DoHS Announces Virtual Public Hearing for LIHEAP State Plan
The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) hosted a virtual public hearing to seek public comments on the Low-Incolme Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) on July 24, 2024. Although the virtual public meeting has passed, public comments on on the LIHEAP State Plan will be accepted until August 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Comments on the plan should be submitted via email to
DoHSPublicComments@wv.gov.
Click here to review the draft 2025 LIHEAP State Plan.
DoHS Accepting School Clothing Allowance Applications
The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) has begun accepting school clothing allowance applications on July 1, 2024, for eligible children enrolled in West Virginia schools.
Each eligible student will receive a $200 benefit that may be used toward the purchase of appropriate school clothing or piece goods for families who sew clothing for their children.
School clothing allowance program recipients will receive an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card in place of the traditional paper voucher. This system change allows for both online transactions and increased choice of vendors when purchasing school clothing or piece goods. The EBT card will operate like a debit card and can be used at any retailer who accepts EBT cash transactions. Parents or guardians of children in foster care will receive the school clothing allowance benefit as a check.
DoHS Bureau for Family Assistance, Division of Family Support
Difference Maker Conference 2024
The DoHS Bureau for Family Assistance, Division of Family Support recently hosted the Difference Maker Conference, on June 3-5, 2024 at
Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, in Charleston, West Virginia. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grantees, prevention funded grantees, and Local Department of Human Services (DoHS) Community Services Managers met in groups and networked with each other. National speakers on fatherhood engagement and working with families in poverty also participated in this conference. The goal of the conference was to bridge the connections among the various grants so that we can all work together for better outcomes for West Virginia families.
DoHS and WVDE Announce Launch of Summer EBT Program for West Virginians
4/17/2024
The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), in conjunction with the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE), today announced the launch of a new federal public benefit program to support school-age children residing in low-income households.
The West Virginia Summer EBT (WV-SEBT) program will provide short-term grocery benefit assistance to income-eligible households with school-age children during the summer months. The application period will open on April 22, 2024, and can be accessed at schoolcafe.com or by completing a paper application at a local DoHS county office.
“Ensuring every child has access to nutritious meals is a cornerstone of building strong, healthy communities,” said Janie Cole, DoHS Bureau for Family Assistance Commissioner. “The launch of the WV-SEBT program represents a crucial step forward in supporting our state’s residents by providing essential grocery assistance during the summer months, as we maintain our commitment to fostering a brighter future for West Virginia children.”
Unlike Pandemic EBT (PEBT), which ended when federal emergency orders expired, not all children that attend a school where all students eat for free will automatically receive the benefit. Children will be deemed eligible based upon their household’s low-income status. Eligible children include those attending a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and residing in a low-income household that qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals.
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