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.

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

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)

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.

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

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)

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