The West Virginia Commission to Study Residential Placements of Children was created by an act of the 2005 Legislature (HB 2334; Section 49-7-34 of WV Code) to achieve systemic reform for youth at risk of out-of-home residential placement, and to establish an integrated system of care for these youth and their families.

In 2006, the Commission designated the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources to provide oversight and implement the recommendations of the Commission (as outlined in the report Advancing New Outcomes, and to develop a statewide System of Care Implementation Team in order to direct, oversee and monitor all activities related to developing a System of Care for children and their families.

Visit back often to see what's developed, link to Regional and State support staff, and find ways to become an active "builder" in the system of care movement for children & families!

For more information, contact Technical Assistance Coordinator Jeanette Rowsey: wvsyscare411@aol.com.

Definition of the West Virginia System of Care Target Population (approved August 2007):

1. Children/Youth through the age of seventeen (17), and youth between 18 through their 20th birthday that are in the legal custody of DHHR.

AND

2. Service/Supports needs cannot be met by one agency and/or system

AND

3. As a result of a mental/emotional/behavioral/developmental disorder(s), the child is placed at risk of out-of-home placement.  Risk is defined as one or more of the following::

a. History of psychiatric hospitalizations

b. History of failed placements (biological parent(s), kinship, foster care, adoption, group residential and psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTF)

c. History of failed interventions (cross systems, family preservation, family supports, probation diversion, probation supervision, etc)

AND

4. Community, child/youth safety can be maintained with services and supports

Phase I:

1. Children/Youth through the age of seventeen (17), and youth between 18 through their 20th birthday that are in the legal custody of DHHR.

AND

2. Service/Supports needs cannot be met by one agency and/or system

AND

3. As a result of a mental/emotional/behavioral/developmental disorder(s), the child is placed in an out-of-state or at risk of out-of-state placement.  Risk is defined:

a. History of psychiatric hospitalizations

b. History of failed placements (foster care, group residential, PRTF)

c. History of failed interventions (cross systems, family preservation, family supports, probation diversion, probation supervision, availability of appropriate in-state services, etc)

AND

4. Community, child/youth safety can be maintained with services and supports