MORGANTOWN – Hope in Action Alliance Inc. (HIAA) and the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities has launched a community-resource pilot app that is designed to help West Virginia residents find services, manage health-related reminders and connect with local support.   

The regional pilot of “TheLink” is available for use in West Virginia Prevention Region 4, which includes Randolph, Barbour, Tucker, Upshur, Lewis, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties.

“Finding help should not be harder than asking for it,” said Amy Snodgrass, deputy director of HIAA. “That message came through clearly from the community, and it is exactly why TheLink was created. The app is designed to make it easier for individuals, families, and providers to find local resources, stay organized, and connect with support when they need it.”      

The app can be downloaded by individuals, families, service providers and community partners by searching “TheLink – Find Local Support” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app can also be accessed through thelinkapp.io. and once downloaded users can search for local services and community resources.

Those using TheLink can also save frequently used supports and set appointment reminders through the app’s calendar.     

“This project is grounded in the belief people closest to the challenges are best positioned to help shape the solutions,” said Mary Francisco Newlyn, executive director of HIAA. “This funding gave us space to listen more deeply to communities, gather honest feedback, and let those conversations guide how TheLink was designed–from its features to how we share it with the people it’s meant to reach.”   

The next phase of TheLink will focus on launch, field testing, outreach, evaluation, and determining how it can best serve West Virginia across Prevention Region 4, and over time, the broader state.   

Hope in Action is a nonprofit organization founded in West Virginia that is dedicated to strengthening communities across Appalachia. It serves communities connected by Appalachian culture, history, and shared systems of care. For more information on HIAA, visit www.hopeinaction.org.   

The West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities supports individuals with disabilities, families, professionals, and communities through training, services, technical assistance, research, and systems change efforts that promote inclusion, accessibility, and quality of life. For more information visit www.cedwvu.org.