Children And Families Committee Discusses Legislation

Concerns over the status of children who are homeless and in foster care have been top of mind for West Virginia lawmakers for several years. 

There are 15,101 students experiencing homelessness in the state, according to a report given to the Joint Committee on Children and Families during December interim meetings. These are students outside of foster care. Of those, 86% are living with others, 5.4% are staying in shelters, 4.3% are in hotels and motels, and 4.3% are unsheltered.

The committee discussed a number of bills Monday they plan to introduce when the regular session begins in January. The hope is to create clearer pathways for children to find permanent stability. Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, one of the committee co-chairs, was encouraged by the range of bills expected to be introduced. 

“Every one of these bills that we have mentioned does affect our children directly,” he said. “I want to thank you personally, and I want to thank my co-chair for being so dedicated to this project as well.”

Four legislative attorneys took turns presenting the bills. They include:

• Casework Service Aide pilot program
  
  
• Monthly BHS status meetings of county entities
  
  
• Residential treatment facility for children
  
  
• Pay raise for panel attorneys for those serving in juvenile neglect and abuse cases – guardian ad litem assistance
  
  
• Required court orders to be followed timely and not delayed
  
  
• Pay raise for investigative services, paralegal services
  
  
• CPS workers wear a body camera, only to be turned off if the investigation or the privacy of the child could be compromised
  
  
• Expansion of the West Virginia State Police child protection unit
  
  
• Head deadline of 12 months for disposition of child abuse and neglect cases
  
  
• Increases to circumstances where termination of rights can be applied
  
  
• Statewide Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan
  
  
• Pilot program for the use of mobile devices for CPS workers in the field of digital paperwork for better reporting of information
  
  
• Kinship care payment to be equal to foster care payment
  
  
• Assessment at initial time of placement for clothing vouchers