Quick Facts: West Virginia
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 55% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 50% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 14% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 88% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 100% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 78% of metrics met
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Systems: 44% of metrics met
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Environment: 12% of metrics met
State Score 2021: 51
State Ranking 2021: 29
2021 Score
2020 Score
51
54
West Virginia Highlights
Some areas where West Virginia has moved the needle relative to other states include providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness.
Law & Policy
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The state allows youth in foster care to access extended foster care services to age 21 under some circumstances and allows eligible youth who have exited the foster care system after 18 to re-enter care until age 20.
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State law provides partial or full contract rights for homeless youth.
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The state explicitly allows partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.
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The state allows unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage without parental consent.
Systems
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There is a state interagency council on homelessness.
Environment
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The state promotes safe and inclusive environments in child welfare and runaway and homeless youth programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Mountain State, with emphasis on the Law & Policy and Environment categories. Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness, preventing homeless youth’s contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems, and protecting the rights and interests of LGBTQ youth should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
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Enact and fund a state law similar to the federal RHYA to provide key intervention and emergency services for youth experiencing homelessness.
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Allow shelters to take in youth experiencing homelessness with a delay or waiver of notification requirements.
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The state should prohibit mingling of CHINS youth taken into custody with delinquent youth.
Systems
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Develop a state plan to prevent and end youth homelessness, include a strategy to address homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
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Create a state entity – such as an Office of Homeless Youth Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
Environment
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The state should establish and maintain stipends for a community advisory board that informs youth homelessness policy (Youth Action Board).
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Promote safe and inclusive environments in juvenile justice programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Ban harmful and ineffective service provision that includes conversion therapy.