CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia children considered truant occupy more than 100 beds in West Virginia care facilities that could be used by some of the 400 children currently placed outside the state for treatment.
State Department of Human Services Secretary Alex Mayer said his department discovered the number as it continues to look for ways to bring kids home.
“We find that a lot of our in-state facilities, particular those at the highest level of care which are three and a half facilities, are significantly populated with truancy youth,” Mayer told members of the House of Delegates Finance Committee last week. “Truancy youth are ordered there (by judges) and are there because there are on-ground schools.”
Mayer said the high number of truancy placements, truancy being excessive absenteeism from school, plays a role in sending kids out of state.
“That’s over a hundred kids that are now being sent out of state if they can’t access those beds,” he told the committee.
House Bill 4021, which would create the Bring Them Home Fund, passed the House Health Committee last month and is before the Finance Committee.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey has said bringing those children home would be a focus this legislative session.
The bill would create a fund to be used in several ways, including renovating existing state-owned facilities to provide services to children, developing treatment programs, expanding the child welfare provider network, and other related initiatives.
Curtis Capehart, Director of Policy for Governor Morrisey, told the Health Committee the bill would help bridge the gap between those children and in-state facilities.
“This bill is a step in remedying that problem, HB4021 would set in place mechanisms that would renovate West Virginia’s existing childcare facilities, state owned facilities, and state-owned properties and bring home our kids that are currently placed out-of-state,” Capehart said when he testified before the House Health Committee.
Mayer said last week his department is taking a look at the truancy placements to see how many are uniquely truant or if the children have other behavioral issues that would require placement. He said the department is starting discussions with judges about possible other options.
“We’ve spoke to different judges about ways we can better support this population. We recognize it’s a need and we want to be at the table supporting that effort,” Mayer said. “We have to do it the right way and we have to incorporate the right systems who are most appropriate in taking care and addressing those challenges.”
Mayer said there’s got to be a better way to handle truant children.
“We see ourselves as a partner in that effort but certainly there’s a better way to do what we’re trying to do than what we’re currently doing because it’s creating real consequences and challenges,” Mayer said.