DoHS Extends Application Period for Low Income Energy Assistance Program
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) has extended the
application period for the
Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) by two weeks. Applications will now be accepted through December 13, 2024. This federally-funded program provides financial assistance to eligible households to help cover the cost of home heating.
LIEAP eligibility is determined by household income, size, and responsibility for paying heating costs. For fiscal year 2025, households with incomes up to 60% of the state median income, for household sizes up to seven members, may qualify. For larger households, income eligibility increases to 150% of the federal poverty level. Applicants must meet all program criteria to qualify.
Applications have been mailed to residents who are most vulnerable, including those who received LIEAP benefits last season. Residents can also access applications in the following ways:
- Online: Visit
wvpath.wv.gov to download and complete an application.
- In Person: Applications are available at local DoHS county offices, community action agencies, or senior centers operated by Area Agencies on Aging.
DoHS Enhances Child Welfare Prevention Efforts
with New Pilot Program, Expanded FSCs
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) is advancing its commitment to strategic long term family preservation and child welfare prevention by launching a new CarePortal pilot program and strengthening partnerships and investment in Family Support Centers (FSCs) across the state.
“These initiatives reflect our unwavering dedication to supporting families and preventing the need for foster care placements,” said Cammie Chapman, DoHS Deputy Secretary of Children and Adult Services. “By connecting communities and empowering local support systems, we are reinforcing our commitment to keeping families together and promoting the well-being of children across West Virginia.”
CarePortal, a dynamic tool for family support, is designed to help prevent biological families from entering the child welfare system by meeting their essential needs. The system connects families to local faith-based organizations through a secure platform, allowing Family Support Center staff, social workers and other child and family-serving professionals to post urgent requests for material supports that can prevent child welfare involvement – such as the need for furniture, appliances, or clothing – to be fulfilled by volunteer groups within the community. This initiative is being piloted in Preston and Monongalia counties through a collaboration with Chestnut Mountain Village, a program of Chestnut Mountain Ranch.
“CarePortal has the potential to transform the way we support families in crisis by creating a bridge between the community and those in need,” said Greg Clutter, Chestnut Mountain Village Director of Foster Care Initiatives. “We believe that through this pilot program, we can demonstrate the power of community-based action in preventing family separation and ensuring children can remain safely with their parents.”
DoHS’s Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) has also made significant strategic, long term investments to the FSC system. These centers welcome any family member with children up to the age of 18 or pregnant families, offering vital support in times of need or on a regular basis. FSCs deliver comprehensive primary prevention services and are currently present in 57 centers across 54 counties in West Virginia.
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Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
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