Closure of Elkins Children’s Home Raises Alarm Over West Virginia’s Child Welfare System
Elkins, WV – In a disheartening turn of events, the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) announced the impending closure of the West Virginia Children’s Home by year-end, jeopardizing critical resources for vulnerable juveniles. Originally intended as a site for a children’s crisis center, the facility has been a refuge for foster children, who faced dire circumstances due to a lack of suitable placements.
Governor Jim Justice had previously touted plans for the crisis center to address mental health crises among children—a pressing issue with reports of kids being housed in emergency rooms or hotels. However, as the closure looms, stakeholders are concerned over the fallout. Cammie Chapman, DoHS deputy secretary, acknowledged that efforts to operationalize the center never materialized.
The facility’s shutdown will exacerbate existing gaps in West Virginia’s child welfare, already marked by a shortage of in-state group homes and mental health resources. Circuit Judge David Wilmoth highlighted the necessity for crisis shelters, stating that the lack of options forces children into inappropriate temporary accommodations such as hotels or emergency shelters.
As a legislative oversight committee prepares for a December meeting with DoHS, lawmakers like Del. Amy Summers stress the need for comprehensive plans for child placements. Del. Jonathan Pinson and Del. Adam Burkhammer echoed these sentiments, underlining the urgency for safe, stable environments for children removed from homes.
In response to the growing concerns, Jim Kauffman from the West Virginia Hospital Association and Jim McKay of Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia emphasized the need for better access to mental health services to prevent crises from escalating. The imminent closure, along with the unrealized crisis center, highlights a critical juncture for West Virginia’s approach to child welfare and the urgent need for reform.
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Photo credit westvirginiawatch.com
