State Resources to help navigate
- WV Birth to Three
- a state-wide system of free in-home therapy services for infants and toddlers ages birth through 35 months who have developmental delays or are at risk of having developmental delays. You do not need a referral from a medical provider, and families/caregivers can request an evaluation for their child(ren) by calling (800) 642-8522 or (304) 558-5388.
- West Virginia Parent Training Information Center (WVPTI)
- a free advocacy and training services group that provides information to families and professionals who work with children who have disabilities. WVPTI has fact sheets and other information on state and federal special education law, the IEP process/planning, assistive technology, and inclusion. You can contact WVPTI at 1-800-281-1436.
- The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities
- a resource center located in Morgantown, WV for families who are seeking services related to Autism and other disabilities for children and their families. They provide a variety of services including social skills groups, parent support groups, group parent/teacher trainings, and one-on-one individualized training. You can find additional information on their website, www.cedwvu.org, or call the center at (304) 293-4692.
- https://cedwvu.org/families/pns
- https://cedwvu.org/media/4948/cedservicesflyer.pdf
- https://cedwvu.org/resources/
- https://cedwvu.org/services/
- a resource center located in Morgantown, WV for families who are seeking services related to Autism and other disabilities for children and their families. They provide a variety of services including social skills groups, parent support groups, group parent/teacher trainings, and one-on-one individualized training. You can find additional information on their website, www.cedwvu.org, or call the center at (304) 293-4692.
- The West Virginia Autism Training Center
- a resource for families in the state who need recommendations and referral sources. It also offers a Positive Behavior Support program that develops action plans to help ensure productive futures for children and adults on the autism spectrum. They can be reached at 1-800-344-5115. The West Virginia Autism Training Center website (www.marshall.edu/atc) also offers a variety of other helpful resources.
- Social Security Disability (SSI)
- based on both disability and household income eligibility for children with special health care needs. If children qualify, they are eligible for a WV Medical Card to help cover expenses and cost of care, in addition to funding from the state. To apply, contact your local DHHR office.
- Title 19 Home and Community Based Waiver (I/DD Waiver)
- run through APS Healthcare. The IDD Waiver provides a lifetime medical card and a host of other services for children and adults with lifelong disabilities. These services may include respite care, case management, paid transportation, financial support and therapeutic services. To apply, call 1-866-385-8920.
- WVU College of Law Child and Family Law Clinic
- provides legal assistance on a sliding fee scale to qualified children and families. They can assist with family law (i.e., matters of domestic violence, protection orders, adoption, custody, and guardianship matters), education law (i.e., special education and early intervention advocacy), housing (i.e., landlord-tenant issues, public housing problems), trust and estate law (i.e., special needs trusts and wills), and other legal issues that impact children and families.They primarily service Monongalia, Marion, Preston, Taylor, Barbour, Harrison, Randolph, Doddridge, Lewis, and Ritchie counties. For information, call (304) 293-6808.
- Diapers and Pull-ups
- free of charge through the WV Medical Card for children age 3 and up. A prescription from your child’s doctor indicating “urinary incontinence is required. Caregivers can then take their child’s medical card and the prescription to a local home health care supply company that provides incontinence supplies. One company that ships supplies to children throughout the state is Aeroflow Urology, and you can contact them at 1-844-276-5588. If you need a script, please just email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or text us at 304-599-8000!
- UnPuzzled Parents Connect Support Group
- A place to connect with families just like yours that also provides: Emotional Support, Resources, Guidance, Help Advocate, Education, and fun events! They have wonderful guest speakers and provide information. Their mission is to help families and caregivers to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Camp Gizmo
- A five day, hands-on camp where parents, professionals, and students learn how assistive technology can help young children (birth – 8 years) with significant and/or multiple developmental needs. It is typically held in July on the campus of the WV Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Romney, WV.
- Project Life Saver
- a search and rescue system using radio transmitters and electronic tracking equipment. This transmitter bracelet is worn by individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are at risk for elopement. Services are often free of charge, or available for a low monthly fee. To find a provider nearest you, please visit their website www.projectlifesaver.org, click “about us” and then “find an agency” to type in your zip code.Healthy Grandfamilies is a free initiative led by West Virginia State University to provide information and resources to grandparents who are raising one or more grandchildren. The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
- Healthy Grandfamilies
- provides information about parenting in the 21st century, changing family dynamics, technology and social media, nutrition, legal issues, healthcare, stress management, negotiating the public school system, locating community resources, advocacy, and other valuable topics and resources. More information can be found at http://healthygrandparents.comFMRS Health Systems, Inc. provides behavioral health services for Fayette, Monroe, Raleigh, and Summers Counties. They provide a variety of services including Parent Peer Support specialists to help children and families navigate services and ensure they receive the most appropriate level of care. Parent Peer Support is typically used when a family has multiple needs due to caring for a child with severe behavioral or developmental problems. The Parent Peer Support specialist can assist the child and their family in navigating complex systems by providing advocacy and linkage/referral to community resources. The Parent Peer Support specialist facilitates parent support groups and meets one on one with families throughout the region. FMRS Health Systems, Inc. also provide Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Adolescent Substance Abuse Services,Children’s Mobile Crisis Response, Children’s Wraparound, School-Based Mental Health Services, Regional Youth Support, and Life Space Crisis Intervention. FMRS Health Systems, Inc. accept children and youth ages 3+ regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
- Fayetteville, WV (304) 574-2100
- Beckley, WV (304) 256-7100
- Hinton, WV (304) 466-3899
- Union, WV (304) 772-5452
- provides information about parenting in the 21st century, changing family dynamics, technology and social media, nutrition, legal issues, healthcare, stress management, negotiating the public school system, locating community resources, advocacy, and other valuable topics and resources. More information can be found at http://healthygrandparents.comFMRS Health Systems, Inc. provides behavioral health services for Fayette, Monroe, Raleigh, and Summers Counties. They provide a variety of services including Parent Peer Support specialists to help children and families navigate services and ensure they receive the most appropriate level of care. Parent Peer Support is typically used when a family has multiple needs due to caring for a child with severe behavioral or developmental problems. The Parent Peer Support specialist can assist the child and their family in navigating complex systems by providing advocacy and linkage/referral to community resources. The Parent Peer Support specialist facilitates parent support groups and meets one on one with families throughout the region. FMRS Health Systems, Inc. also provide Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Adolescent Substance Abuse Services,Children’s Mobile Crisis Response, Children’s Wraparound, School-Based Mental Health Services, Regional Youth Support, and Life Space Crisis Intervention. FMRS Health Systems, Inc. accept children and youth ages 3+ regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
- Children’s Mobile Crisis Response Center (CMRC)
- sends a behavioral health crisis responder to the home or other location in the community 24/7 for children ages 0-21 years. Their goal is to respond within 1 hour or less following a crisis call. The CMRC serves the following WV counties: Barbour, Beckley (or within a 1-hour drive from Beckley, WV), Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Raleigh, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur. For pre-enrollment through FMRS for Beckley or Raleigh counties, call (304) 256-7100 and ask for a member of the Children’s Mobile Crisis Response team. For pre-enrollment through United Summit Center for Barbour, Braxton, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Upshur counties, call (844) WV-KIDS-1 and ask for a member of Children’s Mobile Crisis Response team.
- WV Children’s Mental Health Wraparound Project
- provide a comprehensive, holistic, youth and family-driven way of responding when children or youth experience serious mental health or behavior challenges. Wraparound puts the child or youth and family at the center. Wraparound serves children ages 0-21 years with a mental health diagnosis or an intellectual or developmental disability combined with serious behavioral or mental health concerns that are affecting the child or youth at home, school, or in the community and putting him or her at risk of out-of-home placement. The young person and their family work with a Wraparound facilitator to build their Wraparound team, which can include the family’s friends and people from the community, as well as service providers and other local supports. For more information, you can contact the WV Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities at (304) 356-4820.
- Resilience for Appalachia (RAPP) – Youth Overcoming Trauma Project
- funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is a collaboration between FMRS Health Systems, Inc., Southern Highlands Community Mental Health Center, and Seneca Health Services, Inc. The primary goal of RAPP is to bring evidenced-based, trauma-informed treatment to the children of Southern West Virginia. Therapists across three comprehensive agencies are trained in evidenced-based treatment models to better serve our region, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). RAPP is working to change how all child-serving agencies approach children and families by facilitating trauma informed care training throughout the region. Call the RAPP coordinator at (888) 811-1844 to find the therapist closest to you.