T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK C.C. Roxby, owner of the new behavioral health agency Transitions Thru Life, announces a fundraiser at the end of the month, sponsored by National Women in Roofing. Transitions Thru Life is based in Benwood and may have operations in Ohio next year. The agency assists homeless and at-risk women and children.

BENWOOD — A benefit is set for this month to help the new behavioral health agency Transitions Thru Life, formed to assist at-risk homeless women and children in the Ohio Valley.

National Women in Roofing, a volunteer organization that supports and advances the careers of women professionals, is sponsoring the fundraiser at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at River City Restaurant, Wheeling.

C.C. Roxby, owner of Transitions Thru Life, said they are raising money to buy the building to house women and children seeking help. Roxby said services initially will be provided predominantly in the Wheeling area, but there are plans to expand next year into an Ohio location.

She looks forward to both raising funds and getting the word out about the company and the services provided. She added that most of the money raised will come from raffles and auctions during the event. Any organizations are welcome to donate baskets to be auctioned.

“This will be an introduction of the Ohio Valley to my company, because we’re new,” Roxby said, adding it is a certified behavioral health care facility that is able to work with child protective services and youth service.

“I’ve been setting it up over the last year, and we’re finally hiring and training people and ready to open, so we’re kicking it off with a benefit.”

She said the organization is able to assess families and offer parenting guidance and drug and alcohol counseling.

“I’ve actually been training a handful of staff. We’ve got 10 people hired so far to offer support services,” she said.

Staff with a bachelor’s or master’s degree will provide case management needs assessment and positive behavioral support. Others will offer tutoring and peer mentoring.

“There’s all types of studies that show a big piece of getting better and healing – whether it’s from mental health issues or substance abuse issues – you need to have someone who has been there and done that to help you heal,” she said.

Roxby said there is considerable need in West Virginia, with many children placed with grandparents or out of state due to lack of foster parents. Roxby also said many families are homeless and in need of services.

“We have so many people that are homeless and addicts, and we don’t have enough services to meet the need. This is an effort to establish more services to meet those needs, and of course Ohio isn’t far behind. Addiction doesn’t recognize state lines. The entire tri-state area is affected. Everybody has been hit by the meth and the opioid epidemic,” she said.

Roxby said she has much to offer, since her background gives her familiarity with the area.

“I’m originally from Ohio. I grew up in Monroe County,” Roxby said, adding that she has worked in multiple counties in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. “I’ve done social work for 20 years. I’m an Ohio Valley girl – I’ve grown up here and I love the valley. I’m also a second-degree black belt and a defense instructor, and I’ve taught a defense class with the Sexual Assault Help Center for the past five years.

“There’s a tremendous issue in the Ohio Valley with abuse,” she said, adding that this includes sexual abuse. “The more bad things happen to us as kids, the more we struggle as adults, the harder it is for us to get jobs, have stable relationships, not fall prey to addiction or alcoholism issues. If we want to address those issues and stop those issues, we have to attack them at its root.

“It means trying to look at toxic masculinity issues here in the Ohio Valley, which is such a difficult issue … especially here in Appalachia,” she said. “We have so many cultural issues that are specific to our region, and it is difficult for an outsider to understand. … It requires a different type of approach and a delicate touch, and more importantly it requires a holistic approach.”

Transitions Thru Life is located at 445 Main St., Benwood and can be reached at 304-559-3199. Tickets to the fundraiser can be obtained at River City at 1400 Main St., Wheeling; by calling 304-233-4555; or through Shawnda Burgess of Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal at 53 14th St. Suite 100, Wheeling. She can be reached at 304-312-9733.