DoHS’s Bureau for Family Assistance to Host
Child Care and Development Block Grant Public Hearing
5/10/2024
The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA), Division of Early Care and Education will conduct a public hearing on the proposed
Child Care and Development Block Grant State Plan for Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 2025 to 2027.
“Every child deserves a bright future, and it begins with access to high quality child care,” said Janie Cole, DoHS Bureau for Family Assistance Commissioner. “Your input is invaluable in shaping the future of West Virginia’s children as we strive to ensure every voice is heard in our mission to enhance child care services across the state.”
Public insight gathered from the meetings will help guide expenditures for the approximately $72 million received that provides support to improve the affordability, availability, and quality of child care services in West Virginia. Funding assists low-income families in covering the cost of child care, supports consumer education for selecting appropriate child care services, and provides key services such as referral, available resources, necessary training, and technical assistance to child care providers.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requires public input as a condition of funding. The draft plan requirements are currently available for review at any child care resource and referral agency. A list of child care resource and referral agencies can be found
here.
The public hearing will be held virtually on May 30, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Once finalized, instructions for virtual hosting will be posted in the announcements section on
dhhr.wv.gov/bfa. BFA will also accept public comments via email to
ECEproviders@wv.gov through June 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
To view and apply for careers that support West Virginia families, visit
dhhr.wv.gov/Pages/Career-Opportunities.aspx.
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.
Click here to read more . . .
DoHS Recognized for Innovative Voluntary SNAP Employment & Training Partnership
2/28/2024
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA) and Coalfield Development Corporation have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for their innovative partnership through BFA’s voluntary SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) program available to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants.
As part of its new More Than a Job campaign to promote SNAP E&T nationwide,
the federal agency has released a video highlighting this uniquely West Virginian partnership. The video is designed to serve as a model for other states in how to effectively structure their own SNAP E&T programs.