The West Virginia House of Delegates has passed a resolution expressing support for the Crisis Recovery Network coordinated by the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). This network aims to provide long-term counseling support to schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions in West Virginia following crises such as natural disasters and school shootings. The resolution highlights the need for sustained recovery efforts, particularly in rural areas where resources and counseling staff are limited. It emphasizes that school counselors often face emotional challenges themselves while trying to support students, underscoring the necessity for external assistance to aid the entire school community during recovery.

The resolution calls for a coordinated, region-wide effort to enhance counseling capacity immediately after a crisis, with the SREB leading this initiative. The SREB will work alongside state education agencies, local districts, and postsecondary institutions to deploy trained counselors to schools in need, focusing on long-term healing and psychological resilience. Additionally, the resolution includes provisions for hiring a coordinator for the network and covering travel costs for counselors involved in training and deployment. A copy of the resolution will be forwarded to the West Virginia Emergency Management Division to ensure awareness and collaboration on this important initiative.