CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A two-day conference kicked off Wednesday morning in Charleston to recognize the state DHHR’s achievements in child welfare statewide.
The event featured opening remarks from First Lady Tomblin, as well as DHHR Cabinet Secretary Karen Bowling. Bowling said children is the DHHR’s top priority.
“We want to really think about how we deal with children and families differently,” Bowling said. ‘We want to inspire other people to understand the changes we’re making are to improve the health and well-being of the families of West Virginia.”
With a drug epidemic affecting people all over the Mountain State, Bowling said another primary concern is saving children whose parents are addicts by ensuring they wind up in a better environment.
“Many (drug addicts) do have children. Our first and top priority has to be the safety of the child,” she said. “On the other hand, we have to help the whole family. Because if the substance abuse is an epidemic throughout West Virginia, putting the child with a relative may not even be an option today.”
Bowling was pleased with the progress the DHHR had made in handling children, but said they can’t let up in their efforts.
“We’ve really done a good job of focusing on trauma informed care; how children undergo trauma every time they’re removed from the home,” said Bowling. “We have to continue to colloborate because it’s a very big system to change and it’s not going to be easy. We have to continue our partnerships and think about ways to keep children in their home communities.”
Casey Family Programs is hosting the meetings Wednesday and Thursday at the Embassy Suites in Charleston.
The organization is the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and building Communities of Hope for children and families across America.