New Program Aims To Provide ‘Individualized’ Support To Youth In Foster Care

A new program from the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) aims to provide additional care to youth in the foster care system on a personalized basis.

Announced earlier this week, The Promise Project is a DoHS program coordinated with Aetna Better Health of West Virginia. Through the program, Aetna will conduct assessments of each child’s clinical and placement needs.

It will also create a placement intervention team comprised of health care providers and DoHS employees that meets weekly to directly address “the needs of children without placement and those requiring new placements,” according to a Monday press release.

Since 2020, Aetna has served as the sole managed care provider for youth in the state’s foster care system. This role has meant overseeing “physical and behavioral health care services” for children in foster care, as well as those receiving adoption assistance or participating in the Children with Serious Emotional Disorders Waiver program.

DoHS Secretary Cynthia Persily said in the press release that The Promise Project marks an effort to provide “holistic, individualized care for children in the foster care system.”

“By taking a personalized approach, the project not only addresses immediate placement needs but also supports the long-term well-being and stability of children,” Persily said. “This collaborative effort ensures that youth receive the support they need to thrive and eventually reunite with their families and communities.”

Likewise, Aetna Executive Director Kathy Szafran said providing individualized care like this ensures children in the foster care system “receive the best possible support and opportunities for a brighter future.”

“By working together, we can provide tailored care that addresses the unique needs of each child,” she said.