Karen Yost

Karen Yost, MA, has many years’ experience providing, developing, and overseeing services for individuals with behavioral health issues, SUDs, and intellectual/developmental disabilities. She is a Licensed Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor, Master Addictions Counselor, Clinically Certified Domestic Violence Counselor, Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist and Certified School Counselor for grades K-12. She has extensive experience in transformational leadership, training, trauma-informed practice, multi-system collaboration, working with first responders and law enforcement and working with rural and economically challenged communities.

She has served as President and CEO of West Virginia’s largest Certified Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center, serving rural communities providing comprehensive services for individuals with behavioral and substance use disorders and intellectual/developmental disabilities. She served on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Substance Abuse that has been a leader in framing statewide and community responses to the opioid crisis and the Governor’s Indigent Defense Commission. Additional experience includes Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and Management, workforce development, adjunct instructor at a local university, and American Red Cross National Disaster Mental Health. She brings the frontline perspective and experience of program directors across a range of clinical settings and expertise in service integration at local, regional, and state levels.