PA Public Media to broadcast Part 2 of award-winning statewide program
PITTSTON, Pa., March 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — In the second program in an award-winning series, Pennsylvania’s Public Media networks will focus on children and families in “Battling Opioids: Part 2,” airing statewide at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 11. The television program will feature a 30-minute newsmagazine of stories from across the Commonwealth followed by a panel discussion that addresses the profound impact of the ongoing crisis on children.
“This epidemic affects all generations of Pennsylvanians, from new babies to grandparents caring for grandchildren,” says Kathleen Pavelko, CEO of WITF in Harrisburg. “We want people to understand the effects, but also to know there is help for families caring for children.”
Battling Opioids is an initiative of Pennsylvania’s seven public media stations — WHYY, WITF, WLVT/PBS39, WPSU, WQED, WQLN and WVIA. The stations create and share programming, convene community conversations about the opioid crisis, and direct people to state and local resources, including the state’s website, pa.gov/opioids, and 1-800-662-HELP hotline.
Battling Opioids will host a Twitter chat with family support organizations on Thursday, March 21 at 1 p.m. ET. Follow the conversation using the hashtag #PABattlingOpioids.
The April 11 newsmagazine will be followed by a 30-minute panel discussion featuring:
- PA State Senator Gene Yaw (R-23), Chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, which has held 14 public hearings on opioids since 2014.
- Allyson Hopkins, a medical home care coordinator for Pediatric Practices of Northeastern Pennsylvania who runs the Grand Love support group for grandparents raising grandchildren.
- Cammie Anderson, a certified prevention specialist and student assistant program trainer.
- Jayme Ferry, prevention supervisor at Crawford County Drug & Alcohol Executive Commission and coordinator for Crawford’s Overdose Prevention Coalition.
The program is hosted by Paola Giangiacomo, award-winning host of WVIA’s television series Call the Doctor.
“The opioid epidemic calls for an unprecedented statewide response from public media,” says Tom Currá, President and CEO of WVIA Public Media northeastern Pennsylvania. “We want to complement the efforts of legislators and organizations to help families in our communities get the help they need.”
Battling Opioids has received major support from Geisinger and additional support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To learn more, visit BattlingOpioids.org and follow @BattlingOpioids on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Public Media