Bill > SB521

This bill requires the Department of Human Services (DoHS) to create and put into action a statewide plan by January 1, 2027, to offer prevention services to children under 18 and their families, including kinship and foster parents. These services must be trauma-informed and evidence-based, and offered to children at risk, such as those with existing child protective services or youth services safety plans or open cases, or those identified as needing preventative services due to economic or other needs even without an open case. The plan also mandates services for pregnant and parenting youth, youth aging out of foster care for a year after turning 21, youth after adoption, and youth transitioning between different levels of care. DoHS must ensure a network of providers with both telehealth and physical locations for convenient access, directly link families to services, track service data and outcomes, and report annually to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability on costs and outcomes, using de-identified data. Services developed under this plan will be submitted to the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse for potential federal funding, and DoHS must amend its state plan by July 1, 2028, to maximize federal dollars under the Family First Prevention Services Act, with the overall plan to be implemented by February 1, 2027.

Health and Social Services

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=521&year=2026&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill