The Highland Educational Project

04/27/2026

03/27/2026

Update from Katie, one of our program partner leads, with The Great V**e Escape:

“In 2025, Southern Highlands achieved a significant milestone by becoming a certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC). Through the CCBHC model, Southern Highlands has expanded its workforce and significantly increased access to services across the community, including more than doubling our school-based programs. This growth has enhanced collaboration with community partners and strengthened multidisciplinary treatment teams focused on consumer-driven goals. The result is more accessible, coordinated, and trauma-informed care that improves outcomes for individuals and families.

The children's department of Southern Highlands recently premiered one of their newest projects, “The Great V**e Escape”, as part of their evaluation with CCBHC state partners. On March 25, 2026, Southern Highlands leadership team invited members of the CCBHC state board to be among the very first to tour the Great V**e Escape. They offered valuable feedback as Southern Highlands continues to enhance this innovative project.

This initiative was born out of a growing concern of va**ng violations among students, including elementary-aged children. Southern Highlands is delighted to collaborate with HEP and other community partners to provide an engaging and educational experience through a mobile escape room. Students embark on a journey into a fictional v**e laboratory, where they must crack codes and solve puzzles to navigate the challenges. This immersive experience aims to educate students about the dangers of va**ng, including the harmful chemicals used in v**es and the potential negative effects on their health.

The project has garnered attention, as more and more schools in Southern WV are requesting the Great V**e Escape experience for their students. In combination with the escape room, Southern Highlands will offer many evidenced-based curricula options, including Catch My Breath, Indepth, Ripple Effects, and Botvin LifeSkills, to assist students in substance use prevention and intervention.”

03/20/2026

Paul Castelli and his team were the first of the season. Thank you guys for all of the amazing work you did at Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank this week. With just four people, huge hearts, and amazing work ethic you guys helped us knock out weeks worth of work in just a couple of days!!

03/14/2026

Our partners at Five Loaves and Two Fishes Food Bank currently supply 101 food bags, weekly, to children in McDowell County who are in need of supplementary nutritional assistance on their weekends home from school. The Kids' Bag program has grown, and a wonderful individual organized a fundraiser in order to keep this program sustainable for continued, long term efforts. Thank you all for your continued support and donations to the programs and partners that The Highland Educational Project serve in McDowell County.

My name is Karl and I am raising funds for the Five Loaves and Two Fish… Karl Von Roenn needs your support for Reducing Food Insecurity in McDowell County, WV

11/16/2025

Handmade quilts making their way to the county to keep our neighbors warm this winter. Thank you St. Thomas Episcopal church, White Sulphur Springs for this ministry.

11/14/2025

Our display at the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of WV. Looking forward to talking to folks about HEP!

10/17/2025

This is our home.

10/11/2025

McDowell County was hit with an extremely destructive flood back in February of this year. Homes were destroyed, businesses were wiped out, and residents were left in disarray. One of the many cases of youth programs that was left with nothing was the McDowell Soccer Association.

But because of many selfless donations from all of you, The Highland Educational Project had the capability to go in to purchase new goals, soccer balls, jerseys….and the list goes on. Because of you guys, these kids had a soccer league to come back to after the devastation of the flood.

So from me, Joel McKinney…as a coach and the now Director of The Highland Educational Project…from all of these kids…the coaches…and the entire McDowell Soccer Association….we want to thank everyone that gave and continue to give. This is what huge hearts and generosity can accomplish.

06/12/2025

06/12/2025

St. Paul’s Pittsburgh enjoy some downtime in Bluefield and Welch