A Family Perspective
Hear from Mark Phillips, CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia in the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, about the tragic effect opioid addiction had on his family, and how he heeded the call to devote his life to ending this public health crisis that affects us all through trauma-informed, research-backed approaches to treatment.
Experience the Episode
Thursday, February 27, 2025 12:00 pm
“ Addiction does not exist in isolation. Its ripple effects touch the lives of everyone connected to the person suffering from substance abuse disorder... We think about family as providing love, support, and stability, but when addiction infiltrates this unit, it acts like a contagious disease, spreading dysfunction and despair. And children are really the most vulnerable victims.”
Hear from Mark Phillips, CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia in the epicenter of the opioid epidemic, about the tragic effect opioid addiction had on his family, and how he heeded the call to devote his life to ending this public health crisis that affects us all through trauma-informed, research-backed approaches to treatment.
This discussion took place at the University of Notre Dame’s Summit on the Opioids Settlement: A Pathway to Hope which focused on how to most effectively distribute the nearly $50 billion in settlement dollars to maximize the impact on our communities and citizens.
Held in August 2024, this summit brought together attorneys general from across the country to discuss best practices to proactively evaluate the efficacy of opioid abatement programs and develop strategies to best distribute the funds. Led by the University of Notre Dame’s Poverty Initiative, the summit explores how evidence-based practices can inform decision making and ensure that the Opioids Settlement best helps those victims it is meant to serve.
Join us Thursday, February 27, 2025.
Speaker:
- Mark Phillips, CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia
Meet the Speaker: Mark Phillips
Mark Phillips serves at the president and chief executive officer of Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa). He previously served as chief operating officer, supervising the regional directors of West Virginia Birth to Three, the Child Care Resource Center, and the Child Care Food Program. He also oversaw Disaster Services, the Information Technology department, and leases and contracts across the state.
Prior to joining CCWVa, Phillips served as the vice president for external relations and chief of staff to two presidents at Wheeling Jesuit University (WJU) from 2012-2018. In his time at WJU, Phillips chaired the annual process of building the budget, worked as the liaison to local and national government officials, and coordinated strategic planning and accreditation. During his time in the president’s office, the university enrolled the largest freshman class in the school’s history.
Having lost his younger sister, Angela, to an overdose in 2016, Phillips considers the opportunity to work with the marginalized as a mission and a calling. Along with his work at CCWVa, Phillips has worked with young people in foster care through Wheeling’s CASA for Children, and as Catechesis Coordinator for his parish, St. Michael’s. He is married to Amy Criniti Phillips and has one child, Benjamin (11). Phillips was raised in southwestern Pennsylvania and received a BA at St. Vincent College and an MA at Duquesne University.