This bill aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by establishing a new framework for the care of foster children, specifically by creating a Central Reception Center and a network of Emergency Resource Homes. The legislation seeks to eliminate the practice of placing children in hotels due to insufficient foster care placements. The Central Reception Center will serve as a temporary holding facility that provides supervised care, comprehensive assessments, and behavioral stabilization services for children awaiting permanent placements. It will operate 24/7 and ensure that no child stays longer than 48 hours before being placed in an Emergency Resource Home or another suitable foster home.

Additionally, the bill mandates the West Virginia Department of Human Services to expand the recruitment and licensing of Emergency Resource Homes to ensure adequate emergency placements across the state. Emergency Resource Home parents will receive specialized training, financial incentives, and support from crisis response teams. The funding for these initiatives will come from state appropriations, federal grants, and private partnerships. The bill also includes provisions for penalties and enforcement, requiring the Department to develop corrective action plans if it fails to reduce hotel placements, and mandates annual reporting to the Legislature on the program's effectiveness. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage, with full implementation required within 12 months.

Statutes affected:
Committee Substitute: 49-12-1, 49-12-2, 49-12-3, 49-12-4
Introduced Version: 49-2A-1, 49-2A-2, 49-2A-3, 49-2A-4, 49-2A-5, 49-2A-6, 49-2A-7, 49-2A-8