March 21, 2024

Contact Erin Miess at 608-796-3729 or etmiess@viterbo.edu

ERIN MIESS NAMED RESPOND GRANT PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT VITERBO UNIVERSITY

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Faculty member Erin Miess has been named the program director of the RESPOND Grant at Viterbo University.

Awarded in 2023, the RESPOND was funded by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration to expand the number of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and counselors trained to provide mental health and substance use disorder clinical services in rural and other underserved community-based settings. Viterbo is partnering with Mayo Clinic Health System, Addiction Medical Solutions, Tomah Health, and Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers on RESPOND grant programming.

Miess is also the director of field education and an assistant professor in the social work department at Viterbo. She served on the steering committee of Viterbo’s InSTEP Grant. In addition to the work she does for the university, Miess is on a housing advocacy committee through Habitat for Humanity and serves as a mental health clinician for the Wisconsin Comprehensive Community Services program. She has extensive experience in the field, including work with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems.

“Throughout my experience as a social worker, I have witnessed the devastating impact opioid use has on individuals, families, and communities,” Miess said. “I am excited to participate in a project focused on improving outcomes for those impacted by the opioid epidemic.”

The first cohort of participants in the six-module RESPOND grant program started the course in January. The second cohort will begin in September. To be added to the waitlist for the second cohort, email program coordinator Linda Sherony at llsherony@viterbo.edu. For more information about the RESPOND grant, visit https://www.viterbo.edu/RESPOND.

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