Tijah Bumgarner: Filmmaker

Tijah Bumgarner is a filmmaker and professor who teaches narrative and documentary video production at Marshall University. She holds a BFA in film/video from the California Institute of the Arts and a master’s degree in Media Studies from West Virginia State University. In 2017, Bumgarner completed her first feature film, Meadow Bridge, a coming-of-age narrative set in rural West Virginia. Most recently, her film Picture Proof chronicles everyday moments in the life of one family in West Virginia as they rebuild, repair, and extend their life in the aftermath of substance use disorder.

We were fortunate to have Tijah join us this year as a contributor for this project, creating short films about people in recovery and those working in West Virginia communities to support them.

On My Path: Jostin’s Story

The “On My Path: Jostin’s Story” series shares the story of Justin, a person in long-time recovery and employee with the WV Office of Drug Control Policy. He now works to help reduce overdoses, but like many of us, even as a clinician, he struggled. After a suicide attempt, he got help. And now, he’s not just a person struggling with addiction or in recovery. He’s Jostin — a Dad and husband.

On my Path with Fruits of Labor

Fruits of Labor is more than a cafe; it’s a place that provides a holistic approach to nurturing those in recovery from substance use disorder. On a 218-acre farm in Fayette County, founder Tammy Jordan cultivates a space of learning and growing –especially for Casey and Jessica. Both women share their stories of recovery, hope, and finding their purpose at Fruits of Labor. Through cooking, baking, and harvesting, we see the strength they have to work toward their full potential.

Recovery High School: West Virginia’s Story

According to the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy, between 2021-2023, there have been 2,720 emergency room visits from kids 19 and under related to overdoses. This film details the first steps partners in St. Albans take to start West Virginia’s first recovery high school. Recovery high schools are public, private, or charter schools with the primary purpose of educating and supporting students in recovery from substance use or co-occurring disorders. With the state sorely lacking in detox and treatment facilities for the pediatric population, this video shows a community response and collaboration to the need for treatment and recovery options for its youth.

On My Path: Betty’s Story

In this series of videos, filmmaker Tijah Bumgarner interviews Betty H, a Recovery Coach at Logan County QRT. Betty is 28 months into her recovery journey. She visits residences where a nonfatal overdose has recently been reported to talk to individuals about naloxone, detox, treatment, and community resources to address social determinants of health.

Since 2019, Logan County’s Quick Response Team (QRT) has been offering support to victims of recent drug overdoses. They are a collaboration among the Southwestern Regional Day Report Center, the Logan County Health Department, the Logan County Sheriff’s Department, and the Logan County Emergency

Ambulance Service Authority. The Southwestern Regional Day Report Center hopes to work with Boone and Lincoln Counties to expand these services into their communities.

On My Path: Taylor’s Story

The “On My Path: Taylor’s Story” series is the story of Taylor, a 26-year-old in recovery from Charleston. She experienced a hard childhood and tried drugs at the age of 12, and that’s when she wound up in a juvenile detention center for three years. And it’s where she gave birth to her first child. She admitted that she needed help and surrendered her kids to state custody while she got help. Now, she’s a Mom with two children and has been in recovery for five years.