The Joint Committee on Children and Families met this evening and heard a presentation on youth homelessness. In West Virginia, there are 15,101 students experiencing homelessness; there are students outside of foster care. Of these students experiencing homelessness, 86 % are living with others, 5.4% are staying in shelters, 4.3% are in hotels and motels, and 4.3% are unsheltered.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act allows students experiencing homelessness the same access to education as students who are not homeless. The act allows for services, such as tutoring and therapy, programs, such as free lunch and Head Start preschools, and resources, such as clothing and transportation, to be provided to these students. The act gives the students options about which school they want to attend.

McKinney-Vento Liaisons can help students get into pathway programs to earn credits and a diploma to graduate from high school. Liaisons do struggle to get federal identification for older students, which leads to issues with housing and jobs.

The committee heard about the proposed 2026 legislation:

• Casework Service Aide pilot program
• Monthly BHS status meetings of county entities
• Residential treatment facility for children
• Pay raise for panel attorneys for those serving in juvenile neglect and abuse cases – guardian ad litem assistance
• Required court orders to be followed timely and not delayed
• Pay raise for investigative services, paralegal services
• CPS workers wear a body camera, only to be turned off if the investigation or the privacy of the child could be compromised
• Expansion of the WV state police child protection unit
• Head deadline of 12 months for disposition of child abuse and neglect cases
• Increases the circumstances where termination of rights can be applied
• Statewide Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan
• Pilot program for the use of mobile devices for CPS workers in the field of digital paperwork for better reporting of information
• Kindship care payment to be equal to foster care payment
• Assessment at initial time of placement for clothing vouchers

• A 3% aggregate premium increase for both employees and employers
• Spousal surcharge increase of $200 for a total of $550
• Plan D will be converted to a lower-value plan to offer options.
• • Plan D premiums will decrease 34%
  • Plan D coinsurance will decrease from 80% to 75%
  • Plan D deductibles will increase by 425%
  • Plan D’s max out-of-pocket will increase by 55%
  • Plan D will be given a one-time $500 employer-funded HSA or HRA from the employer.
• PEIA PPB plans will be renamed
• • Plan A = PPB Gold
  • Plan C = PPB Gold high-deductible plan
  • Plan B = PPB Silver
  • Plan D = PPB WV Bronze high-deductible plan

• A 3% aggregate premium increase for both employees and employers
• Plan D will be converted to a lower-value plan to offer options.
• • Plan D premiums will decrease 34%
  • Plan D coinsurance will decrease from 80% to 75%
  • Plan D deductibles will increase by 425%
  • Plan D’s max out-of-pocket will increase by 55%
• Employers need to have 50% participation.
• Plan C – increased premiums, deductibles, and max out of pocket of 5%
• Adjust non-state coverage tiers, deductibles, and MOOP and/or premium by 5%
• • The employee with children plan will decrease 5%
  • Family tiers increase 5% to cover higher costs.

• Non-Medicare premium increase 3%
• Medicare premium increase 3%
• Increase retiree Paygo from $10 million to $55 million.
• Designating $30 mil of FY25 investment funds as a retiree premium stabilization reserve

• A call is made to the centralized intake unit.
• Additional questions are asked to the caller for additional information.
• The report is sent to the supervisor, who determines whether it is screened in or out, and a response time is assigned to the referral, ranging from 0 to 72 hours.
• **14-day response is only used for educational neglect*
• If the referral is screened in, it goes to the district where the parent is located.
• The district team assesses the case for current or impending danger to the child.
• During a home visit, the worker reviews the child’s function, the parent’s function, and any other family members’ functions in the home.
• The worker may consult with their supervisor if needed.
• A decision is made regarding child safety.
• • If safe, CPS involvement ends.
  • If unsafe, workers will determine whether removal is necessary or whether services can be provided to reach safety.
  • • If services can be provided and the child is deemed safe, CPS involvement ends.
    • If not, the child(ren) is removed.
• If a child is removed, an improvement plan is developed for reunification.
• • If followed, reunification is possible. It is the goal.
  • If not, the parental rights can be terminated.

• Once the child receives permanency, CPS involvement ends.

The Joint Education Committee toured Bluefield State University during travel interims today. First, the committee heard from professors and students in the education program. The presenters highlighted community partnerships with Mercer County Technical Education Center, McDowell County Technical Education Center, and with local schools for hiring and substituting positions while students are in school. The university participates in the Grow Your Own Program, which allows students to begin on the education track in high school. Students then come to Bluefield for a year or two, then return to their home county for a residency.

The presenters noted that they provide the courses necessary for current substitutes to receive the alternative certification for teaching. The alternative certification is a program provided by the West Virginia Department of Education to address the teacher shortage. The individuals in the program at Bluefield are already in the classroom teaching; their certification provides them with the guidance needed. The university also offers online programs for elementary education and multidisciplinary special education.

Next, the committee received a tour of the mining, engineering, and technology programs. In the mining program, there are 17 students. All types of mining are covered in the courses. Courses are developed with industry professionals, who also teach and present in the classroom. The instructors and course creators work with and listen to the partners in the field to ensure they are preparing their students for the future. The same partners are the ones hiring the graduates in the industry. Currently, the mining program has more scholarships available than students, but they are hoping to change that as the program continues to grow.

The committee toured a variety of engineering and technology labs including the mechanical lab, where 3D printing and robotics take place; the process control lab, which allows students to learn how to troubleshoot a variety of issues that may arise using technology they will see in the field; the electric control lab, which demonstrates what students will see in field and has controls for wiring, meter reading and PLC equipment; the civil engineering and technology lab, where students test soil and materials as well as learn about construction and development; and the machine shop. The committee also heard from students in the computer science and software engineering programs. Every student who spoke in these programs stated that they had had ample opportunities for internships. They stated that they were well prepared to step into the industry with what they learned at Bluefield State University. The motto repeated during the visit was “Small School, Big Opportunities.” The committee continued on for a tour of the nursing programs.

The Joint Committee on Education toured Concorded University to see improvements to the university and hear from faculty, staff, and students. The tour began in the updated athletics facility, the Carter Center. Concord offers 18 sports and has over 500 student-athletes. In the updated facility, seven sports can be practiced simultaneously. Presenters mentioned the antigravity treadmill, stating that the school is the only Division 2 university with this treadmill, which is important in the rehabilitation of athletes’ injuries. The coaches expressed the importance of being competitive to recruit at a national level, but being able to build relationships to retain players.

Concord’s motto is: Come to learn, go to serve. The university has been known for education, business, and social work programs. However, the university is expanding into the health sciences with the new physician’s assistant program and the nursing program. The university’s enrollment this fall was just under 2,000 students, with around 1600 being from West Virginia. There are 307 graduate students at Concord.

The social work program offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees. From 2022 to 2025, the program had 661 bachelor’s students with 83 graduates. During the same time, the program had 923 master’s students with 323 graduates. Most of the social work graduates are from West Virginia. The education program received the annual assessment achievement award for 2023-2024. Half of the students are NOYCE grant recipients, which is a fellowship for undergraduates who have a STEM degree and wish to earn a master’s in education. Additionally, the university offers an online elementary program, which has allowed nontraditional students to earn a degree.

The science, math, and health program updates have provided a safe and modern place for students to learn. The mathematics and computer science programs are modernized and offer partnerships with Mercer County Technical School. The biology program has received renovated lab spaces with Anatomage tables, which allow students to study anatomy digitally. The physical and environmental science programs utilized $5 million in external grants for the Rare Elements Analysis Center, which houses the electron microprobe (EMP) – a high-magnification microscope that uses electrons, instead of light, to examine a sample. The EMP has been utilized to analyze samples for scientists worldwide.

In social sciences, the university has seen an uptick in students getting involved in student political organizations, applying for grants, and utilizing AI. In the health sciences, faculty and students have been involved in conferences and medical missions. The nursing program graduated its first cohort, with 100 percent exam passage and job placement. The nursing program is a four-year program. Students receive hands-on experience guided by professors through research and fieldwork. The nursing program offers a simulation lab and skills lab with mannequins, with the technology to respond to interactions with students. These allow students to practice nursing skills with life-like patients. It is an extension of the clinical setting. The first physician’s assistant program has 24 students. Next fall, the program will have two cohorts on campus.

Concord also offers an esports program, in which students from the following majors participate: cybersecurity, biology, education, and business. Esports provides experience in production, graphic design, photography, and videography. This year, the program won the 2025 Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup for the Rocket League Championship. The school competes against larger schools and recruits uncovered talent in the esports arena. At Concord, esports is a vessel to guide students to being productive members of society by channeling their interests into careers. Gaming is just a part of esports; a variety of careers can be found in esports. Students participating have an average GPA of 3.11. If a student in the program drops below a 3.0 GPA, they are required to take study hours. If they drop below 2.5, they are benched. The program gives back by assisting high school and middle school programs, providing summer camps, and offering scholarships. The program also brings in money for the institution, as it brings in more than it spends.

The business program at Concord is the largest program on campus, offering both an undergraduate business degree and a master’s in business administration. The program provides a variety of opportunities for students to network through socials and an etiquette dinner. The business program gives back to the community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. This program allows students to prepare taxes for low-income elderly taxpayers in the area under the supervision of their professors. Over 2,000 tax returns were completed this year, saving payers over $500,000 in tax prep fees. The business program is also focused on tourism and the growth of technology and business innovation.