An organization that helps foster children navigate the legal system in 10 West Virginia counties needs volunteers.
Western Regional Court Appointed Special Advocates or, CASA helps children in Boone, Cabell, Calhoun, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, Roane and Wayne counties find someone to serve as the child’s voice throughout court proceedings.
Program Director, Kim Runyon Wilds said no that special experience is required and the organization provides training.
“We do not have enough advocates for every child, unfortunately,” Wilds said. “That’s why we are trying to get the word out about this program. We have almost 900 children that are waiting for one of our volunteers to be assigned to them just in our 10 county service area.”
Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and be able to pass a background check, including a child protective services check.
“After they get all of the background check stuff done, they’ve completed every chapter of training, then we swear them in with an oath of confidentiality with a circuit court judge,” Wilds said. “So once all of that is done, they’re ready to actually be an advocate for children who have experienced trauma.”
Wilds said each case is different. Some children who are involved in court because of abuse and neglect are assigned a Child Protective Service (CPS) social worker, and a guardian ad litem who is the attorney for the child.
Wilds said while CPS workers and guardians ad litem have large caseloads, CASA volunteers have one or two cases on average. The organization serves about 450 children each year.
“They have the ability, and frankly, the time to be able to do regular home visits, check in with the family and review records,” Wilds said. “Get a complete story of the family’s history, what’s going on, why is the family in court, and then they can then develop a relationship with the child. See what the child wants to happen in the case and see what the child’s best interests are, which will be the opinion of the advocate.”
According to Wilds, children with CASA volunteers spend less time in foster care on average and they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system.
“Long term outcomes for children who have been appointed a CASA volunteer are good, (they are) less likely to enter right back into foster care, less likely to drop out of school,” Wilds said. “Having the CASA volunteer, or even a consistent, caring and protective adult in a child’s life is enough to change their story. They’re changing a child’s story by helping a child advocating for a child just being a protective adult in a child’s life.”
Wilds said CASA’s ultimate goal is the reunification of the family, if at all possible.
“We want to get to know them and the environment they’re currently in along with where they came from, but our primary goal is reunification,” Wilds said. “If it can be safely achieved, we want the kids back with their parents, if that can happen.”
Interested individuals can contact CASA via their Facebook page, by calling 304-523-9587, ext. 307, or by emailing Wilds directly at kwilds@TEAMWV.org.
Flooding throughout the day Monday caused significant damage to roads, houses and bridges in central and southern West Virginia. There have been no deaths reported so far due to flooding. Officials are still working to assess damage. Many houses were flooded, and some were washed away.
Updated on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Flooding throughout the day caused significant damage to roads, houses and bridges in central and southern West Virginia.
There have been no deaths reported so far due to flooding. Officials are still working to assess damage. Many houses were flooded and some were washed away.
Communities along Witcher Creek, Slaughter Creek and Fields Creek saw some of the most significant flooding. Waters have retreated back to creeks and rivers — where flows remain dangerously high. However, with more rain likely this evening and tomorrow, flood advisories remain active.
The National Weather Service said another inch of rain could be on the way Monday night.
Kanawha County Commissioner Lance Wheeler was at the Emergency Operations Center at Kanawha County Metro 911. He said fire departments in Charleston and Fayette and Cabell counties are waiting to see what the weather does, and where the water goes.
“Everybody’s still on standby. They are looking at what water is coming and what it’s going to look like and if there are going to be more evacuations necessary,” said Wheeler.
Wheeler said this amount of rainfall — 6-9 inches in affected areas — coupled with already saturated soil from a rainy weekend made the floods an especially dangerous situation.
“So, the flooding has been enormous at this point,” he said. “If there’s anyone out there who thinks that this is just a small flood that hit this area, they’re drastically wrong.”
Kanawha County officials say that from 6:45 a.m., when the Kanawha County Metro 911 started receiving calls, until 4 p.m., there were more than 700 calls and 22 water rescues. Assessors have not released official numbers, but Wheeler said that around 60 homes were washed away in the floods.
Jenna Sigmon lives along one of the most heavily flooded creeks, Slaughter Creek, and said she is used to floods, but this one is one of the worst she has ever seen.
“It was like kind of crazy, because we just woke up this morning and there was massive floods,” she said. “And the water came up over the bank all into our yard.”
Her house was flooded. Sigmon went over to a neighbor’s house across the road to get away from the water, but the water ended up crossing the street over to that house as well.
“It just kept rising and rising. Like two feet within ten minutes,” said Sigmon.
The water did eventually recede, but her yard and others around were bogged with water. She said she was expecting a flood, but not one this bad.
If you or anyone you know needs assistance escaping flooding, call 911 or (304) 348–8111 to reach the Metro 911 Emergency flood line.
Original Post: Flash Flood Emergency Declared In Several W.Va. Counties
The National Weather Service Monday issued a flash flood emergency for Kanawha County that is considered life threatening. It also issued flash flood warnings for parts of Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, and Roane counties. The National Weather Service says residents should seek higher ground and avoid flooded areas.
Gov. Jim Justice declared a State of Emergency in those counties. Heavy rainfall over the weekend and throughout Monday morning has caused flash floods that have damaged homes, roads, and bridges in affected areas. There are reports of high water along Witcher Creek in eastern Kanawha County.
The West Virginia Emergency Management Division has implemented an emergency plan to mobilize appropriate personnel and resources to respond to the emergency.
The National Guard is working to prepare for emergency dispatch with arial assets like helicopters, swift water rescues teams, and extra personnel. Kanawha County’s Emergency Operations Center is actively working to assist with water rescues and other emergency assistance.
The West Virginia Division of Highways is working to assist residents and clear the road from culverts, mudslides, and other damage from heavy rains throughout affected counties. Mudslides closed both lanes of US 60 in Belle and on the West Virginia Turnpike near Chelyan at Mile Marker 85.5 where the southbound right lane is closed.
FEMA, local officials, and other organizations are also working to offer aid to residents needing assistance.
Gov. Jim Justice has asked President Joe Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency approve a disaster declaration for West Virginia because of flooding from last month.
Gov. Jim Justice has asked President Joe Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency approve a disaster declaration for West Virginia because of flooding from last month.
According to a news release, Justice declared a state of emergency for Cabell, Putnam, and Roane counties related to the flooding.
“As with all disasters, I directed our state agencies to use every tool and partnership to respond to immediate needs and document damages that our citizens and communities are experiencing,” Justice said in a statement on Friday. “I am absolutely focused on bringing West Virginians the disaster relief needed to help get things back to normal.”
In May 6, West Virginia experienced large-scale flooding throughout the state. Some of the flooding in Huntington included rapidly moving floodwaters several feet deep covered cars along one neighborhood.
The governor’s request for a disaster declaration includes individual assistance with the possibility of receiving Hazard Mitigation Assistance and Small Business Administration Disaster Loans. The May 6 flooding event did not meet FEMA’s threshold to request public assistance.
Gov. Jim Justice declared a State of Emergency for Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties Saturday due to heavy rainfall Friday that caused significant local flooding.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
Gov. Jim Justice declared a State of Emergency for Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties Saturday due to heavy rainfall Friday that caused significant local flooding.
A severe rainstorm caused flooding, power outages, and road blockages across all three counties. Weather reports indicated between two and four inches of rain fell Friday.
Heavy rains are not expected to continue but lighter rain will continue through Saturday with a half to three quarters of rain falling since midnight.
The Associated Press has confirmed at least one death in West Virginia as a result of flooding. Emergency crews recovered the body of a Milton man Friday evening after he was swept away by floodwaters.
Many major rivers throughout the state are high but are expected to crest below flood stage, according to the National Weather Service. Officials are keeping an eye on the Ohio River. It is expected to crest close to flood stage by Sunday.
Justice authorized the West Virginia Division of Emergency Management to support local counties and to use all state resources necessary. The state Emergency Operations Center is coordinating with officials in the declaration areas to determine their needs.
This state of emergency will remain in effect for 30 days unless terminated by a subsequent proclamation, according to the governor’s office.
The governor’s State of Preparedness for all 55 counties, which he declared Friday, remains in effect.
Only eight months after launching West Virginia’s first family treatment court, Boone County Judge William Thompson said the coronavirus pandemic caused some drastic changes to the program.
Family treatment court is a “problem solving court.” Instead of punishing parents in the abuse and neglect system for their addiction, it connects them to treatment options and resources to improve their parenting.
The goal, Thompson said, is to help parents reach recovery and get their kids back. As parents progress through the program, which consists of weekly meetings with himself and daily contact with a county case coordinator, they get more visits with their kids, until they’re ready for reunification.
Boone County had reunited its first family and was almost ready to reunite others, when COVID-19 hit West Virginia, causing the state to end most in-person court hearings and visitations for families with children in foster care.
“We had one young mother today who’s doing wonderful in the program and is at the point to be considered for reunification,” Thompson recalled from one of his weekly meetings, which he now conducts over phone and video conferencing. “And probably, but for the coronavirus, she would have had her child back with her at this point.”
In one meeting, the mother talked about learning her child had crawled for the first time.
“You could tell that for the mother, it was great that the baby crawled,” Thompson said, “but you could also tell it was breaking her heart that she didn’t get to see it.”
Hearing From The First Court
Thompson’s court was the first of five to launch family treatment court in West Virginia.
Advocates for the program say it could reduce the number of children in the state’s overwhelmed foster care system, who often are removed from their homes due to issues related to substance use disorder.
The programs were showing promising results, but now that the coronavirus crisis has restricted in-person gatherings, these five courts and their participants have been forced to adapt quickly. Inpatient treatment options are limited, and most outpatient appointments have moved to telehealth.
“While not perfect, and not ideal, we are doing the best we can in these circumstances,” said Thompson.
Credit Emily Allen / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting
West Virginia Public Broadcasting visited the Boone County Courthouse in August, before the first family treatment court in the state was launched.
On March 20, the state Department of Health and Human Resources began advising virtual visits instead of physical visits, for families involved with Child Protective Services. Many parents with children in foster care haven’t been able to see their kids since then.
Some families whose children are in kinship placement, either with a family member or family friend, have been allowed some visits with the court’s permission.
The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals issued an order on March 22 declaring a judicial emergency, which halted all nonessential, in-person hearings until May 15. The supreme court issued another order on Wednesday, allowing in-person hearings to resume on or after Monday, May 18.
Parents, Kids Face Digital Divide
In normal circumstances, family treatment court functions best when parents can maintain regular visits with their kids. According to Chautle Haught, who leads family treatment courts for the state supreme court, the strength of this program hinges on developing healthier, more nurturing relationships.
“We require these participants to be involved,” Haught said. “We want them at every doctor’s appointment, every school function. We want them present in their childrens’ lives, as much as they can, as long as there’s no safety concerns.”
She compared family treatment court to other problem-solving programs, like the adult and juvenile drug courts that already are active in West Virginia, helping people avoid incarceration for addiction-related crimes.
“The difference with us is that our courts are involved in the civil proceedings, not the criminal proceedings that your adult drug courts and juvenile drug courts are,” Haught said. Instead of jail or prison time, she said, parents in family treatment court risk losing custody of their children.
Even in a pandemic, Haught said parents have made excellent progress in their recovery from addiction.
With school events and appointments on hold, courts are increasing the number of video visits parents have with kids.
“We’re doing lots of telephone visits, we’ve got some of our foster parents equipped with the same type of technology for Zoom and Skype platforms,” said Judge Thompson in Boone County. “But that’s been by far the most difficult part. I have a participant who’s doing everything they’re supposed to be doing. And I can’t get them the in-person physical visits that they deserve.”
Roane County Judge Anita Harold Ashley, who launched her family treatment court in January, agreed her four participating families struggle the most with not seeing their kids — especially since many Roane County residents have a hard time regularly tuning into video calls, due to unreliable broadband access.
“With the fact that there’s really poor internet service, and most folks have bad cell service, it just breaks my heart if they’re not seeing their kids,” Ashley said.
An Inconvenient Time For A Global Pandemic
These challenges come just as family treatment courts were starting to show some promising results. The supreme court reports there are 50 adults involved in Boone, Nicholas, Ohio, Randolph and Roane counties, with roughly 100 to 150 children between them.
Boone County has 16 adult participants and roughly 25 children involved.
Other, newer courts have said they hope to have the same success. Like Nicholas County, which was the fifth in the state to launch a family treatment court in late February.
Stephanie Smith is the Nicholas County family treatment court case coordinator. Like Boone and Roane counties, she said the Nicholas County program is different now than the one they planned for earlier this year.
“We’ll be excited when we can safely get back to doing things like normal,” Smith said. “But until then, we’re just chugging along and everybody’s hanging in there, making it work right now.”
Smith still conducts home visits with adult participants every week. Sometimes, she brings others from the family treatment court team with her.
“I talk to them [the participants] every day, multiple times a day, phone calls, text, whatever,” Smith said of the parents. “When I went out there, I mean, you could just tell that they really enjoyed that face to face contact … It really made a difference.”
Recovery ‘Difficult Enough’ In Normal Time, Challenging During COVID-19
Most of the resources parents are connected to — namely, those for addiction treatment and parenting skills — have moved online or become remote. Sweat patches that last two weeks have replaced regular drug testing, for example.
When the patches need to be changed in Nicholas County, the participants can visit the local Day Report center, which is still open to those in family treatment court and the criminal justice system, dealing with addiction.
“It’s difficult enough when it’s a normal time, trying to keep people sober and making sure they don’t OD [overdose] or anything like that,” said Nicholas County Day Report Center Director Gary Jarrell.
Individuals reporting to the center who are involved with the criminal justice system check in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Jarrell said.
For them and family treatment court participants, the center has a recovery specialist on staff, who holds video meetings every week.
For those who need intensive inpatient care, Haught at the state supreme court said she’s in touch with probation services and their connections throughout the state.
The situation isn’t perfect, but there’s still evidence that families are benefiting from this program, according to Ohio County Family Treatment Court Coordinator Erin Jordan.
“There are some things that may not quite be able to happen,” Jordan said. “But they’re still going through their milestones. Some people have still advanced during all of this.”
Credit Emily Allen / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Judge William Thompson sits behind his desk in August.
In Boone County, Thompson noted parents are opening up more, and supporting each other in their weekly calls.
“They have sort of formed their own support system where they’ll depend on one another,” Thompson said. “It’s a stressful time, but they understand each other.”
Ohio County has even found a way to make family calls work, Jordan said, using money from grants that went to the five pilot counties, to support participants and provide incentives for their recoveries.
“We’ve ordered books, one for the child, one for the parent,” she said. “That way, with a video chat, the parents can read the book and the child can have the same book in their hands, looking at the pictures at the same time.”
Roane General Hospital is spending about $22 million to renovate its facilities in Spencer, West Virginia. A loan of $26 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cover most of the expansion.
There will be a new medical office building, offering more preventative wellness care for the community, including a gym and fitness center, free educational classes, health screenings and support groups.
People of Roane County have lower than average health outcomes, quality of life and longevity, compared with other counties across West Virginia, and the country, according to a report last year by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
And at a time when many rural hospitals across the country are closing, or consolidating, CEO Doug Bentz says he thinks Roane General Hospital will be able to stay financially viable by offering more specialty outpatient care, like chemotherapy. Currently, patients in Wirt and Roane Counties have to travel more than an hour to Parkersburg or Charleston to receive this type of care.
“But that’s something that is very, very taxing to a community member that has to drive three-five days a week and sit in a chair and receive chemo for four hours, and then drive back. What a burden that is,” Bentz said.
Roane General Hospital is the county’s largest private employer and has more than 300 employers. That number is expected to grow with the expansion, which is scheduled to be completed by May 2021.
