The Bureau’s Office of Children, Youth and Families administers programs to promote the behavioral health of children and youth in West Virginia communities through primary prevention and individualized services for mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
We envision healthy communities where integrated resources are accessible for everyone to achieve wellness, personal goals, and self-determination.
Supporting Children at School
Expanded School Mental Health is a comprehensive system of behavioral health services and programs that builds on core services provided by schools. ESMH includes the full continuum of prevention, early intervention, and treatment. Prevention strategies work by either increasing protective factors (e.g., resiliency, social involvement, recognition of positive behavior) or decreasing risk factors (e.g., preventing early initiation of substance use, low socioeconomic status). The West Virginia Bureau for Behavioral Health (BBH) partners with the WV Department of Education to provide Expanded School Mental Health in select schools in Cabell, Clay and Harrison counties.
Project Aware (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) State Education Agency Grant, a partnership with the WV Department of Education, supports comprehensive plans of activities, services and strategies to decrease youth violence and the healthy development of school-aged children.
Treating Youth with Substance Use Disorder and/or Serious Mental Illness
First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Program, Quiet Minds, provides for the early identification and treatment of FEP. Quiet Minds is a collaborative, recovery-oriented approach for youth ages 14-30 who are experiencing first episode psychosis, therefore reducing the disruption to the young person’s functioning and psychosocial development.
Regional Youth Service Centers (RYSCs) coordinate community-based mental health services for youth and young adults ages 12-25 and partners with families and youth. RYSCs provide substance use treatment, including early detection and recovery support services, and other types of mental health treatment and recovery wellbeing services.
Children's Mental Health Wraparound Services provide resources to help children, ages 0-21 who have a mental health diagnosis, or an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) combined with a serious behavioral health or mental health concern. Children’s Mental Health Wraparound helps children and families plan and receive the support they need while remaining in their homes and communities.
The Children’s Crisis and Referral Line can link families with Mobile Crisis Response and Stabilization Teams or other community-based services, including WV Wraparound.
West Virginia Wraparound
Wraparound and Children's Mobile Crisis Response and Stabilization, Family Resources and Provider Training Programs for serving youth and families with the highest needs.
Preventing Suicide and Substance Use/Misuse
Substance Use Prevention focuses on helping individuals develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to make good choices or change harmful behaviors. Substance use prevention and early intervention efforts are most effective when they are ongoing, evidence-based, and implemented with fidelity.
The Prevention First Network is made up of six regional Prevention Lead Organizations that provide substance use prevention throughout all 55 counties in West Virginia. Prevention First is a proactive, comprehensive stance to showcase the importance of substance use/misuse prevention throughout West Virginia.
BBH's Suicide Prevention Program offers helpful resources and evidence-based training for the prevention of suicide. Suicide is preventable and suicide prevention works.
Synar Program and Retailer Education
The Synar Program and Retailer Education resulting from the federal Synar Amendment, named for its sponsor, Congressman Mike Synar, requires states to have laws prohibiting the sale and distribution of tobacco products to minors. West Virginia’s Synar Program includes merchant/retailer education and conducting random/unannounced federally required inspections of tobacco retailers.
The Statewide Family Advisory Board is a forum where families are heard. The purpose of the Statewide and Regional Family Advisory Board is for families to provide feedback to BBH's Office of Children, Youth and Families and local mental health agencies. The feedback assists in improving services.
The Family Advocacy Support and Training (FAST) Program is a statewide parent and youth network that engages families in the planning, management and evaluation of their child’s education. FAST has five regional advocates, an attorney, and a statewide resource specialist and serves all 55 West Virginia counties.
FAST Flyer The FAST Referral form can be accessed
here.
Regional Family Coordinators can help you find resources in your area and direct you through those services. Do you have a need in your family and do not know where to start searching? Are you or is someone in your family anxious, depressed or struggling with substance use? Are you or your children frustrated with virtual learning? Are your children in need of school supplies or food? Do you need support with parenting? Family Coordinators can direct you to resources you need.
Family Connections Newsletters
Reducing Risk for Youth
Children’s Mobile Crisis Response supports families with youth ages 0-21 experiencing an emotional or behavioral crisis through BBH's Children’s Mobile Crisis Response and Stabilization line at 1-844-HELP4WV or 1-844-435-7498.
Individuals will be linked to Children's Mobile Crisis services in their region. The family defines what is a crisis for the child or youth. Families do not have to have medical insurance or be enrolled in additional services to access this important service, which is available to help disrupt and de-escalate the crisis. The Crisis Specialist will respond immediately once they are called, and if desired come to the home, school, or community approximately within one hour of the request. Families can also be linked with o
ther community-based services through the Children’s Crisis and Referral Line.
Regional Transition Navigator Program (RTN) - The RTN program is jointly funded by the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) and Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this program aims to connect youths and young adults aged 14-25 with SED, SMI, or SUD with needed services and supports to develop independent living skills, create and cultivate natural supports, navigate the various systems, access and participate in treatment and recovery services, and thrive in all eight dimensions of wellness (see https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma16-4953.pdf). Also, the RTN program has a subpopulation of focus with that emphasis on reaching and engaging with those experiencing homelessness, or who are aging out of foster care or juvenile detention, or at risk for human trafficking. For more information or to make a referral, please check out the program website at https://rtn.cedwvu.org/.
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources funds four master-level
Regional Clinical Coordinators (RCCs) with clinical and child-serving system experience and knowledge who are tasked with building comprehensive review teams to pool additional experts across child-serving systems. The RCCs coordinate with professionals and families to identify a child’s mental health needs and develop recommendations to meet those needs.
WV Teen Court is a unique “second chance” justice program for youth between the ages of 11 and 18 who are alleged to have committed a status offense or an act of delinquency which would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult. Upon successful completion of the program charges against the defendant are dismissed.
The Children's Crisis and Referral Line (statewide and 24/7) serves children, youth, and young adults ages 0-21 who are in emotional distress or with a diagnosis of a serious emotional disturbance or serious mental illness and their families who are in crisis or seeking referrals to appropriate community-based behavioral health services and supports for children, youth, and young adults.
The Children’s Crisis and Referral Line can link families with Mobile Crisis Response and Stabilization Teams or other community-based services, including WV Wraparound.