Delegates are considering legislation designed to assist students with foster care backgrounds.
West Virginia has 5,915 child welfare placements, according to the state’s child welfare data dashboard.
House Bill 4573 seeks to ensure young and vulnerable people moving into adulthood are made aware of the available support framework to successfully navigate their post-secondary lives.
The House Education Committee started discussing the bill on Wednesday afternoon and will consider it for passage out of the committee during a future meeting.
The bill mandates that the Department of Education create a comprehensive Foster Youth Resource Guide and provide specialized training for school counselors and coaches.
Local school boards would be responsible for ensuring these students receive vital information about higher education, employment training, and housing before they graduate.
By establishing these requirements, the sponsors of the bill aim to bridge the gap in support for foster youth transitioning to adulthood and independent living.
Notably the legislation includes provisions to protect student privacy by not requiring the disclosure of an individual’s foster care history.
The bill’s lead sponsor, Delegate Lori Dittman, described its goals to members of the education committee.
“West Virginia offers support such as education and training vouchers, mentoring, transitional living, housing vouchers and life skills coaching. However, this is the problem we’re trying to solve. Many students do not know that these programs exist,” said Dittman, R-Braxton.
“So what this bill ensures is that foster youth receive a foster youth resource guide, counselor, supports and information before graduating, while protecting their privacy as well.”
She emphasized that such programs are already available to students, but Dittman said the aim is to make sure young people are aware of the help.
“And so helping foster youth transition successfully will reduce homelessness, increase workforce participation, and it will save taxpayers dollars, and it will put hopefully, somebody on the path that they never considered before,” she said.
Delegate Laura Kimble, R-Harrison, said she appreciates the intent of the bill but wondered how it would be clear to schools what students need the help.
“So when you when a child is in foster care, does the school always know if that child is in foster care?” Kimble asked.
Dittman responded, “They may not, but a large amount of time they do, and it would be — I would think they would make a general announcement and if you happen to be in foster care, then you would know, ‘Oh, I have opportunities for me. I will go talk to the counselor.'”