KVC West Virginia (KVC) is expanding its Safe at Home, Children with Serious Emotional Disorder Waiver (CSEDW), and foster care programs in the Eastern and Northern Panhandle regions of West Virginia. Growth into these regions will allow KVC to serve over 200 more families each year and fill a gap in access to services identified by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.  

Lemon

“Access to supportive, in-home wraparound services for children and families reduces the need for disruptive out-of-home care, and keeps families safely together,” said Brent Lemon, KVC West Virginia President. “I’m thrilled we are going to be serving these areas and addressing the increasing need for child welfare and mental health treatment across the state.”  

Families in the Eastern Panhandle will be able to access these new in-home wraparound and behavioral health services from KVC starting May 1, 2022. In the Northern Panhandle, these services are currently available and KVC’s expansion will allow it to serve more families in the region. KVC is actively recruiting for more than 30 social work and mental health professionals in these regions. KVC has opened a new office in Martinsburg, West Virginia to support operations in the Eastern region. 

“Not only is KVC providing transforming services to local kids and families, but we’re also fostering hope and healing,” said Sarah Marshall, KVC West Virginia Regional Director for the Eastern Panhandle.   

More than 6,000 youth are in foster care in West Virginia and there is a significant need for more foster parents, especially for teenagers and sibling groups. Many of these youth have experienced abuse, neglect, or other life challenges and have been removed from their homes by the courts for their safety. 

About KVC West Virginia

KVC West Virginia is a private, nonprofit child welfare organization that provides a diverse array of services including foster care, adoption, in-home family preservation services, and outpatient psychiatric and behavioral healthcare. In partnership with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Children and Families, we utilize the Safe at Home West Virginia program to maximize the benefits of home and community-based services for children in out-of-home care. KVC is accredited by The Joint Commission. The organization is a subsidiary of KVC Health Systems which touches the lives of more than 60,000 children and families each year. Learn more at www.kvcwv.org.

KVC West Virginia’s parent organization, KVC Health Systems, is a family of private, nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations that strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and help people achieve mental health wellness. The organization has about 1,500 professionals nationwide across 35 locations in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Kentucky, and West Virginia. KVC has positively impacted the lives of over 300,000 people in its 50+ year history of providing heart-centered service. To learn more, visit www.kvc.org.

Contact:

Brent Lemon, LCSW
KVC West Virginia President
(859) 333 – 3522
blemon@kvc.org