About the WVCBAPP
The West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals (WVCBAPP) is an organization which is instrumental in determining the standards and credentialing process for addiction and prevention professionals in the State of West Virginia. As a credentialing body, we believe that both experience and training are vital components of having an addictions-field workforce which is skilled in providing service.
Certification identifies those individuals recognized by their profession as qualified to serve the public. The purpose of establishing standards and a voluntary system for professional certification of addiction and prevention professionals is threefold:
For the client: To promote the availability of competent service providers
For the public at large: To provide competent professionals who have met those standards required for third party underwriting; to promote effective treatment and prevention services for persons with chemical and behavioral dependencies and their families; and to promote effective prevention services in a variety of target areas.
For the professional: To provide a method whereby the highest professional standards can be established, maintained, and updated, through a system of competency based testing and approved training; to enable the professional to easily obtain reciprocal credentials in other states, territories and countries.
Policies and Procedures
Download the current policy and procedure manual using the links below:
Board Members
Hernando Escandon, M.Ed., LPC, ALPS, AADC-S, CCJP, SAP IC&RC Administrator, President
Hernando Escandón has provided outpatient counseling services to local clients with mental health and/or substance use issues since 1994. He received a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education from Ohio University.
In addition to the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor Supervisor and Certified Criminal Justice Professional credentials, he is a Licensed Professional Counselor (with the Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor designation) in WV. He also holds all of the equivalent credentials that are offered by the state of Ohio.
He has provided group counseling for domestic violence perpetrators since 1995 and served on the committee formed by the WV Coalition Against Domestic Violence which both developed a Batterer’s Intervention and Prevention Program (BIPP) curriculum and trained new facilitators throughout WV in its use. He was a contributing author to the most recent revision (2010) of the best practice standards for Batterer’s Intervention published by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.
Mr. Escandón is currently the Director for the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Day Report Center (DRC) in Parkersburg, and has worked at that facility since 2005.
David Bailey, MHA, AADCS, LSW— CEU Committee Chair, CCJP
A graduate of both Concord and Marshall Universities David, after 38 years of service, is now retired from the field of treatment of substance use disorders. He remains connected to the field however, by serving on Board of Directors for both, the Mercer County Fellowship Home and the Mercer County Day Report Center and he continues to provide some contractual group counseling services for the recovering community. Additionally, David provides supervision for individuals working toward the Alcohol Drug Counselor or Advanced Alcohol Drug Counselor Certification.
A Certified Addiction Counselor since 1987, David currently holds both the Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Certified Clinical Supervisor credential and a West Virginia License in Social Work. He has served the West Virginia Certification Board of Addiction and Prevention Professionals (WVCBAPP) in a number of capacities over the years including: Board President; Treasurer; and, board member. In the early 1990’s David served on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors for an approximate 7 year period, four years as board treasurer and 3 years as board member.
Email: davbailey@frontier.com
Cathy Coontz, M.A., M.S., C.P.S. II -- Prevention, Treasure
Cathy currently holds the position of Executive Director for Taylor County Family Resources. She is formerly the National Prevention Network Leader for WV and held the Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator position for the Bureau for Behavioral Health, Division on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse before taking the TCFR Exe Director position. Her history includes professions such as Community Development, Therapist, and WVU Professor. Coontz-Griffith has over 30 years of experience in the prevention field as well as the addictions/mental health treatment realm. She holds an M.S. in Community Health from the WVU School of Medicine and an M.A. in Counseling from WVU. She has been a Certified Prevention Specialist II since 2003. In 2008, she became the Prevention Chair for the WV Board for Certified Addiction and Prevention Professionals. Currently, Cathy provides leadership on several community Boards ranging from WVSADD to Taylor County Arts Council. She utilizes her skills to provide training on topics surrounding substance use disorders and addiction as well as providing technical assistance to state entities, youth coalitions, and community groups.
Email: coontzey@gmail.com
Kay Lambert,LSW,AADC, Re-Certification
Retired as a full time substance use disorder counselor from Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center, Mullens, West Virginia, Kay now works part time for Southern Highlands CMHC in Welch, West Virginia as a substance use disorder counselor and DUI instructor.
Email: lambertkay@msn.com
Brandi Farmer, PRSS
Brandi is passionate about those in and those working in recovery, as she is in long-term recovery herself and understands, from both sides, the importance of ensuring that quality care and services are being provided to clients. She is excited about the opportunity to give back by serving on the WV Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals!
Brandi currently holds the SUD Reintegration Specialist position at Southern Highlands CMHC in Princeton, WV, where she has been employed since 2020. She also supervises some of the PRSS staff there. She is certified through the WV Certification Board as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist and is currently obtaining ADC clinical supervision hours.
In addition, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Social Work at Concord University and plans to enter the MSW program there upon graduation, with plans to become a SUD therapist.
Email: brandiedwards.hjf@gmail.com
James McClanahan, PR
Email: 'jimmcclanahan1@frontier.com
Executive Director of the Mercer County Fellowship Ship Home since April 2008. Completed Recovery Coach Academy through the State of West Virginia in July 2014. Certified as Peer Recovery Support Specialist through the WV Certification Board in August 2014 and re-certified as Peer Recovery Support Specialist in August of 2016. Going on 11 years sobriety from Alcohol.
Sandra Brown, MA, AADC
I am currently a full-time therapist with Prestera Center. I have provided residential SUD treatment services with the agency for four years and I am currently providing outpatient services for those struggling with mental health or substance use issues. I also provide part-time therapy services with Highland Hospital. I have a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Kentucky State University located in Frankfort, KY and a master’s degree in Psychology from Northcentral University. I have also obtained my master’s degree in Addiction counseling from Liberty University. I have over four years of experience working with those who have a history of addiction. I am a certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I became certified on 3/6/23. I have over 13 years of experience in providing counseling services in the mental health field. I am very passionate about my work as a counselor and willing to meet you where you are. In addition, I will be working towards obtaining licensure as an LPC while providing services at Prestera Center.
Email: sandrabrown2409@yahoo.com
Heather Sharp-Spinks, MSW, LICSW, ADC-S, MAC
Heather Sharp-Spinks is a native of Nicholas County, West Virginia. She has worked in outpatient behavioral health settings for 27 years. She started her career working with youths of addicted families and has since had various jobs working with substance abuse, child trauma and other related mental Health treatments. For the past seven years, she has been working as Therapist and Supervisor of Behavioral Health Programs for Camden Family Health.
Heather obtained a bachelor’s degree from Glenville State College in 1997 and a Master of Social Work degree from West Virginia University in 2006. She has been Licensed as an Independent Clinical Social Work since 2014. She has certification(s) as Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) (2003), Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) (2006), and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC), (2016).
In her local community, she was one of the founding members of the Nicholas Intervention Coalition (NIC), holding the president position from 2018 to 2023. She is still on the executive board and has an active position as the chair of the Treatment Committee.
Heather has been a member of the West Virginia Association of Addiction and Prevention Professionals since 2000. She held a board seat from 2012 to 2022, with the last position was President of the Board. She was elected to the West Viginia Certification Board for Addiction and prevention Professionals, Inc in the Fall of 2023.
Email: heathersharpspinks@gmail.com
Lori Garrett-Bumba, BA, WV LSW, WV PS II
Lori is a Project Director at the Marshall University Research Corporation. Lori is a graduate of Ohio University and has received a West Virginia Social Work License. She is also a West Virginia Certified Prevention Specialist II. Garrett-Bumba serves on the WV Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals where she serves as an officer. She has 20 years of experience in substance use prevention and has assisted on several local, regional and statewide committees and initiatives as a subject matter expert. She has extensive experience with strategic planning, coalition development, public relations, grants management and leadership skills. She has developed and provided numerous trainings on a variety of topics relating to substance use issues for professionals, key stakeholders and community members on a local, regional, state and national level. Garrett-Bumba has overseen numerous federal and state grants and implemented multiple prevention-based initiatives throughout local communities and the state. She also has previous experience in the realm of behavioral health and mentoring. Over the years she has worked as a case worker for Community Mental Health Services, case manager for the Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless, Public Relations Director for the Marshall County Family Resource Network, Executive Director of Information Helpline and Executive Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Upper Ohio Valley. She also brings expertise from serving as the Director of Prevention Services and Region 1 Prevention Lead for Youth Services System, Inc. Lori has served on numerous committees and groups throughout West Virginia.
Email: garrettbumba@marshall.edu
Jaime Cantley, MHA, ADC-S, NCAC2, CCM, Certification Chair
Jaime is passionate about substance abuse treatment and the people that are touched by the disease of addiction. Her objective is to be of service to the field by encouraging and supporting the next generation of therapist, case managers, and peer recovery coaches who are seeking certification. Certification has given her the ability to provide quality care to clients, by providing services both professionally and ethically. Her passion is to assist as many qualified professionals through the certification process as possible, in an effort to improve the quality of the services provided to our clients.
Jaime is a 2004 graduate of West Virginia University receiving a B.S. in speech pathology and audiology with a minor in communication studies and gerontology. In 2014, she received her Masters in health care administration from Ohio University. She has over 13 years of experience in outpatient and inpatient treatment facilities.
Jaime is currently employed as the Recovery and Resiliency Administrator on the System of Care Team for Aetna Better Health of WV in Charleston, W.V. She earned her clinical supervision credential (CS) and has been providing ADC and AADC supervision for over seven years. She serves on the WVCBAPP board where she is a part of the certification committee as well as a Past-President.
Jaime was previously employed as the Director of Residential SUD Services at FRMS and a Substance Use Disorder Counselor at Beckley Treatment Center earning her state alcohol and drug counselor (ADC) certification and national certification in addiction counseling (NCAC 2). Jaime is also a certified case manager (CCM).
Jeremy Truman, MA, AADC Immediate Past President
Jeremy Truman has worked in the field of treatment for substance use disorders for over 10 years. He has a BA in Social Science/Psychology from Bluefield State College and received his MA from Liberty University in Human Services Counseling with a specialty in Addiction and Recovery. He is the father of 3 boys. In his spare time, he enjoys both playing and watching sports and is involved in coaching with local youth teams.
Email: Truman_Jeremy@yahoo.com
Christopher Lovins, PRSS
Chris Lovins from Wayne, WV. Certified PRSS and currently working Supervisor for RRG Behavioral Health. 43 years old with 4 children which one is a 3-month-old I'm currently raising on my own. 4 years of PRSS experience of working in the field and sharing my experience, strength, and hope. Just recently pre-certified as PRSS and obtained my Ohio certification as well as several other certifications while being enrolled in Marshall working towards my bachelor's degree.
Charles Mullins, President Elect, BS, TCM
I am currently the Operations Manager for Recovery Point West Virginia Behavioral Health. I have worked in the field of mental health and substance abuse for the past 7 years in various positions. I have mainly worked as a PRSS, Targeted Case Manager and Intake Specialist. I currently hold a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bluefield University in Bluefield, VA. I am pursuing dual degrees. One is an MBA in Healthcare Management from Bluefield University and an MA degree from Marshall University in Mental Health Counseling. These will help me to continue to provide a multitude of services for mental health and substance use disorder populations.