State to change its child abuse and neglect referral system, partners with nonprofit

The West Virginia Department of Human Services is located in the former Department of Health and Human Resources building, located at One Davis Square in Charleston, W.Va. (Lexi Browning | West Virginia Watch)

The West Virginia Department of Human Services will change how it screens referrals and manages cases involving child abuse and neglect. Child welfare leaders hope to better support families who may need assistance but not an investigation. 

DoHS leaders last month told reporters that they were editing their abuse and neglect  screening process amid questions of how DoHS handled the high profile case involving 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller. 

The girl was found emaciated in her Boone County home in April. 

West Virginia State Police shared a document and audio saying that they made a referral to a local Child Protective Services office about the girl in March 2023. The referral cited concerns for her mental health. 

While state leaders maintained that DoHS did not have a recent referral for Miller, they also explained that a mental health concern would have triggered a response from Child Protective Services.

On Wednesday, DoHS announced in a news release that the department partnered with nonprofit organization Evident Change to design and implement the new Structured Decision Making tool for its Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect system. 

“This system will enable the department to better serve families in West Virginia, particularly in cases that do not meet the standards for abuse and neglect investigation but still require our attention and support,” said DoHS Cabinet Secretary Cynthia Persily. “This department’s goal is to provide a more tailored and effective response to the unique needs of each family in West Virginia, ultimately strengthening the community as a whole.”

The change will enable DoHS staff in making consistent, accurate and equitable decisions throughout their work with families, according to the release. It will also connect families with the greatest needs to resources.

If you suspect the abuse or neglect of a child or adult, call the Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect at
1-800-352-6513.

West Virginia families are 2.3 times more likely than families nationally to be referred to child welfare, and a West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy report found poverty can be a driving factor more than abuse and neglect. 

More than 3,500 calls were made to the CPS intake system in June, according to department data. 

“We are excited to collaborate with Evident Change as this initiative represents a significant advancement in our efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of children and adults across West Virginia,” said Jeff Pack, DoHS Bureau for Social Services Commissioner. “By using the Structured Decision Making tool, we can make more informed decisions that will positively impact the lives of families in our communities.”

The project kicked off on Wednesday with the goal of statewide implementation in January 2026.

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