as a home base for all types of community groups, including grief support, autism support, childbirth and postpartum, and more.
The organization was founded in 2019 by Shay Huffman to offer recovery programs for families. It is currently led by Director Ahisha Marshall, and is run on a volunteer-based system. West Virginia Healing Home supports a drug-free baby and me program and hosts a monthly baby pantry that provides baby supplies to families thanks to donations from local churches and other generous individuals. The organization also works with community partners to offer childbirth education classes and postpartum support groups, which are open to anyone in the community. These classes and groups are held in collaboration with the Perinatal Partnership, led by Annie Barb.
Marshall also facilitates Acudetox group sessions. Acudetox, also known as NADA Acudetox, is an acupuncture detoxification protocol that involves placing up to five sterile, disposable needles into specific points in each ear. Sessions are conducted in a group setting, with participants seated for 30 to 45 minutes. According to the organization’s five-point Acudetox protocol pamphlet, reported benefits include stress and trauma relief, improved sleep, reduced agitation, decreased cravings for alcohol, drugs, nicotine, and sugar, and increased calmness.
West Virginia Healing Home, Inc. describes itself as a family-centered recovery community organization. Its mission is to provide respectful services, information, resources, and assistance to individuals and families, particularly during the childbearing years. The organization focuses on addressing the needs of families impacted by substance use disorder and envisions communities where families have access to supportive environments as they move forward.
Services offered by West Virginia Healing Home include Acudetox group sessions, restorative practices, childbirth education classes, postpartum support groups, and monthly educational baby pantries. Additional services include resource information and referral, agricultural programs, initiatives addressing food insecurity, and support from an RN recovery coach.
Group and individual sessions cover topics such as pregnancy and childbirth, parenting, infant care, infant feeding practices, mindfulness, healthy eating on a budget, and parent-child agricultural activities.
West Virginia Healing Home is located at 1500 Maplewood Avenue in Ronceverte. More information is available by emailing WVHealingHome@gmail.com, calling 304-520-0180, or visiting wvhealinghome.org. Any groups wishing to use the space for classes and meetings should call and leave a voicemail. Follow “West Virginia Healing Home, Inc.” on Facebook for up to date information on ongoing classes and events.
